On RealClearEnergy, Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and the vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, marks Earth Day by looking at the progress “Americans and their businesses have made in making the air, water, and land cleaner and healthier for everyone” and cautions against draconian government policies that could cause more harm than good. 

The Buckeye Institute commented on Ohio’s newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “Ohio’s job market has cooled since the sizzling summer of 2023. While Ohio is adding new jobs, faster job growth is needed to reduce an unemployment rate that has crept up over the last several months…Ohio needs to focus on fiscal and economic reforms that will lead to job growth in the Buckeye State.”

To the IRS and state tax collectors, your money looks a lot like theirs—especially today, when tax returns and taxes owed are due. Writing checks for the government to cash always hurts, but it could be worse. The Buckeye Institute has helped reduce state taxes in Ohio, and championed tax reforms with think tanks across the country to help spur growth and relieve tax burdens.

The Buckeye Institute reacted to Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State speech, saying, “The Buckeye Institute was also pleased to hear Governor DeWine call for an emphasis on career tech, improvements to Ohio College Opportunity Grants, and to provide parents and students with data on graduation-to-employment rates from Ohio’s public universities. For Ohio to succeed, the state must ensure its workforce is trained and ready to fill 21st century jobs.”

As an independent research and educational institution advancing free-market public policies in the states, The Buckeye Institute works to reform regulatory codes and cut burdensome red tape. In keeping with this practice, Buckeye submitted public comments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on its current proposal to increase the risk charge for residuals. Buckeye encouraged the NAIC to temporarily pause its proposal for one year to solicit further input and collect additional data on the risk-profile of residuals.

In a new report—A Healthcare World Reimagined: How Big Government Threatens Healthcare AI and What to Do About It—that is no April Fools’ Day joke, The Buckeye Institute outlines policy solutions and regulatory changes lawmakers should address to capitalize on the benefits of artificial intelligence to improve healthcare services. “Artificial intelligence, even in its fledgling stage, already shows great promise for improving healthcare services for physicians, hospital systems, and their patients.” 

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “Although unemployment is low, 2024 has gotten off to a tepid start. Ohio policymakers must redouble their efforts to implement policies that encourage entrepreneurs to open and expand businesses, which will create more jobs and bring more workers to Ohio. Regulatory reform and eliminating cumbersome, redundant rules that discourage innovation should be at the top of the list for lawmakers.”

After spending two years mulling over a new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rule that would require all publicly traded companies to prepare and release emissions reports, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently unveiled its scheme. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is challenging this draconian rule and rightly noted in filing the lawsuit that “the regulator of the stock market has no business setting environmental policy for the county.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “In January, Ohio’s unemployment rate increased from 3.6 percent to 3.7 percent—in line with the national average for January—while the labor force participation rate remained flat at 61.8 percent—trailing the national average of 62.5 percent. While still low, January’s report continues a trend of climbing unemployment that started in July 2023, indicating a weaker job market.”

A new report, Next Steps for Georgia Tax Reform, by The Buckeye Institute, found that cutting taxes would lead to billions in economic growth and business investment in the Peach State. The Buckeye Institute partnered with Georgia Public Policy Foundation to conduct the research. “Georgia has undertaken several positive tax reforms that have spurred economic growth, but the state must continue to reform its tax policies if it wants to remain competitive.”