In Florida, and nationally, Reason Foundation is working to improve the accounting transparency of state and local governments by seeking the mandatory disclosure of government financial documents in a machine-readable format, which would help eliminate barriers to data analysis and …
Reason Foundation’s Drug Policy Newsletter, August 2018
News & Opinion Despite being sanctioned for use, there are still serious questions about the efficacy of Canada’s new roadside saliva cannabis testing device. The New Jersey Attorney General has ordered a halt to all cannabis-related court cases, clearing the …
Governments Issuing Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Worsening, Not Improving, Their Financial Shape
Concerned over rising pension contributions, policymakers in Chicago are contemplating borrowing millions in the form of pension obligation bonds (POBs). However, city leaders may ultimately reject the idea as many other state and local governments with underfunded public pensions have …
Equity Promises Fall Flat in Massachusetts Marijuana Industry
Marijuana regulations in Massachusetts came with big promises of equity and inclusion. Priority review for applicants disproportionately impacted by previous drug war policies was touted as offering “redress for past prosecution.” The promises have so far fallen flat—only three of …
Allah v. Milling
“The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury. One of the first duties of government is to afford that protection.” Marbury, 5 …
Annual Privatization Report 2018 — Surface Transportation
The Surface Transportation section of Reason Foundation’s Annual Privatization Report 2018 provides an overview of the latest on privatization and public-private partnerships in the following areas: Part 1 Global Overview Part 2 International Highway Infrastructure Part 3 U.S. Highway Concessions …
Local Agency Exits from CalPERS
After two and a half years, the Herald Fire Protection District (HFPD) has completed the process of exiting the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). To separate, the district was obliged to take on a costly bank loan to finance …
Revisiting New Orleans’ Charter School Success as Local School Board Takes Control
Thirteen years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans public schools are once again under a single administrative body: the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). Katrina forced 65,000 students and their families to evacuate the city in 2005, and in the years …
The Timeline for Self-Driving Cars and Shared Mobility May Take Longer Than We Think
The coming decades promise some potentially large changes in personal mobility, including widespread use of electric vehicles, the introduction of fully autonomous vehicles (AVs), and the possible replacement of individually owned vehicles with “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS). So I’m …
Surface Transportation News #178
In this issue: Toll-financed Interstate replacement getting closer Two provocative infrastructure proposals Fully autonomous vehicles farther off than you think Texas tolling is far from dead The New York Times flunks on automated vehicles Upcoming transportation events News Notes Quotable Quotes …
The Texas Teacher Pension System Lowers Its Investment Return Assumption
The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas recently reduced its assumed rate of return from 8 percent to 7.25 percent. While the board’s decision will increase the system’s reported liabilities, it is consistent with sound actuarial practices and need not …
Pension Reform Helps Improve Michigan’s Credit Rating
For the first time since 2007, Michigan will reap the benefit of a credit rating upgrade of its general obligation bonds. S&P Global ratings moved the state’s credit rating from AA-minus to AA, citing pension reform among the main reasons …
