“Our federal government simply tries to do too much and does most of it poorly.”
This critique was given by former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey at the State Policy Network’s recent Annual Meeting. (SPN is a national alliance of state-based think tanks, such as the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, which promotes free-market solutions and limited government.)
With this direct criticism, Ducey set the stage for a discussion on the importance of federalism— the distribution of power between the federal government and the states. This was a central concern for the Founding Fathers as they sought to balance power between the states and the national government, and it remains a crucial issue today.
Throughout the discussion, the former governor emphasized that states should take charge of their own policies, fostering innovation and better results.
“Federalism is so much the answer forward for what troubles us in this country,” Ducey argued. He also pointed out that both Republican and Democratic governors are frustrated with federal overreach. “I do think it would be for the conservatives to lead this charge,” Ducey said, but he also noted that many Democratic governors share concerns about Washington’s overreach.
We hope you will check out this week’s commentary about Ducey’s remarks where we talk about how states can be “laboratories of democracy.” We also have the latest stories from the past week, including:
- State PSC approves Georgia Power rate rollback
- Americans continue to move to low-tax destinations
- Georgia Tech’s 3D printer helps a Georgia girl breathe on her own
- Georgia lawmakers look at ideas to preserve farmland
Have a great weekend,
– Kyle Wingfield
Upcoming
On October 2, we will host our next luncheon with author Noah Rothman, along with our partners at National Review Institute. A senior writer at National Review, he is also the author of “The Rise of the New Puritans: Fighting Back Against Progressives’ War on Fun.” Get your tickets now!
Friday’s Freshest
We should address areas where the state makes it more difficult for men and women to contribute to society. One of the biggest barriers in Georgia, and every other state for that matter, is the landscape of occupational regulations. At a time when most employers are looking for workers, the requirement of a government-issued license to do certain jobs is often overly burdensome and sometimes nonsensical.
How is road building evolving in Georgia?
The new lanes on Ga. 400 – two in each direction most of the way, with one in each direction at the northernmost end – will not only add capacity (although that’s good), toll revenues will repay almost all of the project’s costs. Best of all is that taxpayers needn’t even front the money for the project.
“Jury duty.” To the average person, it belongs alongside “fender bender” and “root canal” on life’s little list of undesirable experiences. When I reported for jury duty on a recent Monday, I simply assumed that, as in the past, I’d be dismissed by late morning. That was a bad assumption – although my experience, ultimately, was a good one.
How do Georgia regulations hurt businesses and consumers?
According to a report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the growth in federal regulations between 1997 and 2015 is associated with the following effects on the Georgia economy: 261,162 additional people living in poverty, 3,594 lost jobs annually and 7.35% higher prices.
We don’t do hard things anymore
Americans, and Georgians in particular, need to get back to building. Building what, you ask? Pretty much everything. For starters, we don’t build nearly as many homes as we used to. The peak in Georgia homebuilding – across all types – came in 2005 with more than 109,000 new housing units. Since the Great Recession, we haven’t come close to that number.
The Latest
Economy
Gov Kemp: Georgia job creation remains strong
Gov. Brian Kemp, along with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced another year of sustained momentum for business recruitment and expansions in Fiscal Year 2024. Between July 1, 2023, and June 30 of this year, GDEcD’s Global Commerce team supported 429 facility expansions and new locations, resulting in more than $20.3 billion in investment and the commitment of 26,900 new private sector jobs statewide.
Sandersville Railroad wins eminent domain case against farmers
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted Wednesday to let Sandersville Railroad Co. condemn 43 acres of privately owned land in Sparta through eminent domain. The Foundation has written extensively about this case and what it means for the future of eminent domain (and eminent domain protections) in Georgia.
How inflation hurts even at the municipal level
Inflation and higher construction costs are affecting municipal projects statewide. Case in point: a typical parking lot project in downtown Smyrna. Like many cities, officials in the Atlanta suburb say they need more parking in the downtown area. But prices have doubled to $40,000 per space. As a result, the city is shifting from a parking deck for 173 spaces to a surface lot with 44 spaces.
Government accountability
State PSC approves Georgia Power rate rollback
State energy regulators authorized Georgia Power Wednesday to reduce customer rates by $122 million to reflect the Atlanta-based utility’s savings from corporate tax cuts the General Assembly enacted this year. Gov. Brian Kemp signed two bills last spring reducing Georgia’s income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39% and setting corporate income taxes to match the tax rate imposed on individual taxpayers.
Tech innovation dies in darkness
Among the most contentious debates in the budding field of artificial intelligence (AI) policy is the long-term status of so-called open models—AI models whose underlying weights (the set of billions or even trillions of numbers that define the model’s capabilities) are made available for free for anyone to download or modify.
Ex-Hall County solicitor general admits pocketing public funds
Former Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard pleaded guilty last week to unlawfully using funds from the county and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to cover personal expenditures. Woodard was charged with one count of unprofessional conduct for claiming a number of travel expenditures for which she was not entitled.
Healthcare
Georgia Tech’s 3D printer helps a Georgia girl breathe on her own
A team of Georgia Tech engineers have a custom 3-D printer to splint and support a newborn’s airway that is not strong enough for babies to breathe. While waiting for full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of five hospitals nationwide offering the surgery.
Health care ‘shrinkflation’ hitting Americans with higher costs, longer wait times
A new report found Americans are struggling with health care “shrinkflation,” experiencing longer wait times and shorter doctor visits despite paying more for health coverage. The report cited an Axios/Ipsos survey taken in August that found nearly one out of five people reported waiting more than two months to see a physician.
Housing
Georgia lawmakers ponder measures to preserve the state’s farmland
As Georgia lawmakers ponder how to preserve farmland, their potential action could include expanding tax credits or incentives, similar to what the state offers to lure high-profile economic development projects. Georgia has lost at least 2.6 million acres of farmland since 1974 and a million acres of timberland, state Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, said during a Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmland meeting.
City of Atlanta to spend $60 million on homeless shelter
The City of Atlanta has made its largest investment toward homelessness in its history. Mayor Andre Dickens announced the city will be allocating $60 million toward housing. City officials say they plan to break ground on the Waterworks project this fall. The 100-unit project is expected to be ready by early next year.
Bonus
The government’s permitting regime Is choking the economy
Permitting reform isn’t just bureaucratic minutiae; it’s a critical, deeply moral issue for anyone who believes in free markets, individual liberty, and economic progress. Our permitting regime is a web of red tape that stifles innovation, slows growth and leaves Americans poorer, less free and increasingly frustrated with a government more interested in regulating than enabling prosperity.
How do taxes affect interstate migration?
Every year, millions of Americans pack up and move from one state to another, providing unique insights into what people value when deciding where to live, work, do business, and raise a family. For many years, policymakers, journalists and taxpayers have debated the role state tax policy plays in individuals’ and businesses’ location decisions. Annual data about who is moving—and where—provide clues about the factors contributing to these moves.
Proof of price gouging is harder to find than Bigfoot
The concept of “price gouging” is a lot like Bigfoot. Lots of people think it exists and have been chasing it for decades. Yet actual proof of its existence remains stubbornly elusive.
Quotes of Note
“It is clear from the 2021-2022 IRS migration data that there is a strong positive relationship between state tax competitiveness and net migration.” – Andrey Yushkov
“Although we do not take the use of eminent domain lightly, without it we would not have roads,
airports, electrical lines, gas lines or a host of other infrastructure that allows our communities
to thrive.” – Ben Tarbutton, president of Sandersville Railroad
“We matched up well. It didn’t go our way, but we were physical, we could run. We’ve got a good team. We’ve got a bunch of good, young talent. It’s going to come together, and it’s going to be fun to watch.” – Dabo Swinney, after Clemson’s 34-3 loss to Georgia