Uncategorized

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; […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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) […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

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 […]

Read more

Personal Income Higher In Tennessee & Texas Border Counties

(September 2022) Per capita personal income is higher in Tennessee and Texas counties than in adjacent Arkansasborder areas, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data. Payroll Employment  States without an income tax led the Southeast and Arkansas’ border region in jobs creation in the first two years ofthe national economic expansion that began […]

Read more

Policymakers Accelerate Income Tax Cut

“Arkansas would benefit from comprehensive, pro-growth reform; Arkansans are not under-taxed; taxes and rates do matter to entrepreneurs; dynamic scoring of tax changes and effects provides benefits.” Arkansas Policy Foundation Mission Statement (August 2022) Arkansas policymakers approved an income tax rate reduction in a special session this month by making it retroactive to Jan. 1, […]

Read more