Effective Budgeting #5: Empowering All Committees to Manage their Portfolios

Author: Kurt Couchman
May 22, 2026
Commentary

Empowered committees can make Congress a stronger governing institution. A real budget would help members learn, negotiate, prioritize, and improve policy together over time.

Congress to Vote on Much Needed Ban on Highway Surveillance Cameras

Author: Molly Powell
May 21, 2026
Commentary

For years now, cameras have quietly appeared on streets all across the country, tracking your movements as you go about your life. Known as automated license plate readers (ALPRs), these cameras scan every car that passes them. An amendment to the 2026 highway bill may soon roll back this infringement of Fourth Amendment rights.

James Morrone Joins “Day Break with Steve & Ivey Gruber”

Author: James Morrone
May 21, 2026
Podcast

James joins “Day Break” to discuss President Trump’s recent trip to China and the need for permitting reform in the American energy industry.

What Congress Gets Right – and Wrong – on Housing Reform

Author: Ilana Blumsack
May 20, 2026
Commentary

There is a broad consensus amongst Americans across the country that housing is unaffordable. The median single-family home now costs five times the median household income, the age of the median first-time homebuyer is now 40, and the United States has a housing shortage of roughly six million homes nationwide. The housing situation is so dire that Congress has noticed and has proposed different reforms to combat the crisis.

No, the President Can’t Tax Americans by Calling Tariffs “Emergency Policy”

Author: Liam Childers
May 19, 2026
Commentary

The Trump Administration is trying to sell the latest tariff battle as a response to trade imbalances and foreign economic pressure, but the actual issue is largely domestic. Indeed, the most recent ruling in Burlap and Barrel, Inc. v. Trump demonstrates that the question at hand is whether the president can levy taxes on Americans by rebranding his perceived economic grievances as a statutory emergency.

2026 State Session Wrap‑Up: Momentum Builds for Guidance Transparency

Author: Kevin Schmidt
May 18, 2026
Commentary

The takeaway from 2026 is clear: the push for guidance transparency is no longer limited to executive orders, it has entered the legislative mainstream.

National Law Review: State Housing Reforms Continue in 2026

Author: Ilana Blumsack
May 14, 2026
Opinion Piece

Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans. The median age of a first-time homebuyer is forty, home prices have increased by 150% since 2012, and the median single-family home now costs five times the median household income. The U.S. faces a housing shortage of approximately 4 to 8 million homes nationwide, driving up home prices and limiting inventory for young families.

The Case Against CON: What the Evidence Shows

Author: Nicholas Huff (Fall Intern)
May 14, 2026
Commentary

The evidence is clear that CON laws are barriers to accessible, affordable, and high-quality care. By restricting competition and limiting investment in new supply, these restrictions make it harder for providers to respond to patient needs. States seeking to expand access and lower costs should move away from burdensome and obsolete CON programs and toward an open and competitive health care system.

James Morrone Joins ‘The Rod and Greg Show’

Author: James Morrone
May 14, 2026
Podcast

James joins ‘The Rod and Greg Show’ to discuss how President Trump’s visit to China renews the debate over America’s dependence on Chinese minerals despite plenty of domestic reserves seemingly blocked by regulation.

James Morrone Joins ‘NightSide News Update’

Author: James Morrone
May 14, 2026
Podcast

James joins Dan Rea on ‘NightSide News Update’ to discuss why rare earth independence is increasingly tied to broader US-China economic competition. (Interview starts at 4:10)

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