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Tax relief (and increases) in the Mountain States
Taxes continue to be reduced in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming while Washington is taking the opposite approach.

Jason Mercier
Jul 7, 20232 min read


Is it time to modernize Idaho’s school funding model?
Schools may be on summer break but the education funding debate in Idaho continues to heat up.

Jason Mercier
Jun 19, 20233 min read


Snapshot of tax rankings in the Mountain States
For the most part, the Mountain States are generally clustered near each other on their tax rankings except for Washington.

Jason Mercier
Jun 15, 20232 min read


Greetings from Jason Mercier - MSPC’s new Vice President and Director of Research
Non-partisan policy based on facts and not emotion is just what the country needs right now, and MSPC is well-positioned to help.

Jason Mercier
Jun 1, 20233 min read


Moving truck prices tell policy story
Idaho's quality of life, low tax burden and booming economy make it incredibly attractive.

Chris Cargill
May 24, 20232 min read


Examining Idaho spending on higher ed & student population trends
Higher education is getting more expensive, and both taxpayers and students being saddled with the cost.

Chris Cargill
May 17, 20231 min read


Quick compare of Idaho, Washington final budgets
The legislative sessions in Washington and Idaho have wrapped up with polar opposite decisions regarding government spending.

Chris Cargill
Apr 24, 20231 min read


Rich states, poor states rankings: where we stand
The research shows both Idaho and Montana need to work on lowering personal income tax rates and the cost of worker's comp.

Chris Cargill
Apr 21, 20232 min read


Washington's gas price pain is Idaho's gain
There's always been a difference between Idaho and Washington prices - after all, Washington's gas tax is nearly 20 cents more per gallon.

Chris Cargill
Apr 20, 20232 min read


Top 10 Idaho general fund spending
Idaho’s general fund budget increased to $5.1 billion this session, a 12% hike from the year before.

Chris Cargill
Apr 18, 20231 min read


It's tax filing week - when is tax freedom day?
But tax freedom day also varies by state, as each state has its own localized tax burden.

Chris Cargill
Apr 17, 20231 min read


Medicaid expansion is a huge state budget weight
When Idaho voters passed Medicaid expansion in 2018, a lot of promises were made. Few, however, have panned out. There were promises of...

Chris Cargill
Apr 13, 20232 min read


Idaho's K-12 state allocation is up 106% in past decade
Ten years ago, Idaho was spending $1.3 billion. Over the past decade, K-12 state spending has ballooned 106.2%.

Chris Cargill
Apr 10, 20232 min read


Education savings accounts for special needs children moving in Montana
The Montana House has approved a bill that would offer special needs children access to Education Savings Accounts worth roughly $6,816....

Chris Cargill
Apr 10, 20231 min read


Here come the expanded income taxes in Washington
They said it wouldn’t happen. It only took a few weeks to prove they were wrong. Following the Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling on...

Chris Cargill
Apr 3, 20232 min read


Idaho property tax relief going forward after all
Both the Idaho House and the Idaho Senate have voted to override Governor Brad Little's veto of HB 292 - a major property tax reduction...

Chris Cargill
Mar 29, 20232 min read


Taxes, transparency and time – Idaho Senate action leaves much to be desired
The Idaho House and Senate worked throughout the session on a bill that would provide major property tax relief to the citizens of the...

Chris Cargill
Mar 27, 20233 min read


"Ludicrous" Washington income tax ruling will impact other states
The exodus from Washington state may just be getting started. Today, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the state's new 7% income...

Chris Cargill
Mar 24, 20232 min read


Advisory vote on "funding private schools" won't happen
Today, the Idaho House shot down a proposal to place a misleading and controversial advisory question on the 2024 general election...

Chris Cargill
Mar 21, 20232 min read


Idaho's Medicaid budget runs into roadblocks
The Idaho House today voted down the state's $4,691,777,000 Medicaid budget. House Bill 334 failed in a 34-36 vote. The rejection is not...

Chris Cargill
Mar 20, 20232 min read
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