The merger of grocery chains could be a good thing for consumers - here’s why
When it comes to the proposed merger of Idaho-based Albertsons and the supermarket giant Kroger, there's no need for a cleanup on aisle...
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THE BLOG
Chris Cargill
- Sep 3
- 2 min
Labor Day should be about workers, not unions
President Joe Biden's 2023 Labor Day proclamation is heavy on praise for unions. But as we mark this end-of-summer holiday, the attention...
Madilynne Clark
- Sep 1
- 3 min
Free market agriculture grows when resources are available
A seed is filled with unlocked potential. Add a little soil, sunlight, and water, and within days the seed begins to sprout, filling the...
Madilynne Clark
- Aug 31
- 3 min
Free market agriculture weeds out excessive regulations
As a small farmer starting from scratch, there comes a point when it is necessary to hire someone to work on your operation. A few years...
Chris Cargill
- Aug 16
- 2 min
Banning plastic bags is not an effective environmental policy
The Cheyenne, Wyoming city council is considering joining a popular, but ineffective environmental fad. Lawmakers are proposing banning...
Sebastian Griffin
- Jul 20
- 3 min
Twitter vs. Threads: A Clash with a Free Market impact
Two prominent figures in the tech world, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have launched their own social media brands.
Chris Cargill
- Jun 27
- 2 min
Six years after the end of "net neutrality" - the sky didn't fall
They predicted the internet would slow down. Some said the internet would end. Neither has happened.
Jason Mercier
- Jun 20
- 2 min
Don’t sour on the next generation of entrepreneurs
Occasionally there is a great story about lemons, lemonade, balance sheets, and encouraging kids to become entrepreneurs.
Chris Cargill
- Jun 9
- 1 min
Federal regulations surge, but Mountain States lead by example
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
(1)It's a very different story at the local level. In fact, Idaho is the least regulated state in the country.
Jason Mercier
- Jun 5
- 2 min
Idaho celebrates small businesses
One of the Mountain States Policy Center’s top priorities is to protect the ability of small businesses to thrive.
Chris Cargill
- May 24
- 2 min
Moving truck prices tell policy story
Idaho's quality of life, low tax burden and booming economy make it incredibly attractive.
Paige Thibaut
- Mar 7
- 1 min
How competition can lower worker’s comp costs and improve outcomes
Workers' compensation is defined by the United States Centers for Disease Control as, “systems [that] were established to provide partial...
Chris Cargill
- Feb 13
- 2 min
Right to work is right for Montana
There will be a hearing this Friday, February 17th on the "Worker Freedom Act" in Montana. House Bill 448 would make Montana a right to...
Chris Cargill
- Feb 12
- 6 min
Legislative session checklist: policies introduced, policies waiting
Legislative sessions in Idaho, Montana and Washington are more than a month old, and we are getting a rough idea of what could be in play...
Chris Cargill
- Feb 7
- 2 min
Union membership - the lowest on record
Unions are not what they used to be. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its latest data on union membership in the United...
Chris Cargill
- Jan 31
- 2 min
Yes, employees can be hurt by a minimum wage hike
Raising the minimum wage is one of the many policy ideas peppered with tradeoffs, but one of the few that have such a direct impact on...
Chris Cargill
- Jan 30
- 1 min
Where should you retire?
A new WalletHub survey has once-again rated the Mountain States has one of the best places to retire. Wyoming ranked 4th, Idaho ranked...
Charlotte McKinley
- Jan 24
- 1 min
Red tape relief push in Helena
The three most prominent bills for Gov. Greg Gianforte’s red-tape relief push was heard before the House Business and Labor Committee on...
Madilynne Clark
- Jan 24
- 2 min
The policies and politics of COVID-19 in the Mountain States
Starting in January 2020, reports of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) entering the United States were a reality, and no longer an international...
Bob Pishue
- Jan 19
- 1 min
The Path - Responsible transportation policy in the Mountain States
Transportation systems are the backbone of a strong local economy, allowing people and goods to move efficiently and effectively. At its...
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