ESG in the banking industry
ESG in the banking industry
Nebraska banks play a key role in the state’s strong economic success by providing credit and other financial services to individuals, businesses and communities. Banks carefully manage risk and the needs of the customers and communities they serve when making lending decisions. Unfortunately, special interest groups have proposed using the heavy hand of government to...
By Kelly Trambly
Iowa accelerates tax reform
Iowa accelerates tax reform
Iowa’s spending restraint has allowed the Hawkeye State to accelerate previously-enacted tax reforms. Thanks to a package of new tax reforms, Iowa’s income tax will be lowered to a flat 3.8% beginning in 2025, far less than half the state’s 8.98% top rate when Iowa’s tax reforms began. The Hawkeye State’s accelerating tax relief adds...
By Michael Lucci
Winter of our artificial communication disconnect
Winter of our artificial communication disconnect
With the rise of artificial intelligence assisting us with how we communicate via email, our alienation occurs while we communicate, not instead of. We can stop it by being intentional with each other while using AI for the rest. If you have not heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI), you have been under a rock. AI...
By Lance Pounds
The Cost of Voting in Nebraska: A Platte Institute Study
The Cost of Voting in Nebraska: A Platte Institute Study
(Note: This is the second in a series of studies exploring various elements of Nebraska’s electoral system. The first study is found here.) A Primary election is a pre-election process for choosing candidates for the general election. In Nebraska (for all but a few municipal elections), the primary occurs in May, preceding the general election...
By Laura Ebke
Taking federal dollars is different than respecting federalism
Taking federal dollars is different than respecting federalism
(NOTE: An earlier version of this article has had some math calculations corrected. The author acknowledges that she studied political science so she wouldn’t have to do math, and apologizes for any confusion on the reader’s part caused by her difficulty in calculating large numbers!) Federalism is a form of government that maintains the...
By Laura Ebke
Nebraskanomics: Jonathan Williams on How Nebraska Ranks
Nebraskanomics: Jonathan Williams on How Nebraska Ranks
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and Executive Vice President for the American Legislative Exchange Council. During the episode Jonathan and Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal dive into the significance of state tax policies and their impact on economic competitiveness. Jonathan also shares valuable insights from...
Help for starting a small business in Nebraska
Help for starting a small business in Nebraska
Note: This cataloging is part of a larger project where we’ll explore small business start-up programs throughout our region as we look for new ways to grow opportunities in Nebraska. Nebraska offers an abundance of resources to aid in the development of current business programs. However, finding these resources can take time and effort. This...
By Lance Pounds
Unstable revenue sources make unsustainable tax reform
Unstable revenue sources make unsustainable tax reform
Sustainable tax reform depends upon sustainable revenue sources. And while Platte Institute has been critical of a state-local tax swap because it uses state funds to subsidize local spending, it’s also worth clarifying that not all state funding sources are created equally. Regardless of Platte’s position on tax swaps, no tax reform should be built...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska’s competitive sales tax and historic 2023 income tax reform must be protected
Nebraska’s competitive sales tax and historic 2023 income tax reform must be protected
As Platte Institute wrote in National Review last year, Nebraska achieved the best tax reform in the country in 2023, delivering long-overdue income tax reform and dramatically enhancing the state’s competitiveness. It was the type of achievement that lawmakers wait a whole career to accomplish. The 2023 income tax reform will phase in over several...
By Michael Lucci