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“Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico has cut income and capital gains tax rates to make the state’s economy more competitive, and his state is creatng jobs at one of the fastest rates in the U.S.” Policy Foundation column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 13, 2004 Once upon a time many economists did not accept the […]

Arkansas is one of the poorest states in the nation, and also one of the least healthy according to health surveys. Proponents of a ‘Healthy Arkansas’ emphasis on prevention contend that more widespread use of good habits could have a profound effect on families, businesses, schools, faith-based groups and healthcare providers in the state. The […]

  “(T)ax proposals should be submitted to a process of dynamic scoring in order to assess the economic impact. Findings should be reported to the public before enactment of the policies.” (Murphy Commission, 1998)   (March 24, 2008) Arkansas legislators will rely on a state revenue estimate based on an $8 natural gas futures contract […]

Arkansas needs a more efficient K-12 public school system with fewer superintendents and other administrators. We should not close rural schools simply because they are small or rural if they are in compliance with Lake View and producing acceptable academic results. They can remain open under administrative restructuring where an administrative unit is defined as […]

  “(T)ax proposals should be submitted to a process of dynamic scoring in order to assess the economic impact. Findings should be reported to the public before enactment of the policies.” (Murphy Commission, 1998)   (March 24, 2008) Arkansas legislators will rely on a state revenue estimate based on an $8 natural gas futures contract […]

“Charter schools create an alternate form of public schooling where schools are granted significant autonomy but are held accountable for results. The ‘charter’ is essentially a contract … Unlike other public schools, parents specifically request the charter school and if the school fails to attract students, or if it fails to meet the terms of […]

“Charter schools create an alternate form of public schooling where schools are granted significant autonomy but are held accountable for results. The ‘charter’ is essentially a contract … Unlike other public schools, parents specifically request the charter school and if the school fails to attract students, or if it fails to meet the terms of […]

  “The Review Team recommends that management of Arkansas’ five Retirement Systems be consolidated under one agency.” (Arkansas Policy Foundation, 1998) Investment losses by the Arkansas State Police Retirement System have led a state Senator to suggest merging the system, a proposal first made by the Murphy Commission, a Policy Foundation project in 1998. The […]

(November 2007) The Policy Foundation, in light of monthly revenue reports since the July 1 grocery tax cut is renewing its 1998 and 2006 proposals to subject any state tax cuts to a process of dynamic analysis. The Murphy Commission, a Policy Foundation project, recommended in 1998 that all •tax proposals should be submitted to […]

“The students who go to charter schools are not those of great need but have support at home and are relatively high achieving.” Little Rock School Board Member Baker Kurras (“Little Rock Board Resisting 6 Charter Schools,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sept. 28, 2007) (October 2007) The role of at-risk students in the creation of Arkansas charter […]