STATE BUDGET

Jan 14 2025POLITICS

Governor Walz: Navigating Minnesota's Political Storm

Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, has been laying low since his unsuccessful vice presidential run. He's been trying to lift spirits, posing with a turkey for Thanksgiving, and even taking a quick break in the Bahamas. But now, he's facing a tough reality back home. Minnesota's legislative session is about to start, and it's not looking good for Walz's party. Democrats...

reading time less than a minute
Dec 02 2024EDUCATION

Squeezed Budgets: Pensions vs. Education in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, school budgets are feeling the pinch. While test scores still haven't bounced back from the pandemic, pension costs keep climbing. Back in 2015, 9 cents of every education dollar went to pension payments. Now it's 14 cents! That's a lot of cash going out, leaving less for things like new teachers, classroom supplies, and support staff. The Massachu...

reading time about 1 minute
Sep 12 2024FINANCE

California's Proposition 4: A Borrowing Binge or Wise Investment?

California's Proposition 4 is set to borrow $10 billion to fund a plethora of environmental projects. But is this measure more about politics than sound policy? After this year's budget debacle, the state should be focusing on cutting debt, not increasing it. The measure's 100+ programs lack a sense of priorities or analysis of what would deliver the biggest bang fo...

reading time about 1 minute