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No-Income Tax States Top Population Growth

(May 2023) States without an income tax recorded higher levels of population growth than the national average and states in local regions, according to decennial U.S. Bureau of the Census data. Regional Population Growth Census data shows population growth in Florida led the 12-state Southeast region (2010 to 2020). Texas led the border state region […]

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No-Income Tax States Lead Private Jobs Growth

(May 2023) Policy Foundation research concludes states without an income tax create new private-sector jobs at rates greater than the national average. This observation is demonstrated by calculating growth rates in periods of economic expansion. The U.S. Bureau ofLabor Statistics (BLS) compiles jobs data. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) determines expansion dates. A […]

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Economic Indicators & No-Income Tax States

(May 2023) Historically, Arkansas critics of income tax cuts have relied on class-warfare arguments to oppose the policy. More recently, some critics have tried to argue that no-income tax states do not generate higher income growth. The Policy Foundation, in a 2004 research memo (“High Growth States”) noted factors influencing economic development “include tax rates; […]

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The Learns Act & Literacy

Phonics is the instructional practice that once made America the most literate nation on earth. It relies on an intensive, systematic approach … children learn to read by first learning the sounds and syllables of the English language. Then they can put syllables together like building blocks to quickly acquire a reading vocabulary as broad […]

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Pulaski School Choice Market Largest In State

Enrollment Greater Than Public School Districts “The most callused aspect of the (Arkansas) education monopoly is that it willingly and deliberately forces children–except those whose parents have wealth–to attend bad schools. And it does so with financial resources taken from parents already struggling financially and at the expense of their ability to choose a better […]

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Arkansas Improves Competitive Position

“Arkansas would benefit from comprehensive, pro-growth reform; Arkansans are not under-taxed; taxes and rates do matter to entrepreneurs …” Policy Foundation Mission Statement (February 2023) Past Policy Foundation research noted a reduction in Arkansas’ top income tax rate to 4.9% would improve the state’s competitive position in the 12-state Southeast region. (1) New Federation of […]

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Regulatory Sandboxes In Border States

“The experiment, termed a regulatory sandbox, is a set of rules that allow businesses, usually within a specificindustry, to test themselves in a market without being subject to usual regulations.” Policy Foundation.”A sandbox to create jobs in.” Jonesboro Sun, May 9, 2022 (February 2023) The regulatory sandbox idea has advanced across the U.S. since Utah […]

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Policymakers Ban Local Income Taxes

(February 2023) Arkansas legislators have approved a bill to ban local governments from enacting an income tax. House Bill 1026 (sponsor: State Rep. David Ray of Maumelle) was approved by the House, 79-10, in late January; and by the Senate, 27-6, earlier this month. The measure has been sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. (1) […]

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State School Choice Market Near 110,000

“The most callused aspect of the current education monopoly in Arkansas is that it willingly and deliberately forces children–except those whose parents have wealth–to attend bad schools.” Arkansas Policy Foundation, 1998 (December 2022) Nearly 110,000 Arkansas students attend charter, home or private schools, or are enrolled in a public school choice program in the current […]

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The Role Of Dictionaries In Advancing Literacy

(November 2022) The Policy Foundation sponsored a public forum on the issue of dictionaries and literacy on Nov. 4at Lyon College in Batesville. The forum featured a keynote talk by Lyon Assistant Professor of Elementary Education Dr. Karin Brown (1); a Batesville School District literacy specialist and 3rd Grade school teachers; parents; and business community […]

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