Across the United States, ballot measures exist in the form of a law, issue, or question that appears on a state or local ballot for voters to decide. There are numerous kinds of ballot measures, including those that are legislatively referred or citizen-initiated. In 2016, the last presidential election, there were 162 statewide ballot measures, including 76 initiatives, 71 legislative referrals, and 15 by other means. What measures are on […]
by: Ryan J. Stevens Congress passed the CARES Act nearly six months ago, which provided roughly $2 trillion to individuals, businesses, and states in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. The Act also included payments of as much as $1,200 for individual taxpayers and $500 per child, phased out when incomes exceed $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples filing jointly. In May, the House passed the $3 trillion Heroes […]
What is a Brownfield? A brownfield is a property, expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Approximately 450,000 brownfields exist in the United States. The cleaning up and reuse of these properties have benefits, including increasing local tax bases, facilitating job growth, leveraging private investment, and utilizing existing infrastructure. By taking development pressures off greenfield […]
by: Ryan J. Stevens As COVID death tolls in the United States continues to rise and the economic impacts of the uncontained pandemic continue to harm schools, businesses, and households, many states are considering requiring flu vaccinations this fall. Which states may require flu vaccines this fall? Massachusetts The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends an annual influenza vaccine for anyone older than six months. In August, the Commonwealth announced […]