When Birmingham won its bid to host the 2021 World Games in 2015, it was expected to be a major boon for the area. At the time, organizers projected that the economic impact would be $256.5 million against a projected cost of $75 million. But now ...
Illinois eliminating grocery tax for a year
Starting this month and lasting a year, Illinois residents will not pay the state sales tax on groceries. The Illinois legislature, which is dominated by Democrats, voted almost unanimously in favor of suspending the 1% sales tax on groceries in ...
Legislature should not seek permanent solutions for temporary problems
Last week, the Alabama Legislature held the second in a series of informal budget hearings aimed at determining how inflation and the possibilities of a recession are impacting state agencies. Much like the first hearing, the general theme ...
Florida is using Covid funds for tax relief
$1.24 billion in tax relief is soon headed to Florida residents. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May signed a bill that will provide no less than ten statewide sales tax holidays that begin this summer, with some running through 2024. “In Florid ...
In the aftermath of Roe, Alabama should not rush to fully expand Medicaid
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, will Alabama lawmakers make a renewed push to expand Medicaid in Alabama? The early indications suggest yes, but lawmakers should be in no rush to take action. Governor Kay ...
Alabama lawmakers should be in no rush to spend additional ARPA funds
When Alabama lawmakers came into session in January, one of their first priorities was allocating the first half of Alabama’s $2.1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. With the second half set to hit the state’s coffers soon, lawmakers s ...
Mississippi reducing its income tax starting July 1st
This legislative session, Mississippi passed the largest tax cut in the state’s history. The state income tax in Mississippi will begin its slow four-year decrease from 5% to 4% on July 1st. The tax, which applies to all income above $5,000, will re ...
What is a labor union, and what could unions mean for Alabama?
Over the past year, unionization has been a hot topic in Alabama. An Amazon facility in Bessemer has twice voted on the issue of unionization, with workers choosing not to form a union both times. Recently, workers at a Starbucks in Birmingham voted ...
What to expect from four more years of Ivey
On Tuesday, among a crowded field of challengers, incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey coasted to victory in the Republican primary election. She will face either Yolanda Flowers or Malika Sanders-Fortier in the November general election, but it is almo ...
Even California Democrats are considering how to give money back to the people
In California, gasoline prices are hovering around $6.50. Inflation is costing California families hundreds of dollars more a month for them to live the same lifestyle they did just a year or so ago. Meanwhile, the state of California, like many othe ...