Scroll through the assorted blog posts on this page, or take a look at the Platte Institute website, or at our Twitter or Facebook pages, and you’ll see that we continue to look forward to helping Nebraska develop good policy in the post-COVID-19 reality. From our first big webinar offering Policy Director Sarah Curry’s discussion...
During these uncertain times, I think many of us are seeing that it is more evident than ever that two distinct views exist. One view is the “love of government,” where a belief exists that government knows best and that it’s the government who should step in to solve society’s problems. The other view...
Ernie Goss & Scott Strain on the economic impact of COVID-19 on Nebraska.
The second installment in the series. Ernie Goss & Scott Strain model the impact of COVID-19 on Nebraska jobs, economic activity, and tax revenues.
Why did the Governor waive the late fees on personal property taxes? No, personal property is not the same as the property tax you pay on your house. Real property is stationary and includes land, buildings, improvements, fixtures, mobile homes, minerals, and wells. Nebraska also taxes another type of property, known as tangible personal property. ...
Use federal funds more effectively before spending more.
In March when Congress approved the CARES Act there was a provision making changes to the unemployment insurance program. Most of us have heard about the ‘pandemic add on’ of $600 per week you can collect ON TOP OF the state’s unemployment benefits. Well, now there is a little more to the story. The Foundation...
Economic freedom matters, no matter where a person is born.
Did you know the CARES Act has a special provision and spending directly related to education? The Education Stabilization Fund makes up $30.75 billion of the relief package passed by Congress on March 27th . Nebraska will receive $16,357,685 for elementary and secondary education through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. This amount was set...
43% of businesses have temporarily closed.
Did you know the CARES Act only allows state and local governments to spend the money on NEW programs? Did you also know that Douglas County is the only local government in the entire state that is eligible to receive federal assistance related to the COVID-19 crisis? This is a problem because the biggest need...
State policy leaders from 16 states have co-signed a Platte Institute letter calling for more financial flexibility in the federal relief package.
Federal relief may help, but it can't stimulate a shut down economy.
Pennsylvania’s version of the CBO released estimates last week. If businesses remain closed through April 30th (6 weeks), they are looking at a $2.7 billion drop in revenues. If the shutdown goes 10 weeks Pennsylvania is looking at a $3.9 billion drop. http://www.ifo.state.pa.us/download.cfm?file=Resources/Documents/Revenue-Update-2020-04.pdf Nevada has one of the least diversified economies in the nation with...