As sales tax collections slow and the nation becomes a service-based economy, many states are considering expanding the universe of goods and, especially, services that are subject to the sales tax.
Pew Charitable Trusts
States, Cities Tackle Housing Crisis for Low, Moderate Income Families
As affordable housing vanishes for low- and middle-income Americans, lawmakers in Minnesota and other states are being forced to look for ways to encourage new construction and ease a housing crunch that increasingly eats up more of people’s income.
States Strive to Eliminate Costly Construction Delays
Generally speaking, the longer a project drags on, the bigger the price tag. More money is spent on contracting costs, machinery, staff time, rent and fuel. Inflation takes a toll, as does the need to pay for temporary repairs to existing routes.
Is Medicaid Expansion Near a Tipping Point?
“The ideological opposition to the president will have to start fading when he’s out of office. At that point, the facts and the evidence will start to matter more.”
State Prisons Turn to Telemedicine to Improve Health and Save Money
Though some prisons used telemedicine as early as the 1980s, its use has dramatically increased with the arrival of vastly improved technology, electronic medical records, and pressure to control ever rising medical costs.
The High Cost of Higher Education
States only have limited funds to work with, even as many lawmakers say they want college to be more affordable and states aim to increase the share of residents who hold a postsecondary degree or certificate.