Springfield Voters Should Be Skeptical About Convention Center Claims
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield Business Journal. On November 4, Springfield voters will decide on a proposal...
Springfield Needs Charter Schools
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Of Missouri’s four largest cities—Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and...
Mission Impossible and Nuclear Energy: President Trump’s New Executive Orders
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. While I will avoid any spoilers, the new movie,...
Legislating Lower Standards for Missouri’s Children?
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Missouri lawmakers are considering a change to the performance levels...
Missouri Must Do Better at Controlling Spending
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Elections and inaugurations are a time for reflection and...
Pot Taxes Can Help Municipal Kettles Get into the Black
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. When Missouri voters approved the ballot initiative legalizing marijuana...
911 Systems Are a Great Opportunity for Local Government Cooperation
Versions of the following commentary appeared in the Southeast Missourian, the Columbia Missourian, and the Springfield News-Leader. There is probably no better opportunity for counties...
To Reduce Superintendent Turnover, Change the Pension System
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. If I offered you $100,000 a year for the rest of...
Springfield Should Eliminate Its Economic Development Agencies
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. In July 2010, Missouri politicians joined the state’s economic development...
Springfield Does Not Need a Land Bank
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. In government, nothing succeeds like failure. How else to explain...
Springfield Should Reject Subsidies for Sports Town
A version of this commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. It is important to learn from one’s mistakes, and when it...
Yes, Mr. Pratt, Critical Race Theory is Being Taught and Trained in Missouri K-12
Wes Pratt is the chief diversity officer of Missouri State University, and late last week Mr. Pratt gave a presentation...
Here’s A Crazy Idea: Tax Yourself.
Versions of this commentary were published in the Springfield News-Leader and the Columbia Tribune. Longtime United States Senator and Chairman...
The latest on a Gas Tax Increase and are Tourists “Free Riders”?
On May 13, David Stokes joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss a gas tax increase that is headed to...
Will Springfield School District Become the Next Kansas City or St. Louis?
At around 25,000 students, the Springfield Public Schools is currently the largest district in Missouri. Just 20 years ago, the...
MOSERS Pension Buyout Good for Taxpayers, Probably Not for All Workers
Show-Me Institute scholars have been writing about the perilous position of public pension systems for years. In a 2013 policy...
Reconsidering Teacher Pay
Recently in the Springfield News-Leader, I argued that school districts should reconsider how they pay teachers. Most districts use a...
Want to Value Teachers? Eliminate Salary Schedules
It looks like teachers in Marshfield are finally getting a raise. Teachers are paid on what is known as a...
Why Does Missouri Underfund Public Schools?
I often hear people complain that Missouri’s lawmakers don’t fully fund public education. Let’s be really clear about the terms...
Direct Primary Care Makes a Splash in Springfield
Early last month the Springfield News-Leader published an excellent article about direct primary care, a topic we’ve covered extensively. Direct...
