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(June 2013) Three decades before Congress voted to defund1 a welfare lobby founded in Arkansas, congressional auditors found the group disregarded federal guidelines by using trainees in a taxpayer-funded program for political activity. The episode illustrates the peril of legislators creating bias in the policy arena by subsidizing pet groups with tax dollars. Originally Relied on […]

Summary: Gov. Mike Beebe, state legislators and the Obama administration have not advanced a “private option” to expand Medicaid.  They have created an oligopoly, a market type characterized by a few suppliers able to capture above-average profits with government assistance.  The most likely outcomes are shortages of consumer information and medical services.   (June 2013) Business enterprises […]

“Reduce the state’s income tax…repeal the state’s capital gains tax.” Murphy Commission, Policy Foundation project, 1998 “State revenues have exceeded forecasts: modest cuts in income … and capital gains rates can occur in 2013.” Policy Foundation, November 2012   (June 2013) Arkansas Republicans, in control of the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction reduced […]

“Academic ratings and triggers for acclaim or sanctions should be issued for each K-12 public school district using a letter grade system (A, B, C, D, and F). Murphy Commission, Policy Foundation project, 1998   (March 25, 2013) The state General Assembly has approved part of a 15-year-old Murphy Commission recommendation that clarifies for parents […]

(May 2013) Economists and medical professionals have understood for some time that shortages exist within Arkansas’ health care system.  But the bipartisan group of state lawmakers that expanded Arkansas’ Medicaid rolls by an estimated quarter-million recipients (250,000) ignored this issue in three public acts1 that expanded the program.  The unintended economic consequence2 is that existing Arkansas medical shortages will […]

(April 2013) The state legislature has reduced the top Arkansas income tax rate from 7.0 to 6.9 percent on net income greater than $44,000 for “tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.”  The measure1 also cuts income taxes for lower-income Arkansans beginning in January 2014.2   No Change in Arkansas Rank   The new 6.9 […]

“Reduce the state’s income tax…repeal the state’s capital gains tax.” Murphy Commission, Policy Foundation project, 1998   (April 2013) The capital gains tax cut1 approved by the first Republican-controlled state legislature since Reconstruction is a modest step toward creating a more pro-growth economic climate in Arkansas. The measure, sponsored by House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, increases […]

“The long-term liabilities of the ARKids First program should be identified.”  Policy Foundation research memos, 2006   (March 2013) The unfunded liabilities1 of the state’s ‘ARKids First2 program,’ a major part of Arkansas Medicaid are estimated to expand by more than $1 billion under a so-called “private” option under review by state legislators.   Under the so-called “private” option advanced by some […]

  (February 2013) Beebe administration officials are asking the state General Assembly to approve a $125 million bond deal for a steel production facility at Osceola in east Arkansas that promises 525 new jobs.  But the state of Arkansas manufacturing is so weak, compared to historical levels that the proposed mill is likely to have minimal […]

(January 15, 2013) Policymakers across the Arkansas political spectrum agree that a proposed Medicaid expansion is the biggest issue in the legislative session that began this week.  Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe told the General Assembly today, “(I)t is clear that Medicaid will receive the lion’s share of attention, and rightfully so.”2 “Medicaid is certainly the biggest elephant in […]