Even though she lost the recent gubernatorial primary to Asa Hutchinson in a landslide, it appears that Jan Morgan will continue to grace Arkansas residents with her thoughts on public policy. It’s always good when people are engaged in the debate over state policy. If Morgan wants to play this role, however, she needs to get her facts straight. I might even go so far as to say … [Read more...]
This is Why You Can’t Have Lower Taxes
If there is one thing that conservatives can agree upon, it’s that Arkansas needs tax reform. The state has a high tax burden and Arkansans deserve relief. So why are some conservatives standing in the way of pro-growth tax reform that would make the code fairer? Right now the state’s tax reform task force is meeting in an attempt to find a way to improve the Arkansas tax … [Read more...]
Time for Arkansas to Embrace Occupational Licensing Reform
More than almost every other state, Arkansas requires workers to obtain government permission before starting work. That needs to change. Arkansas has the third-highest occupational licensing burden of any state. Few other states impose such strict barriers to individuals just looking to find work so they can support their families. The need to reform this system was … [Read more...]
Medicaid Work Requirement Gets Green Light
Governor Asa Hutchinson scored a big win yesterday when the Trump Administration approved state plans to impose a work requirement on its Medicaid expansion population, those covered by the Arkansas Works program. This is a key part of Gov. Hutchinson’s efforts to sell his Medicaid expansion – which originated in Obamacare -- as a “conservative” health care effort. According … [Read more...]
The Governor’s Good Move on Freedom to Work
Arkansas ranks high when it comes to tying up its workers with red tape. Governor Asa Hutchinson has begun a process that could lead to a little more freedom for Arkansas workers. Readers of TAP should be familiar with the problems caused by occupational licensing. If you aren’t, you may want to read a 2016 report on the subject by AAI’s former president Dan Greenberg. In … [Read more...]
