PLI Bulletin

Dealing With Inflation, Gun Violence, Abortion Rights and More

Posted on May 18, 2022

Fair Estate Tax Act: The estate tax is traditionally the most progressive of taxes, but only 17 states have one. Politically, and based on commonsense fairness, it would make sense to establish or increase the estate tax in order to fund some kind of tax cut for average residents. The Estate Tax Act increases revenues by taxing the very wealthiest decedents’ estates.

How to talk about inflation: Progressives are getting hammered on inflation, according to pundits and polls. Ninety-four percent of Americans are concerned about inflation and voters currently trust Republicans more than Democrats to tackle the issue. What should you say? Read the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.

A changing approach to mental health emergencies: Police are often expected to deal with people having a mental health crisis. But those people need experts in behavioral health. NCSL’s Our American States podcast discusses state and local programs that are proven to help.

Policies to help prevent future hate-fueled crimes: Once again, a gunman used an assault weapon with a high-capacity clip to murder, this time ten innocent people in Buffalo. A Center for American Progress article summarizes a few gun policies that would save lives.

Support for abortion rights hits a new high: Following the publicity around the leaked SCOTUS ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, an NBC News poll found that Americans oppose overturning Roe by a margin of more than 2-to-1. Only five percent think abortion should be illegal “without exceptions.” When usually-disinterested citizens understand what’s going on, support for Roe will go even higher.

Repro Rights Report for May 2022: The upcoming SCOTUS ruling has sparked numerous state protections for abortion rights, listed in our updated Repro Rights Report.