Partisan Gap, Security Cameras, Subminimum Wage and More

Posted on February 7, 2024

Fairness In Taxation Act: Affluent households pay a disproportionately low share of the tax burden. The Fairness in Taxation Act, based on the Massachusetts constitutional amendment enacted in 2020, would add an additional tax of four percent for income earned over one million dollars per year.

The subminimum wage for tipped workers is a scam: Most discussions of the subminimum tipped wage are from the point of view of the employer or employee. Let’s consider instead how it works for the customers doing the tipping because, for them, it’s a scam. See the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.

A progressive philosophy based on values: Values help you persuade others. But they can also help you organize and present your own progressive philosophy. For this PLI podcast, listen here.

Huge partisan gap on public schools, colleges and unions: A Pew Research poll finds that Democrats are 72 percent favorable to public schools, 74 percent favorable to colleges, and 75 percent favorable to unions. Only 34 percent of Republicans are favorable to public schools, 31 percent are favorable to colleges, and 35 percent are favorable to unions.

Too many security cameras, not enough safety: While it is often asserted that security cameras make us safer, the data suggests that they don’t make much difference, a Bloomberg column explains.

This year’s Progressive Agenda for States & Localities: The eleventh and latest edition of our Progressive Agenda highlights 50 model bills and hyperlinks to more than 230 models. You can download a PDF with hyperlinks built-in or read it in HTML text.

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Fundraising, Poll Workers, Body Cameras and More

Posted on January 23, 2024

Poll Worker Investment Act: Poll workers are increasingly older and new ones are difficult to recruit. The Poll Worker Investment Act would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to serve as precinct officials under the supervision...

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Ageism, Police Killings, How to Win and More

Posted on January 9, 2024

Online Disclosure of Crime Statistics Act: State and local law enforcement agencies often do a poor job disclosing crime statistics to the public. The Online Disclosure of Crime Statistics Act requires state/local law enforcement...

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Wages, Crime, MAGA and More

Posted on December 12, 2023

Wage Transparency in Job Postings Act: Withholding pay information in employment ads leads to inequality in pay, usually with white males earning more than females and people of color. The Wage Transparency in Job...

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Intimidation, Homelessness, Extreme Heat and More

Posted on November 29, 2023

Stop Intimidation of Public Officials Act: In recent years, there has been a steep increase in the number and severity of threats against public officials. The Stop Intimidation of Public Officials Act makes it...

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Book Bans, Police Reform, Easy Enrollment and More

Posted on November 15, 2023

Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Act: Maryland was the first state to enact a system to use information from state income tax returns to help uninsured residents obtain health care coverage. The Easy Enrollment Health Insurance...

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Heat Deaths, Smoking Economy, AR-15 and More

Posted on November 1, 2023

Prohibit Contingency Fees for Economic Development Act: State and local governments need to discourage corruption or the appearance of corruption. The Prohibit Contingency Fees for Economic Development Act bans the practice of lobbyists receiving...

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Violent Crime, Paid Leave, Conspiracy Theories and More

Posted on October 18, 2023

Divestment from Fossil Fuels Act: Climate change is one of the greatest threats we face to our health, welfare and future prosperity. Nearly every state or locality can—at least—divest its retirement fund from fossil...

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Inflation, Education, Zoning and More

Posted on October 4, 2023

Honesty in Public Education Act: In dozens of states, right-wingers have pushed legislation requiring schoolteachers to lie or withhold the truth about racism, sexism and heterosexism. These attacks routinely fail to identify a single...

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Gig Workers, Small Claims, Proactive Policy and More

Posted on September 20, 2023

Fair Small Claims Court Modernization Act: In 45 states, the small claims courts have monetary limits of $10,000 or less, which is woefully low considering today’s costs. The Small Claims Court Modernization Act increases the monetary...

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