How Are Small Businesses Adjusting to COVID-19?
How Are Small Businesses Adjusting to COVID-19?
43% of businesses have temporarily closed.
Don’t Call it a “Stimulus”
Don’t Call it a “Stimulus”
Federal relief may help, but it can't stimulate a shut down economy.
Lifting Regulations is how Nebraska’s Economy can Stay Alive During and After COVID-19
Lifting Regulations is how Nebraska’s Economy can Stay Alive During and After COVID-19
To see the version of this article published in the Lincoln Journal Star, click here. The pandemic that is affecting every state in our nation did not discriminate and has hit us here at home in Nebraska. From March 14th to March 21st, initial unemployment claims rose 1,871% from the previous week. However, there are...
Jim Vokal’s Statement on COVID-19 Health Care Licensing Executive Order
Jim Vokal’s Statement on COVID-19 Health Care Licensing Executive Order
Jim Vokal's statement on Executive Order 20-10.
Governor Ricketts signs emergency order for health care licensing reciprocity
Governor Ricketts signs emergency order for health care licensing reciprocity
An emergency executive order can help more medical personnel respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Nebraska.
Are we there yet? Looking ahead to life after COVID-19
Are we there yet? Looking ahead to life after COVID-19
I suspect that we’ve all been just a little out of sorts lately. While I personally work from home most of the time, I’m usually able to do that work without kids in the house–and I usually jump in the car and run to the grocery store, or downtown to the post office or to...
State should allow to-go mixed drink sales
State should allow to-go mixed drink sales
UPDATE: Govenor Ricketts issued Executive Order “to provide relief to restaurants and bars” In a time of emergency many regulations are lifted to help business continue and keep people employed. Many states and large cities have lifted regulations allowing for the curbside or delivery sale of alcoholic beverages to keep these places in business. The...
From Rogue Fitness to Rogue Medical
From Rogue Fitness to Rogue Medical
A 600 employee fitness equipment company based in Columbus, Ohio seized the opportunity to reach out to the many people suffering from job loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rogue Fitness announced it was hiring 100 new employees and increasing wages temporarily by $2/hour. Why? Because Rogue Fitness realized that they had the capacity and...
Nebraska ranked 9th for health care openness and access
Nebraska ranked 9th for health care openness and access
To see the study – click here. To see the details on Nebraska – click here. The Mercatus Center has pre-released its Healthcare Openness and Access Project (HOAP). This index measures the extent to which states leave patients, providers, and businesses free to seek or provide healthcare as they deem best. Each state is evaluated...
News Release: COVID-19 Budget and Economic Dos and Don’ts
News Release: COVID-19 Budget and Economic Dos and Don’ts
The Platte Institute has released a list of recommendations for state policymakers on issues of tax compliance, budgeting, regulation, and government transparency in the COVID-19 crisis.
Iowa suspends health care worker license requirements amid COVID-19 crisis
Iowa suspends health care worker license requirements amid COVID-19 crisis
Nurses and doctors are at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis. At a time when our country is trying to avoid an overrun of our healthcare system, technicalities and license requirements need to be relaxed. We can look to Iowa for a perfect example of this. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a State of Public Health...
Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis
Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 emergency response requires state policymakers to focus on the essential and conduct their business with transparency.
COVID-19 shows importance of planning ahead
COVID-19 shows importance of planning ahead
The last week or so has been something of a whirlwind here in Nebraska, as cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) started to show up. Events have been canceled, schools have closed, state basketball tournaments have been modified to have no meaningful fan presence, colleges have moved toward remote classes, and some businesses have closed down temporarily....
Universal Recognition and Labor Competition
Universal Recognition and Labor Competition
I noted last week that recent research by the Goldwater Institute suggests that universal recognition enacted in Arizona was showing significant benefits for both the state's labor market and for workers seeking to continue to practice their occupation in a new location. A new policy report from Arizona State's Center for the Study of Economic...