Show-Me Institute Podcast: Recent Episodes
Show-Me Institute
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Emily Ekins, vice president for policy and society and director of polling at the Cato Institute, about new survey data on Americans' declining civic knowledge and growing openness to socialism. They discuss why younger Americans are less averse to socialism and communism than older generations, what Cato's polling reveals about basic civic knowledge gaps, why the founders prioritized protecting rights and freedoms above solving economic problems, the psychological concept of locus of control and its link to support for socialism, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/local-issues-on-the-ballot-in-missouri-this-august/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
On June 26, 2026, while guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, spoke with Jonathan Whitehead of the Law Offices of Jonathan R. Whitehead LLC, a Lee's Summit-based civil rights attorney, about Kansas City's race- and sex-conscious contracting program. The city's own consultants recently told the council it lacks the legal basis to continue the program, and Whitehead walks through the Supreme Court precedent that governs these programs, what strict scrutiny actually requires, and why the city may now be exposed to a lawsuit.Listen to the full episode: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jude Schwalbach, senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation, about declining K-12 enrollment nationwide and what it means for the future of open enrollment. They discuss why enrollment dropped in 40 states since the pandemic, how districts have responded to increased competition from charter, private, and homeschooling options, why open enrollment tends to cause far less disruption than critics predict, the case for Missouri to catch up with its neighboring states, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/technology-and-our-children-theyre-almost-like-addicts/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/the-senior-services-tax-proposal-in-st-louis-county-is-as-bad-as-it-gets/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Thomas C. Albus, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, about public safety and criminal justice reform in the St. Louis region. They discuss the limits of risk assessment tools in bail decisions, why the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County have such different homicide rates, the case for judicial discretion over algorithmic recommendations, the connection between education, social capital, and crime, and more.Produced By Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Chad Aldeman, education policy researcher and founder of Read Not Guess, about Missouri's early literacy crisis and why the legislature has struggled to address it. They discuss what it means for a fourth grader to be below basic in reading, why three-cueing may be harmful to early readers, the science of reading and what it actually prescribes, the case for third-grade retention policies, and more. Learn more about Read Not Guess at https://www.readnotguess.com.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Read the FAQs Here: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/amendment-5-faqs/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis content was produced using AI-generated narration.
They discuss why Missouri ranks 44th in GDP growth and labor productivity, the case for eliminating the state income tax, why industrial policy tends to fail, the role of higher education in driving innovation, and more. Read the full report at https://bit.ly/4gB48EqProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about Missouri's education leadership shake-up and what comes next. They discuss how to find the right commissioner of education, why outside reformers tend to succeed where insiders struggle, what the dismantling of the US Department of Education means for state accountability systems, why public complacency about poor academic outcomes persists, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/more-noise-than-signal-from-latest-chiefs-release/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
J.C. Bradbury, professor of economics at Kennesaw State University, joined Patrick Tuohey, guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, to discuss his forthcoming book This One Will Be Different and why publicly funded stadiums almost never deliver on their promised economic benefits.Listen to the full show: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andrew G. Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about the Social Security trustees' latest report and what it means for the program's future. They discuss the projected 2032 insolvency of the retirement trust fund, why the trustees' birth rate assumptions may be too optimistic, the proposed Moreno-Warren plan to eliminate the payroll tax ceiling, the Cassidy-Kaine plan and why pension experts oppose it, what would actually happen if the trust fund ran out, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/missouri-missed-an-opportunity-reading-reform/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/what-if-you-eliminated-personal-property-taxes-and-nobody-noticed/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/if-gun-laws-explain-kansas-citys-violence-what-explains-kansas/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/this-is-why-missouri-families-need-choice/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Doug Burris, retired Justice Services Director and Chief United States Probation Officer, about criminal justice reform in Missouri and St. Louis. They discuss Missouri's risk-based approach to sentencing and supervision; why building more prisons may not reduce crime; low violent-crime clearance rates in St. Louis; the case for bail reform and expanded electronic monitoring; the Safer Supervision Act before Congress; and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Cory Koedel, director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute, about Missouri education policy following the 2026 legislative session. They discuss the governor's A to F letter grade executive order, why literacy legislation failed to pass, leadership turmoil at DESE, new research on the effects of open enrollment, the case for expanding charter schools in Missouri, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/the-border-war-truces-predictable-and-predicted-problem/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
and the arms race of youth sports, what cities and communities can do to become more family friendly, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
While guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey is joined by Dimitrios Mastoras, co-founder and executive vice president of Safe Night LLC, a global consulting firm specializing in public safety and policing strategies. With Kansas City set to host World Cup matches, they discuss how cities can prepare for large international crowds, why prevention beats enforcement, and how Safe Night's evidence-based model helped Fort Worth cut aggravated assault by 76% in just six months.Listen to the full show: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/
While guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey is joined by Elias Tsapelas, Director of State Budget and Fiscal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, to discuss the Missouri legislature's effort to begin the process of eliminating the income tax. They break down why Missouri's tax climate is holding back economic and population growth, how a gradual phase-out could work, and why concerns about sales tax rates may be overblown.Listen to the full show: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/
On June 5, Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, guest-hosted Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, where Terrence Wise of the Missouri Workers Center announced the organization had collected over 4,500 signatures, more than double the roughly 2,000 required, to force a public vote on any taxpayer subsidy of the proposed downtown Royals ballpark. The city clerk has 10 days to validate the signatures, after which the city council has 60 days to act, with a public vote expected in November.Listen to the full show: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/missouri-students-continue-to-fall-behind/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/data-centers-can-bring-their-own-tax-cuts/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Judge Glock, director of research and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at City Journal, about the growing debate over data centers in Missouri and across the country. They discuss why some communities are banning data centers while others are welcoming them, how Loudoun County, Virginia became the global epicenter of data center development and what it has meant for local tax revenue, whether concerns about noise, aesthetics, and energy use are valid, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jacob Light, Hoover Fellow at the Hoover Institution, about his research on how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. They explore which college majors are most exposed to AI capabilities, why professors are largely not changing their syllabi or assessment methods despite widespread awareness of AI, and what students are doing in response to the uncertainty. They also discuss whether the backlash against AI on college campuses is real, what previous waves of technological change can teach us about the current moment, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/ferguson-denies-incentives-for-data-center-project/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Avery Frank, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to break down the final week of the 2026 Missouri legislative session. They discuss the constitutional amendment heading to voters that would begin the process of eliminating Missouri's state income tax, where property tax reform efforts stand heading into the final days, the early literacy bill's uncertain path through the Senate, the legislature's approach to A through F school report cards, what the state budget does and does not get right, the Ferguson city council's rejection of a major data center tax subsidy, and more.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/missouris-opportunity-to-attract-talent-latest-irs-data-on-voting-with-their-feet/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/a-big-step-toward-ending-the-income-tax/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Aaron Renn, author and consultant, and David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about the recurring debate over whether the city of St. Louis should rejoin St. Louis County. They explore what city county mergers have actually accomplished in places like Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Lexington, why a full merger in St. Louis would be extraordinarily difficult to pull off, and whether the benefits would even outweigh the costs. They also discuss St. Louis's demographic challenges, what the Pittsburgh model might offer as a path forward, the cultural barriers that make it hard to attract and retain people from outside the region, and more. You can find Aaron's work at www.aaronrenn.comProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/by-the-numbers-what-missouri-might-give-the-royals/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/school-choice-and-luxury-beliefs/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/state-and-local-government/a-wake-up-call-for-st-louis/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Sandoval, demographer and professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Saint Louis University, about what the data says about the future of the St. Louis region. They discuss record low birth rates and what they mean for school enrollment, why St. Louis is among the top regions in the country for deaths outnumbering births, how the region compares to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and why suburbs like Chesterfield and St. Charles are aging faster than most people realize. They also discuss the role of housing supply, school choice, crime, and domestic migration in whether St. Louis can attract and retain young families, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/next-up-on-chiefs-and-royals-stadium-saga/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
about why leading with data and logic is often the wrong approach to changing minds. Drawing on more than a decade of research across psychology, neuroscience, economics, and political science, and experience writing speeches for senior government officials and advising executives, Bandoch explains how the human brain feels before it reasons, why persuasion is about shared action rather than winning, and what policy advocates get wrong when trying to move legislators. They also discuss the Granny Test, how to frame arguments around your audience's moral values, the role of storytelling, and more.Find the book: https://bit.ly/3OOjydbProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/opening-the-nuclear-sector-up-to-innovation-in-missouri/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/moscholars-wins-in-court/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Visit the site: https://moschoolrankings.org/Susan Pendergrass and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss MOSchoolRankings.org, the Show-Me Institute's website that assigns letter grades and GPAs to Missouri schools and districts using publicly available academic and spending data. They explore how the site works, why Missouri has lagged behind other states on accessible school report cards, and how the governor's executive order requiring A through F grades may change that. They also discuss the most common objections to grading schools, how growth and proficiency data account for differences in student populations, the status of report card legislation in the 2026 session, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Find your school: https://moschoolrankings.org/Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/looking-at-missouris-a-districts/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/missouris-film-tax-credits-still-dont-add-up/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/earnings-tax-defenders-unable-to-defend-earnings-tax/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/education/why-the-science-of-reading-is-missouris-path-forward/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org:https://showmeinstitute.org/article/subsidies/why-hand-out-subsidies-to-data-center-developers/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Todd Davidson, Vice President of Programs at the State Policy Network, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the think tank world. They explore what AI is good at and where it falls short, how organizations like the Show-Me Institute can use it to become more productive without losing their edge, why face-to-face relationships will only become more valuable as AI-generated content floods the internet, how a Hawaii think tank used an AI agent to help fire victims submit legislative testimony, what good policy looks like in an AI-driven energy landscape, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://bit.ly/4sy08YxProduced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
They explore what the data actually show about crime trends over the past two decades, how St. Louis compares to similar cities like Cincinnati and Memphis, why crime perception lags so far behind the data, the challenges facing the 911 system and police staffing, why public disorder in high-traffic neighborhoods may be doing as much damage to the city's reputation as violent crime itself, what it would take to make residents actually feel safer, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/trump-executive-order-targets-some-housing-regulation/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Patrick Tuohey and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to break down the key issues Missouri voters will decide on April 7th. They discuss whether local elections should stay in April or move to November, property tax limit votes happening in more than 90 counties, new fire district sales tax authority and what it means for taxpayers, the 1% earnings tax renewals in Kansas City and St. Louis, and Springfield's convention center lodging tax returning to the ballot after voters already rejected it. They also discuss use taxes, senior property tax freezes, the economic development sales tax on the ballot in O'Fallon, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/kansas-sports-authority-lets-chiefs-play-as-home-team-referee-and-rulebook/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to break down the latest from the 2026 Missouri legislative session, including updates on the push to eliminate Missouri's income tax. They also discuss why the film tax credit doesn't work out for Missouri taxpayers, which provisions of the early literacy bills are still moving forward, the growing debate over data center incentives and energy demands, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/taxes/the-wrong-way-to-fix-property-taxes/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org: https://showmeinstitute.org/article/economy/whos-paying-for-what-with-data-centers/Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org.Article text: David Stokes Was Right: Property Tax Caps Are Squeezing Local Budgets Nationwide By Patrick TuoheyProperty tax relief has become a rallying cry for state policymakers across the country. Frustration over rising home values and the cost of living has driven lawmakers in states including Indiana, Ohio, and Wyoming to enact sweeping property tax cuts in recent sessions. But while these measures may look attractive on the campaign trail, they are already putting real strain on local governments that depend on property taxes to fund schools, public safety, and other essential services.An article in the publication Governing titled “State Property Tax Relief Pushes Local Budgets to the Brink” highlights this emerging dynamic. Lawmakers in several states have pursued homeowner tax credits, rate caps, or other limitations without fully compensating counties, cities, and school districts for the revenue they lose. The result? Significant budget shortfalls, belt-tightening by local governments, and even more political pressure from local leaders to revisit state legislation cutting their revenue.These developments matter to Missouri because they illustrate the unintended consequences of well-meaning tax cuts. As my colleague David Stokes has written in testimony before the Missouri Legislature, Missouri depends on property taxes to fund local services efficiently, and ill-designed state interventions can do more harm than good. Stokes emphasized that “Missouri’s property assessment and tax system needs reforms, but efforts to reduce it dramatically or eliminate it entirely go too far,” and that the state should not trade one revenue problem for another by hollowing out the tax base localities rely on.What’s happening outside of Missouri mirrors Stokes’ concerns. In Indiana, a roughly $1.2 billion homeowner tax relief package enacted in 2025 will cost local governments an estimated $1.5 billion over three years, forcing many towns and counties to cut services or revise budgets mid-cycle. Wyoming’s 25 percent cut on assessed home value for tax purposes similarly leaves schools—which receive roughly 70 percent of property tax revenue—scrambling to balance their books.Stokes has warned that limiting property tax growth without careful policy design reduces the property tax base, shifting the burden to other, more distortionary taxes. He argues that property taxes—particularly on land and real estate—are among the least harmful taxes to economic growth compared with income or sales taxes. Wholesale caps or freezes discourage local fiscal responsibility.Missouri’s recent property tax changes—including the creation of “zero percent” and “five percent” counties where valuations can’t drive tax increases without voter approval—reflect a similar temptation to cut taxes without addressing the broader revenue implications. Stokes has noted that such approaches may do little to improve fairness while shrinking the tax base that supports schools and local services.If policymakers in the Show-Me State pay attention to the experience of other states, they’ll proceed with caution. Cutting property taxes without sustainable alternate revenue exacerbates budget stress for counties and schools and shifts costs to taxes that are more damaging to growth, such as income or sales taxes. Ensuring that relief targets those most in need—as opposed to broad caps that change how local governments fund core services—preserves local autonomy and avoids the fiscal cliff other states are now confronting.Missouri’s leaders should focus on reforms that improve fairness and economic efficiency—not simply reducing bills at the expense of services Missourians value.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Christopher Talgo, editorial director at the Heartland Institute, to discuss his recent piece in The Hill on the state of American public education. They explore why the claim that public schools are underfunded doesn't hold up to scrutiny, how per-pupil spending often exceeds private school tuition while outcomes continue to decline, and where all that money is actually going. They also discuss the growing administrative bloat crowding out classroom resources, the dysfunction baked into teacher tenure and union structures, why school choice may be the only real path to meaningful reform, and how states like Florida and Arizona are already demonstrating what's possible when parents are empowered to choose, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute.Learn more at showmeinstitute.org.Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org.Produced by Show-Me OpportunityThis episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org.This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Institute Audio Briefs features audio versions of select articles, commentary, and publications from the Show-Me Institute. Learn more at showmeinstitute.org.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity. This episode was produced using AI-generated narration.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Mike McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice and contributor to the Informed Choice Substack, to discuss his piece, “The Six Words Driving the Education Debate in 2026.” They explore why the school choice conversation has shifted from whether it should exist to what it should look like, how debates over “transparency” and “accountability” are shaping political strategy, and why participation in choice programs changes over time. They also discuss the influence of “rage bait” on public perception, the emerging risks of AI-generated “slop” in schools, and how the “supply side” of education, from micro schools to new learning providers, may determine whether expanded choice truly meets families’ needs, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to break down Governor Mike Kehoe’s State of the State address, including what we know so far about his plan to eliminate Missouri’s income tax, proposals to modernize Missouri's tax system, and the need to rein in state spending. They also discuss open enrollment legislation, the new Missouri Advanced Nuclear Task Force and AI strategy executive order, the push to privatize downtown St. Louis convention center operations, what the Dome’s history says about stadium subsidies, Kansas City’s stadium debate, what they are watching in Jefferson City, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Vladimir Kogan, professor of political science at The Ohio State University, to discuss his new book, No Adult Left Behind, How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids. They explore why the No Child Left Behind era is increasingly viewed as a high point for academic accountability, how low-turnout school board elections skew decision making away from students, and why policies like four-day school weeks often serve adult interests rather than children, and more. Find Vlad's book here: https://bit.ly/3KQzCJvProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Tuohey joined Pete Mundo on Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio to question whether the Kansas City Chiefs’ move to Kansas is really a done deal. He explains why unresolved financial details, uncertain STAR bond math, and the lack of taxpayer backing raise doubts about whether the proposed stadium plan can move forward as advertised.
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to discuss the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, new federal proposals aimed at lowering healthcare costs through cost sharing, employer coverage reforms, and prescription drug transparency. They also break down the latest installment of David Stokes’ Free Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities on parks and recreation, the role of user fees and outsourcing, national polling on public school open enrollment and why parents strongly support it, what they are watching as the 2026 legislative session approaches, and more.Link to the national survey: https://yeseverykidfoundation.org/new-national-poll-shows-americans-demand-more-family-first-k-12-education/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Thomas Friestad of the Kansas City Business Journal about how Kansas STAR bonds work and what they mean for a proposed Kansas City Chiefs stadium.
Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio, Patrick Tuohey speaks with Neil deMause, editor of FieldofSchemes.com and coauthor of Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit. DeMause draws on decades of research examining billions in public subsidies for pro sports facilities, explaining why stadium deals rarely deliver economic benefits and how proposed subsidies for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium fit a familiar national pattern.
Guest hosting Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM and 710 AM on December 30, 2025, Patrick Tuohey of the Show-Me Institute breaks down the math behind Kansas STAR bonds proposed for a Kansas City Chiefs stadium, explaining why the revenue projections may not add up and why taxpayers could be more exposed than advertised.Listen to Full Episodes of Mundo in the Morning: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/
Susan Pendergrass is joined by Cory Koedel, director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute, and Avery Frank, policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute, to discuss Missouri’s early literacy crisis. They walk through the need for a universal reading screener, the evidence behind third grade retention, why banning three cueing matters, how teacher preparation programs must change to align with the science of reading, what successful states like Mississippi have done, what Missouri’s current laws get wrong, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join host Zach Lawhorn to outline what a responsible plan to eliminate Missouri’s income tax should include, from revenue triggers and spending restraint to rethinking other taxes. They also break down St. Louis County’s Bill 182 expanding prevailing wage and DBE mandates, Independence’s proposed TIF package for a new Wally’s gas station and what it says about corporate welfare, Missouri’s early literacy crisis and reforms like a universal third grade reading screener, mandatory retention, and banning three cueing, and what they are watching next on prefiled tax bills, data center policy, and rising property tax bills across the state.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to explain what was actually at stake in the recent federal government shutdown. They break down the debate over extended Affordable Care Act subsidies, why health insurance costs keep rising, how COVID-era provisions distorted the marketplace, and what Congress may do next. The conversation also covers fraud concerns, the future of ACA reform, and what these decisions could mean for Missouri families.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about the book here: https://www.cato.org/books/fighting-freedom-learnSusan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. James Shuls, fellow at the Show-Me Institute and head of the Education Liberty Branch at Florida State University, and Dr. Neal McCluskey of the Cato Institute about their new book, Fighting for the Freedom to Learn: Examining America’s Centuries-Old School Choice Movement. They discuss how the fight for educational freedom long predates modern debates over public schooling, why early advocates viewed schooling as a family and community responsibility, and how today’s school choice expansion connects to America’s founding principles. The conversation covers the history of the common school movement, the roots of residential school assignment, and why educational freedom has always been central to the American story, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Robert C. Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice, about the expansion of school choice and the organization’s work advancing parental freedom in education. They discuss Milton Friedman’s original vision, how states like Florida, Arizona, and Indiana have moved toward universal choice, Missouri’s legal fight over its scholarship program, and how parental demand is reshaping education markets, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss local ballot measures in Missouri, including new hotel taxes in Springfield and Jefferson City, municipal use and gas taxes, how the ongoing federal shutdown could jeopardize food stamp benefits for hundreds of thousands of Missourians and what the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund means for reform, and emerging ideas in energy policy such as consumer regulated electricity and the debate over data center development in Missouri.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Christy Wolfe, director of K–12 policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, about major shifts in federal education policy. They discuss recent Department of Education layoffs, the push to give states more flexibility through waivers, how Indiana is leading a new accountability approach, what it all means for states like Missouri, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass talks with Tiara Jordan-Sutton, Founder and Executive Director of Activate Missouri (formerly Activate STL), about school safety, parental power in education, Missouri’s failure to implement the federal Unsafe School Choice Option, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Marty Lueken, director of EdChoice’s Fiscal Research and Education Center, about the 2025 Fiscal Fact Book. They discuss how much is really spent per student, where the money comes from, why staffing has grown even as enrollment has declined, the fiscal impact of school choice programs, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the cancellation of the St. Louis MetroLink Green Line and what bus rapid transit could mean for the city, major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the One Big Beautiful Bill, and Missouri’s worsening reading crisis and how other states have improved with reforms like third grade retention.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Adam Tyner, national research director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, about his new report, “Equitable” Grading Through the Eyes of Teachers. They discuss what “equitable grading” means, how widespread policies like no zeros, unlimited retakes, and no late penalties have become, and what teachers really think of these reforms, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Show-Me Institute Director of Municipal Policy David Stokes about his new paper in the Free-Market Guide to Missouri Municipalities series on planning and zoning. They discuss how fragmentation among local governments can limit overly strict zoning, how zoning rules affect housing affordability, and why “last house syndrome” poses risks for Missouri’s future growth. From accessory dwelling units and minimum parking requirements to the debate over multifamily housing, Stokes explains how smart reforms can protect property rights and keep housing costs down.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Show-Me Institute policy analyst Avery Frank about his new report, Connecting Nuclear Energy’s Past and Present: Guiding Missouri’s Future. They discuss why electricity demand is rising again, why major companies are turning back to nuclear, and how Missouri can position itself to benefit. From data centers and AI to regulatory hurdles and smart policy steps like a state nuclear advisory council, Avery explains how Missouri could play a leading role in America’s nuclear resurgence.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Edward L.Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard University and nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about America’s housing crisis. They discuss why affordability is a supply problem, how zoning and land-use rules drive up costs, the decline of suburban building, and what states like Missouri can do to encourage growth and restore opportunity.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass talks with Matthew Ladner, senior advisor for education policy implementation at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, about a recent Washington Post article blaming Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for school closures in the Roosevelt Elementary School District. They unpack the real reasons behind declining enrollment, the role of open enrollment and charter schools, and why most Arizona students exercising school choice are still in public schools. The discussion covers how media narratives overlook parent-driven decisions, the political resistance to letting kids leave low-performing districts, and why open enrollment could be a game changer for states like Missouri. Ladner also shares his broader perspective on the post-COVID shift toward educational self-reliance and what it means for the future of public education.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that could reshape the debate over faith-based charter schools. They explore the constitutional questions at the heart of the case, including the tension between the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, and why a 4–4 split leaves the door open for future challenges. The conversation covers the potential role of religious organizations in public education, the importance of accountability in school choice programs, recent legal battles in Missouri and Wyoming, and how shifting public opinion may change the K–12 landscape in the years ahead.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Braxton Steele, intern at the Show-Me Institute and student at Missouri State University, about his summer research on crime and public safety in St. Louis. They discuss his personal experiences living in the city, how crime in St. Louis compares to other Missouri cities and peer cities across the country, the gap between reported crime data and public perception, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, about how a new federal scholarship tax credit, created through the One Big Beautiful Bill, could transform K–12 education across the country. They discuss what this means for Missouri families, the legal threats facing the MOScholars program, how education policy is shifting nationally, and more.Timestamps 00:00 The Evolution of School Choice in Missouri02:59 Charter Schools and Teacher Innovation05:40 The Impact of Lawsuits on Educational Freedom08:35 Federal Tax Credit Programs and Their Implications11:19 The Future of School Choice and Parental EmpowermentProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. Jim Wyckoff, professor at the University of Virginia and director of the Education Policy Ph.D. program, about the long-term decline in student academic achievement. They discuss how national test scores, especially for the lowest-performing students, began falling well before the pandemic, why the usual explanations like COVID or Common Core miss the bigger picture, and what states can do to reverse the trend. Dr. Wyckoff also explores the impact of reduced accountability, smartphone use in schools, teacher workforce challenges, and policy successes in states like Mississippi.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass is joined again by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, for Part II of their conversation on the sweeping federal legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” They unpack what the bill means for Missouri taxpayers, including changes to the standard deduction, tips and overtime, education savings accounts, and higher education policy. They also dig into the bill’s broader fiscal impact, from the growing federal deficit to the implementation challenges facing state governments.Timestamps00:00 Exploring the One Big Beautiful Bill04:58 Tax Implications for Missourians10:20 New Savings Accounts for Children12:07 Changes in Higher Education18:09 Federal Deficit and Debt ConcernsListen to part I: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/economy/understanding-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-with-elias-tsapelas/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass is joined by Elias Tsapelas, director of state budget and fiscal policy at the Show-Me Institute, to break down the sweeping new federal legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." They discuss what it really means for Medicaid recipients, food stamp programs, state budgets, and Missouri taxpayers. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Noah Devine, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public Schools Association, about how charter schools in St. Louis are responding after the recent tornado damaged multiple campuses. They discuss the need for flexibility for displaced families, how charter schools are working to reopen quickly, and the broader importance of school choice, especially in times of crisis. Noah also explains why Missouri’s lack of open enrollment makes recovery harder, and shares resources for families navigating this difficult time.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On April 10, 2025, Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites, visited Washington University School of Law to discuss the ideological and bureaucratic challenges facing American higher education. In this lecture, Shapiro argues that elite universities have abandoned their core mission of truth-seeking in favor of activism, driven by bloated administrations and timid leadership. Drawing on personal experience and national trends, he explains how law schools, in particular, are failing to uphold classical liberal values such as free speech, academic freedom, and equal justice.Watch a video recording of the event: https://youtu.be/TGOmu2Ab-ZMThe event was hosted by the Show-Me Institute, the Federalist Society, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, and Show-Me Opportunity.
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass is joined by Steven Wilson, senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research and author of The Lost Decade: Returning to the Fight for Better Schools in America, to discuss the rise and decline of the “no excuses” charter school movement.They examine how once high-performing urban charter networks lost their focus on academic achievement, why ideological shifts around DEI and anti-racism took root, and what it will take to re-center public education around effective instruction. Wilson also explains the importance of urgency in school leadership, the evidence behind student outcomes, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass is joined by Brian Blase, President of Paragon Health Institute, and Elias Tsapelas, Director of State Budget and Fiscal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, to break down the health care provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”They focus specifically on the bill’s Medicaid provisions, including efforts to enforce eligibility checks, freeze the growth of provider tax schemes, and reduce improper enrollment. Blase and Tsapelas also discuss the reality behind claims that millions will lose coverage, the true cost of Medicaid expansion, and the perverse incentives that allow states to game the federal reimbursement system.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about Missouri’s upcoming special legislative session, slated to begin on June 2, and the debate over taxpayer subsidies for stadiums. They discuss why stadium subsidies often fail to deliver promised economic benefits, how billionaire sports team owners leverage public funds for private gain, and the potential impact of a $50 million annual giveaway to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Tuohey explains the flawed logic behind the argument that Missouri must compete with Kansas in a “race to the bottom” and argues that the state should instead focus on core services like public safety, education, and infrastructure. They also cover the broader implications of using taxpayer dollars to benefit wealthy team owners, the political dynamics driving these proposals, and what citizens and lawmakers should consider as the special session begins.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Special Session01:59 Stadium Subsidies: The Chiefs and Royals05:35 Economic Impact of Stadium Subsidies09:43 Political Dynamics of the Special Session12:34 Public Sentiment and Legislative Challenges16:29 Conclusion and Future ImplicationsProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andrew G. Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), about the current state and future of Social Security. They discuss the dangers of a proposed temporary elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits, which could harm the program’s finances and incentivize early retirement, an outcome that could undercut long-term retirement security. Biggs explains that this move would offset one of the greatest contributors to the success of America’s retirement system and worsen the funding gaps of Social Security. They also cover concerns about the sustainability of the program, the shift from pensions to 401(k) plans, and the need for sound public policy to address these challenges.Check out Dr. Biggs' Substack, Little-Known Facts, here: https://littleknownfacts.substack.com/And his new book, The Real Retirement Crisis: Why (Almost) Everything You Know About the US Retirement System Is Wrong, here: https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-real-retirement-crisis/Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Social Security and Its Importance01:57 Understanding Social Security's Financial Future04:31 Taxation of Social Security Benefits08:11 The Shift from Pensions to 401(k)s10:04 Proposals for Tax Cuts and Their Implications15:51 The Impact of Temporary Tax Cuts on Retirement17:43 The Future of Social Security and Policy ChallengesProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the final stretch of Missouri’s legislative session, including debates over education funding, Medicaid spending, and the state’s overall budget growth. They discuss proposed education reforms, reading instruction standards, and open enrollment. The conversation also covers late-session legislative dealmaking, concerns over tax credit expansions, the pause of St. Louis’s transit project, new land bank plans in St. Louis County, and developments in telemedicine and electricity market reforms.Timestamps00:00 Budget Week: The Countdown Begins02:57 Legislative Priorities: Education and Medicaid06:00 Senate Bill 10: A Mixed Bag of Economic Development09:03 House Bill 660: Local Tax Reforms11:49 Education Legislation: Open Enrollment and Safety Measures15:11 Land Banks: A Controversial Expansion17:58 Telemedicine and Energy Policy: Future Prospects20:49 Final Thoughts: Legislative Outlook and Community ImpactProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Kelly Williams-Bolar about her harrowing experience of fighting for her daughters' education, which led to a legal battle that changed her life forever. After enrolling her daughters in a better school district, Kelly faced accusations of fraud and was ultimately charged with grand theft. After spending nine days in jail, Kelley was pardoned by the governor, who recognized the injustice of her situation. They discuss the systemic issues in education, the consequences of parental choices, and the importance of advocacy for educational equity. Kelly’s story serves as a cautionary tale for parents navigating the complexities of school enrollment and the legal ramifications of seeking better opportunities for their children.Timestamps00:00 The Struggle for Education08:22 The Legal Battle Begins14:06 Consequences of a Fight for Education22:13 Advocacy and Change30:50 Reflections and Future DirectionsProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
You can read the full op-ed here: https://bit.ly/4iscFH7This is a reading of an op-ed written by Susan Pendergrass titled "A Bad Deal for Missouri's Children", published in The Heartlander on April 24, 2025. In this piece, Susan critiques the tradeoff being discussed in the Missouri Legislature, where a weak open-enrollment bill is being tied to a measure that would strip the State Board of Education (BOE) of its authority to hold schools accountable for performance. She argues that this compromise is a bad deal for Missouri’s students and emphasizes the importance of holding school districts accountable.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Cities, Towns, and Villages, Part Two: Taxation. They discuss Missouri's over-reliance on sales taxes and harmful local income taxes, particularly in St. Louis and Kansas City. Stokes emphasizes the need for a "three-legged stool" approach to municipal funding, where sales taxes, property taxes, and user fees work together to create a more stable and sustainable financial system for Missouri's municipalities.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Municipal Policy Expertise02:52 Understanding Municipal Policy and Governance06:12 Local Taxation: Sources and Implications09:03 The Role of User Fees in Municipal Finance12:10 Sales Tax Dynamics and Special Taxing Districts14:47 The Impact of Tax Incentives on Local Development17:54 Challenges of Property and Personal Property Taxes20:58 Sales Tax Pooling: A Unique Approach24:08 Conclusion and Future Directions in Municipal PolicyProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Dr. Cory Koedel, the Show-Me Institute’s new director of education policy, joins Susan Pendergrass to discuss the biggest challenges facing Missouri’s public education system. They cover declining student outcomes, the role of accountability and testing, and the promise of school choice. Koedel shares insights from his research on school funding models—highlighting Tennessee’s student-centered formula—and breaks down what Missouri can learn from states that are improving early literacy. They also examine controversial policies like early grade retention and open enrollment, and Koedel outlines his priorities for education research in Missouri.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Education Policy Challenges in Missouri03:10 The Role of School Choice in Improving Outcomes05:48 Funding Formulas and Their Implications08:52 Early Literacy and Reading Instruction12:05 Retention Policies and Their Effectiveness15:04 Open Enrollment and Its Impact on Rural Schools17:58 Future Directions for Education Policy in MissouriProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Sean McCarthy, Director of Fiscal Policy for the Arizona House of Representatives, about the state’s innovative approach to education. They discuss universal school choice, open enrollment, and the broader implications of Arizona’s funding mechanisms. McCarthy highlights Arizona’s unique position as a national leader in school choice, the role of parental decision-making, and the challenges involved in education budgeting. They also discuss the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program and examine the positive impact this approach has had on rural schools across the state.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Arizona's Fiscal Policy and Education System00:48 Universal School Choice in Arizona03:55 Open Enrollment Dynamics and Parental Choices10:13 Funding Mechanisms and Their Implications14:59 Challenges in Education Funding and Budgeting19:59 Arizona's ESA Program and Parental Empowerment26:55 Rural Education and School Choice OutcomesProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass and Dominic Pino, the Thomas L. Rhodes Fellow at the National Review Institute, discuss the current state of U.S. tariffs and trade policy. They explore tariffs as a hidden form of taxation, debunk common misconceptions about trade deficits, provide historical context for America’s protectionist tendencies, and more.Timestamps: 00:00Understanding Tariffs and Economic Perspectives02:51The Impact of Trade Deficits06:05The Role of Government in Trade Policies08:59The Consequences of Protectionism12:02Future Economic Predictions15:05Historical Context of Tariffs18:03The Confusion Surrounding Current PoliciesProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ben Scafidi, professor of economics and director of the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. He is also a Friedman fellow with EdChoice and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. They discuss the financial implications of declining enrollment in public schools, highlighting how districts with fewer students often experience increased funding per student. Scafidi explains the paradox of declining enrollment leading to financial windfalls for these districts, allowing them to pay teachers more and increase staffing levels. The conversation also touches on the need for a shift in mindset regarding school funding and the importance of adapting to demographic changes in education policy.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this conversation, James Shuls, senior fellow of education policy at the Show-Me Institute and head of the K-12 education reform branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University, and Jason Bedrick, research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, discuss the Phoenix Declaration. They explore the importance of cultural transmission, the distinction between education and indoctrination, and the necessity of grounding education in truth and goodness. The discussion emphasizes the role of schools in character formation and the importance of engagement in public education. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Tim DeRoche from Available to All about the importance of open enrollment in public schools, particularly in Missouri, where strict residential assignment policies limit access to quality education. They discuss the issue of educational redlining, the impact of district boundaries, and the need for policy changes to ensure equitable access for all families. DeRoche highlights transportation challenges, funding models, and successful open enrollment policies in other states that Missouri could learn from.Read Tim's full report here: https://bit.ly/41b2eRCLearn more about Available to All: availabletoall.orgTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:11 The Case for Open Enrollment06:02 Missouri's Unique Challenges09:07 The Impact of District Lines12:13 Educational Redlining and Its Consequences15:03 Resistance to Change in Missouri17:58 Comparative Analysis with Other States20:51 Transportation and Accessibility Issues24:03 Funding Models and Their Implications27:08 The Future of Education in MissouriProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, James Shuls, and Avery Frank debunk common myths about open enrollment policies, addressing concerns about their impact on rural schools, overcrowding, and financial stability. They break down the facts, challenge misconceptions, and explain how expanding school choice can benefit families while strengthening Missouri’s education system.Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding Open Enrollment in Missouri09:51 Common Myths About Open Enrollment19:59 The Impact of Open Enrollment on Academic Performance30:07 Legislative Landscape and Future of Open EnrollmentProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the Missouri Office of Government Efficiency (MOGE) and its impact on state governance, legislative approaches in the House and Senate, the role of outside experts in identifying inefficiencies, and the importance of accountability through timelines. They also cover educational policies like open enrollment, challenges with smartphone use in schools, COVID-era municipal water policies, source of income laws, and the ongoing debate over eliminating the state income tax.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the intersection of education reform and economic development. They discuss the importance of school choice, its impact on property values and community growth, and how current education systems often trap families in underperforming districts. Tuohey advocates for open enrollment policies that empower parents to choose schools that best meet their children's needs. Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Education Reform and Economic Development03:06 The Role of School Choice in Economic Growth06:02 Challenges in Urban Education Systems09:02 The Impact of School Quality on Property Values12:08 The Case for Open Enrollment and School Choice14:49 Comparative Analysis of State Education Policies18:02 The Future of Education in Missouri21:01 Conclusion: Empowering Parents and StudentsRead more from Patrick Tuohey on this issue here: https://bit.ly/4jWeyxGProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of education policy at AEI, about the troubling 2024 NAEP results. They discuss declining reading scores, stagnant math performance, the rise in students performing Below Basic, criticisms of NAEP, and more.Timestamps:00:00 Understanding NAEP: A Vital Educational Metric1:54 Post-Pandemic Performance: A Troubling Reality5:41 The Role of State Education Systems7:45 Accountability and Its Impact on Education12:19 The Influence of School Choice on Test Scores18:40 The Honesty Gap: NAEP vs. State Accountability24:44 Looking Ahead: Future Scores and Educational StrategiesProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Chester (Checker) Finn, Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, about the recent federal executive order "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling". They discuss the balance between patriotic education and federal overreach, the limits on Washington’s role in curriculum, the latest NAEP scores, and more.03:00 The Current State of American Education06:11 Federal Role in Education: Weaponization vs. Minimization08:56 Reading Proficiency Crisis Among Students11:57 Impact of Disbanding the Department of Education15:03 The Need for Stronger Accountability in Education17:59 School Choice and Funding Challenges21:03 Optimism and Pessimism in Education's Future24:03 Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Disconnected YouthProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In December 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity hosted an event featuring Dr. Aaron Hedlund, Chief Economist at the Show-Me Institute, and Elijah Haahr, former Missouri Speaker of the House and host of The Elijah Haahr Show on KWTO.The discussion focused on the 2025 economic outlook for Missouri and the U.S., exploring issues such as unsustainable government spending, the growing national debt, and the Federal Reserve's role in shaping inflation, housing, and labor markets.Today's episode is a recording of that event.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with John Ketcham, legal policy fellow and director of cities at the Manhattan Institute, about his Model Legislation to Restrict Smartphone Use in K–12 Public Schools. They discuss the growing concerns over smartphone use in schools, its documented negative impacts on students’ academic performance and social development, how the proposed legislation aims to create a more focused educational environment, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the start of the 2025 Missouri legislative session. They cover budgetary reform, the need for a Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights, the creation of a recession preparedness fund, open enrollment policies, statewide school choice, improvements to Missouri’s school report cards, tax reform, telemedicine, healthcare regulations, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Bryan C. McCannon, Dean of the School of Business and Economics and Robert S. Eckley Endowed Professor of Economics at Illinois Wesleyan University, and data analyst with Sicuro Data Analytics, LLC.They discuss a new report written for the Show-Me Institute titled "Crime Trends and Criminal Justice Policies in Missouri’s Largest Cities". The report examines the rise in violent crime and homicides in Missouri since 2015. Bryan breaks down how the report compares Missouri’s crime trends with other similar cities, explains how certain policies may have contributed to the increase, highlights some issues with crime data, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Virginia (Ginny) Gentles, director of the Education Freedom and Parental Rights Initiative at the Defense of Freedom Institute, about the future of the Department of Education given recent remarks from the incoming administration about abolishing the department. They discuss the implications for American education policy, explore the potential impact on parental rights and education freedom, and more. Ginny, a long-time school choice advocate and host of the Freedom to Learn Podcast, brings a wealth of experience from her time at the U.S. Department of Education under President George W. Bush, the Florida Department of Education, and as a legislative analyst on Capitol Hill.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James Shuls, David Stokes, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss what the latest test scores reveal about Missouri schools, the debate over a four-day school week as a budget solution, Town and Country’s controversial property tax increase, opposition to a comprehensive plan in Cole Camp, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Download the full 2025 Blueprint here: https://bit.ly/4iiQdBrIn this episode, Susan Pendergrass, James Shuls, Elias Tsapelas, Aaron Hedlund, David Stokes, Patrick Tuohey, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss The 2025 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward. They discuss topics like statewide school choice, income tax reform, local government transparency, Missouri's Taxpayer Bill of Rights, nuclear energy policy, and more.About The 2025 Blueprint:The Show-Me Institute’s mission is to advance liberty with individual responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy. Our vision is for Missouri to be a place where entrepreneurs can pursue their dreams, parents are free to direct the education and upbringing of their children, and a growing economy provides opportunities for all. Critical to achieving this vision is a state government that understands the value of freedom in the lives and future of our people.The 2025 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward explores 17 policy areas in which common-sense reform could immediately and positively impact everyday life for Missourians. Issues covered range from education and healthcare to unemployment insurance and budget reform. Each article identifies a problem that affects the citizens of our state, provides background information and analysis, proposes one or more solutions, and then boils the solutions down into actionable recommendations. We believe that the proposals our policy team has assembled can put Missouri on the path to a healthier economy, a better public education system, and a more vibrant and flourishing civil society.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jude Schwalbach, policy analyst at the Reason Foundation, about his report Public Schools Without Boundaries: 2024. They discuss how open enrollment policies are reshaping K–12 education by allowing students to attend public schools outside of their assigned districts, examine why Missouri ranks poorly in supporting open enrollment, highlighting significant areas for improvement in the state, and more.Read Jude's report here: https://reason.org/open-enrollment/2024-public-schools-without-boundaries/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read the full report here: https://www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/homeschoolingSusan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. Collin Hitt, Executive Director of the SLU PRiME Center and co-author of the paper Taking Attendance: Estimating Homeschooling Populations in States Without Official Homeschool Data—A Pilot Analysis in Missouri.Dr. Hitt shares insights into the challenges of estimating homeschooling populations in states like Missouri, which lack administrative data. He discusses innovative methods, including leveraging publicly available data and parent polling, to provide a clearer picture of homeschooling trends, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3UE4wXfSusan Pendergrass speaks with Martin F. Lueken, Director of the Fiscal Research and Education Center at EdChoice, about the findings of his report Fiscal Effects of School Choice: The Costs and Savings of Private School Choice Programs in America through FY 2022.Marty shares insights into how school choice programs have financially impacted state and local budgets across the United States. He explains the methods used to estimate both short- and long-run savings from these programs and discusses the disparities in per-student funding between public and choice program students. Lueken also addresses the funding context and long-term fiscal implications of choice programs for K–12 education systems, shedding light on common misconceptions and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Charles M. Silver, professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and David Hyman, professor at Georgetown Law, about their proposal for reforming Medicare by giving money directly to patients instead of providers. They explain how fraudulent practices like 'upcoding' are draining taxpayer dollars, driving up healthcare costs, and offer solutions to reduce fraud and improve efficiency.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read David's full report here: https://bit.ly/3NuEfX6In this episode, James V. Shuls speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about his recent report, A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities. They discuss the benefits of applying free-market principles to local governance.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jenny Clark, Founder & CEO of Love Your School, about the experience of navigating Arizona's Education Savings Account (ESA) Program from a parent's perspective.Jenny shares her personal journey as a mother of five in Arizona and how her family has utilized a variety of schooling options to fit each child's unique needs. She explains the flexibility ESA programs offer, the challenges parents face in accessing and managing the funds, how it empowers families to take control of their children's education, the growing popularity of school choice in Arizona, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: Missouri’s Amendment 6, the Kirkwood sales tax vote, the state’s minimum wage proposition, the return of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
See Charles live on October 9 in St. Charles, MOTickets and details: bit.ly/3BtZ2r3Susan Pendergrass speaks with Charles C. W. Cooke, senior editor at National Review, about the growing trend of federal centralization and its threat to the U.S. federalist system.They discuss how the founders intended for states and local communities to have control over their governance, and why the push to consolidate power in Washington undermines American principles of liberty and self-governance. Charles explains why this centralization is antithetical to the country’s founding ideals, the consequences of this shift, and why it’s essential to reverse course.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jeff Asher, data analyst and co-founder of AH Datalytics, about the Real-Time Crime Index (RTCI). They discuss how the RTCI provides a near real-time look at crime trends across the U.S. by sampling data from hundreds of law enforcement agencies. Jeff explains the challenges of working with incomplete and imprecise data, the methodology for standardizing crime statistics across different agencies, the importance of real-time data for informed decision-making, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls speaks with Crosby Kemper III, former director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, executive director of the Kansas City Public Library, and co-founder and former chairman of the Show-Me Institute, about the role of American institutions in shaping culture. They explore the impact of libraries, museums, and other cultural pillars on society, the ways in which these institutions influence public discourse and community engagement, the challenges they face in an evolving cultural landscape, and the importance of preserving these institutions for future generations.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the Kansas City 33 School District's recent proposal to issue $424 million in bonds for building improvements. Despite a significant decline in enrollment and a previous failed bond referendum, KCPS is asking taxpayers to fund this initiative through increased property taxes. They discuss whether new buildings can truly address the district's deeper issues, such as poor academic performance and declining enrollment, if the funds could be better spent elsewhere, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Charles Fain Lehman, fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about his recent report titled "Doing Less with Less Crime and Punishment in Washington, DC." They explore the factors contributing to the rise in violent crime and public disorder, the impact of reduced law enforcement capacity, the broader implications for public safety, potential reforms to improve the criminal justice system, strategies for better resource allocation, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: a Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights, St. Louis County considering adopting a 'county manager' form of government, what the latest test scores tell us about Missouri schools, and more.Read the Taxpayer Bill or Rights here: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/taxes/a-taxpayer-bill-of-rights-for-missouri/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jude Schwalbach, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Reason Foundation, about his recent article on the urgent need for school districts to either reduce staffing or consolidate to survive. They discuss the financial pressures facing many districts due to declining enrollment, the tough decisions schools must make to remain viable, the potential benefits of consolidation, the resistance from various stakeholders, innovative solutions to navigate these challenging circumstances, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, James V. Shuls speaks with Michael Q. McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice and Senior Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about his latest paper, 'Why Markets Matter in Education.' They explore the growing role of market forces in education, the benefits of choice and competition for schools and students, the impact of educational marketplaces on innovation and quality, the challenges of government intervention in schooling, and the long-term advantages of allowing parents to shape their children's educational journeys.Read the essay here: https://bit.ly/3YG77CyProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass talks with Patrick Tuohey, Senior Fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the Missouri-Kansas border war over economic development incentives. They discuss how the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals reignited the subsidies battle between the states, the effects on local economies, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Daniel DiSalvo, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a professor of political science in the Colin Powell School at the City College of New York–CUNY, about his recent report on the policy response to declining public school enrollment. They explore the causes behind the drop in student numbers, the effectiveness of current educational policies, the challenges faced by public schools in adapting to these changes, innovative approaches to address enrollment declines, and more.Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3LCvFVwProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with James V. Shuls, Director of Research and Senior Fellow at the Show-Me Institute, and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, about the history and impact of the school choice movement. They discuss Shuls' recent paper, "The Father of the School Choice Movement," which highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Father Virgil Blum alongside the well-known Milton Friedman. The conversation explores Blum’s legal, moral, and religious advocacy for educational freedom, his role in founding Citizens for Educational Freedom, and how his work laid the groundwork for modern school choice policies.Find the paper here: https://bit.ly/3zKTGXHProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls speaks with Russell S. Sobel, Professor of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the Baker School of Business at The Citadel, about his latest paper, "Why Markets Matter for Human Progress & Prosperity." They discuss how free markets drive innovation, prosperity, and human flourishing, the historical context of market-based economies, the pitfalls of government intervention, the long-term benefits of entrepreneurship and competition, and more.Read the full paper here: https://bit.ly/3zISjZAProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Elias Tsapelas, Director of State Budget and Fiscal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about his recent report, "Missouri's Hancock Amendment: A Primer." They discuss the historical context and significance of the Hancock Amendment, its impact on Missouri’s fiscal policy, what can be done to improve protections for Missouri taxpayers, and more.Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3UzznohProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Stephane Lavertu, Professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University, about the so-called "fiscal cliff" in public education funding. They discuss the idea that returning to pre-pandemic funding levels constitutes a crisis, the implications of declining student enrollment, whether maintaining or increasing current funding levels is truly necessary, and more.Stéphane Lavertu’s teaching and research focus on public administration, political economy, public policy analysis and evaluation, and education policy and governance.He has a doctorate in political science from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in education from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University.His interdisciplinary research examines the politics of public administration and the performance of public organizations, particularly in the context of K-12 education. He publishes in public administration journals such as Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory, Journal of Policy Analysis & Management and Public Administration Review; political science journals such as American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and Journal of Politics; education journals such as Educational Evaluation & Policy Analysis and AERA Open; and economics journals such as Economics of Education Review, Journal of Public Economics, and Journal of Urban Economics.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Judge Glock, the Director of Research and a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and a contributing editor at City Journal, about the ongoing attempts to address homelessness through housing policy. They explore the effectiveness of current housing initiatives, the challenges in implementing effective policy solutions, innovative approaches to reduce homelessness, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:– Their new report, "Longer Days and Fewer Total Hours: Examining the Four-Day School Week in Missouri"– The rise of the four-day school week in Missouri– The impact on student achievement and teacher retention– Parent opinion on the four-day school week, and moreProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University, about his latest book "Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation." They discuss reducing housing regulations to address the housing shortage, the broader impacts of housing policy on urban development and affordability, how to talk about public policy, and more.Order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode, Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ryan Bourne, the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at the Cato Institute and editor of the book "The War on Prices: How Popular Misconceptions about Inflation, Prices, and Value Create Bad Policy." They discuss the effects of price controls, recent interventions in the economy, how to remind people about free market principals, and more. Ryan Bourne occupies the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at Cato and is the author of the recent books Economics In One Virus, and The War on Prices. He has written on numerous economic issues, including fiscal policy, inequality, minimum wages, infrastructure spending, the cost of living and rent control.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the end of the 2024 Missouri Legislative Session. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:- The state budget- The final week of the legislative session- The latest plan in the City of St. Louis to deal with the prevalence of temporary tags, and moreProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Andrew J. Rotherham is a co-founder and External Relations leader at Bellwether, a national nonprofit that exists to transform education to ensure systemically marginalized young people achieve outcomes that lead to fulfilling lives and flourishing communities. Rotherham also works in Bellwether’s Policy and Evaluation practice area and serves on the Virginia Board of Education. He occupies a unique place in the U.S. education sector working across silos. He has been appointed to senior policymaking roles by Democrats and Republicans, works at the intersection of research and policy, media, and practice, and is a longtime champion of heterodoxy, empiricism, and pragmatism in education policy.Rotherham writes the blog and newsletter Eduwonk.com. Learn more about Bellwether: https://bellwether.org/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Ignasi Grau Callizo is the General Director of International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education (OIDEL). Grau holds a double bachelor in Law and Business Administration and a master’s degree in Political Science.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On April 23, 2024, at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch, Jim Geraghty, Fellow at National Review Institute and National Review’s senior political correspondent, discussed his two reporting trips to Ukraine. Geraghty delved into the broader implications of the conflict and its significance for the United States.Geraghty writes the National Review’s widely read daily “Morning Jolt” newsletter and appears on the magazine’s weekly “The Editors” podcast. He also co-hosts two podcasts and has authored eight books, including "Heavy Lifting" with Cam Edwards and "Voting to Kill."This event was co-sponsored by Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, the Kansas City Public Library, and Show-Me Opportunity.
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:- The need to update Missouri's tax and expenditure limits (the Hancock Amendment) - The passage of SB 727, the education reform bill, by the Senateand House- Metrolink expansion, and moreProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass and James Shuls join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the House passing SB 727, sending it to the governor’s desk. The bill ended up being quite large. Here is some of what’s in it.Charter schools could be coming to Boone County. If a group of teachers, parents, or citizens wants to open a charter school and has a solid application, it can now apply to a university or the state charter school board for sponsorship. The group does not need the approval of a local school board.Eligibility for the MO Scholars scholarship program for low-income students and students with disabilities has been greatly expanded. There are no longer geographic restrictions for who is eligible. The income limits for eligibility have been raised. The total amount of tax credits that can be dedicated to the program was increased from $50 million to $75 million. And the dollar amount of the scholarship was raised to bring the number in line with the Foundation Formula amounts for similar types of students.Districts in the state’s largest communities must now put a potential switch to a four-day school week to a vote. There is also a financial incentive that will be remitted to any district that remains open five days per week.There is also an important change to the state’s foundation formula. Previously, students were counted purely based on attendance. Now, the formula will be 50 percent based on attendance and 50 percent based on enrollment.The minimum teacher salary was raised from $25,000 to $40,000 for all teachers and from $33,000 to $46,000 for teachers with master’s degrees.Districts will be able to attempt to fill teaching positions in “hard-to-staff” schools by placing teachers higher on the salary schedule than they normally would be.There are many more provisions to SB 727. It represents a defensible trade-off between increasing options for Missouri students who need them and investing in the system.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:– The KC Stadium tax "No" vote victory – Other Missouri election day results – The latest on the $50 billion state budget that passed out of the House, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Reason Foundation's Aaron Smith about his recent report titled "Public education at a crossroads: A comprehensive look at K-12 resources and outcomes" Read the full report here: https://reason.org/k12-ed-spending/crossroads-report/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks to Mike McShane and Rick Hess about their new book " Getting Education Right: A Conservative Vision for Improving Early Childhood, K–12, and College" In Getting Education Right: A Conservative Vision for Improving Early Childhood, K–12, and College, Frederick M. Hess and Michael Q. McShane argue that America has too long suffered from the absence of a robust, coherent, and principled conservative vision for educational improvement. The problem? The right has too narrowly focused on school choice, campus speech, and shrinking Washington’s footprint, while the left has sought to subsidize and supersize the status quo. The solution? An education system imbued with shared values, respectful of family ties, and equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. Rooted in fundamental conservative principles, the book explains how we got here and where we need to go when it comes to early childhood, K–12, and higher education. Eschewing performative polemics, this book offers a field guide to bringing education back to its formative mission. Readers from across the ideological spectrum will benefit from engaging with the provocative analysis Hess and McShane offer, whether or not they agree with the policies they propose. Education is the foundation on which America’s future will be constructed, and Getting Education Right provides a timely blueprint for that project.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:- The stadium tax debate in Kansas City - The MetroLink expansion plan advances in St. Louis - How to make it easier to access virtual health care in Missouri, and moreProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey about the stadium funding debate in Kansas City. The Royals want a sales tax extension to pay for their new ballpark, potentially costing taxpayers between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion. The Chiefs are also seeking tax dollars for upgrades to Arrowhead.Patrick Tuohey is senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute and co-founder and policy director of the Better Cities Project. Both organizations aim to deliver the best in public policy research from around the country to local leaders, communities and voters. He works to foster understanding of the consequences — often unintended — of policies regarding economic development, taxation, education, policing, and transportation. In 2021, Patrick served as a fellow of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. He is currently a visiting fellow at the Yorktown Foundation for Public Policy in Virginia and also a regular opinion columnist for The Kansas City Star.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks to Eric Wearne about The National Hybrid Schools Project.The National Hybrid Schools Project is the national clearinghouse for research, data, practices, and networking for the burgeoning hybrid home school movement.Eric Wearne is Associate Professor in the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University and Director of the Hybrid Schools Project. He is the author of Defining Hybrid Homeschools in America: Little Platoons (Lexington Books, 2020). His work has been published by the Peabody Journal of Education, the Journal of School Choice, Catholic Social Science Review, City Journal, and Law & Liberty, among others. He was previously Provost at Holy Spirit College, Associate Professor of Education Foundations at Georgia Gwinnett College, Director of Data Analysis and Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement in Atlanta, and a high school English and Debate teacher. He holds a PhD in Educational Studies from Emory University, a MA in English Education from the University of Georgia, and a BA in English from Florida State University.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:- Key takeaways from Governor Parson's State of the State address- Does Missouri have a budget surplus? - A "source of income" ordinance passes in KC - What's moving in Jefferson City, and moreLINKS: Patrick Tuohey's blog: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/budget-and-spending/no-missouri-is-not-running-a-budget-surplus/David Stokes Testimony on Source of Income Rules: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/municipal-policy/house-bill-2385-and-source-of-income-rules-for-rentals/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with AEI's Nat Malkus about the problem of chronic absenteeism in America's schools following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nat Malkus is a senior fellow and the deputy director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he specializes in empirical research on K–12 schooling. He is a national expert on a range of educational issues that affect students across the country—including Career and Technical Education, school choice, Advanced Placement, standardized testing, and how the nation’s schools responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Michael Hartney about his new latest report, Students or Salaries? How Unions Choose School Board Candidates. Download the full report here: https://manhattan.institute/article/students-or-salaries-how-unions-choose-school-board-candidatesMichael Hartney is a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, an associate professor in the department of political science at Boston College, and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He is also a research affiliate at Harvard University’s Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG), and, in 2020-21, a W. Glenn Campbell and Rita Ricardo-Campbell Hoover National Fellow.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the start of the 2024 Missouri legislative session. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On November 30, Show-Me Institute hosted a virtual town hall on the future of supply-side economics beyond the legacies of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Patrick Minford and Aaron Hedlund shared their insights and perspectives on the past, present, and future of supply-side economics, and answered audience questions.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Download the 2024 Blueprint for Missouri here: https://bit.ly/483bucEThe Show-Me Institute hosted a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. The presentation outlined the 2024 Blueprint for Missouri. The 2024 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward explores 16 policy areas in which common-sense reform could immediately and positively impact everyday life for Missourians. Issues covered range from education and health care to unemployment insurance and budget reform. Each article identifies a problem that affects the citizens of our state, provides background information and analysis, proposes one or more solutions, and then boils the solutions down into actionable recommendations. We believe that the proposals our policy team has assembled can put Missouri on the path to a healthier economy, a better public education system, and a more vibrant and flourishing civil society.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Robert VerBruggen about his latest report "Making Metros Family-Friendly: Rankings and Suggestions" Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3QoHgcQRobert VerBruggen is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute where he provides policy research, writes for City Journal, and contributes to special projects and initiatives in the President’s office. Having held roles as Deputy Managing Editor of National Review, Managing Editor of The American Conservative, Editor at RealClearPolicy, and Assistant Book Editor at The Washington Times, VerBruggen writes on a wide array of issues including economic policy, public finance, health care, education, family policy, cancel culture, and public safety. VerBruggen was a Phillips Foundation Journalism Fellow in 2009 and a 2005 winner of the Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award. He holds a B.A. in journalism and political science from Northwestern University.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, National Review Institute's Kevin A. Hassett discussed his compelling memoir and analysis, "The Drift: Stopping America’s Slide to Socialism" at The World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri. Event presented by: Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, 97.1 FM Talk, and Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Detroit's land tax experiment, redevelopment subsides in North St. Louis, an important deadline for Missouri parents and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Zach Lawhorn speaks to Susan Pendergrass about her new report The Future of Missouri’s Workforce. Read the report here: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/workforce/the-future-of-missouris-workforce/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Randal O' Toole about his latest report "Is St. Louis Transit Built for the 2020s or the 1910s?"Randal O’Toole is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and Director of the American Dream Coalition, and Senior Economist at the Thoreau Institute. He has been Visiting Scholar at the College of Natural Resources at the University of California at Berkeley, McCluskey Conservation Fellow at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Merrill Visiting Professor of Political Science at Utah State University.Read Randal's full report here: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/transportation/is-st-louis-transit-built-for-the-2020s-or-the-1910s/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Jamison White is the director of data and research for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Before joining the National Alliance, Jamison worked as a data analyst and freelance consultant in Boston and the greater New York area.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Show-Me Institute's latest report "Is St. Louis Transit Built for the 2020s or the 1910s?", short-term rental regulations in St. Louis City, property tax freezes for seniors, and more. Read the full study here: https://bit.ly/46ri4bPProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Michael J. Petrilli about his recent op-ed featured in The New York Times, titled 'We Can Fight Learning Loss Only With Accountability and Action'.Michael J. Petrilli is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, executive editor of Education Next, editor in chief of the Education Gadfly Weekly, and host of the Education Gadfly Show podcast. An award-winning writer, he is the author of The Diverse Schools Dilemma, editor of Education for Upward Mobility, and co-editor of How to Educate an American and Follow the Science to School. An expert on charter schools, school accountability, evidence-based practices, and trends in test scores and other student outcomes, Petrilli has published opinion pieces in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Slate, and appears frequently on television and radio. Petrilli helped to create the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement and the Policy Innovators in Education Network. He lives with his family in Bethesda, Maryland.Produced By Show- Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the veto session, freezing property taxes for seniors in St. Charles County, the formation of a committee on the St. Louis earnings tax, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Dalena Wallace is a busy homeschool mom of six. She manages a co-op serving 35 local homeschoolers and operates a hybrid microschool called AIM High. She is the founder of AIM Educational Collaborative LLC which helps provide assistance and coaching for others who would like to build Autonomous, Innovative, and Missional educational models. To learn more about her work visit: https://www.aimeducationks.com/, reach out @ https://twitter.com/DalenaWallace, or email: dalena.aimeducation@gmail.com.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls is the director of research and distinguished fellow of education policy at the Show-Me Institute.James' work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a bachelors degree from Missouri Southern State University and a masters degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, James taught first grade and fifth grade in southwest Missouri.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James Franko is the President of Kansas Policy Institute.
Learn more about KPI's September 23 event here: https://kansaspolicy.org/events/
James has published opinion pieces in both national and Kansas-based media outlets, has appeared on radio and TV programs, and regularly speaks to groups around The Sunflower State. A native of Stilwell, James is graduate of Kansas State University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and minored in economics.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, James Shuls, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss "innovation waivers", the school choice movement internationally, the search for a new location for a homeless shelter in St. Louis, and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ashley Berner about the importance of pluralism in education, how different countries think about pluralism in education, and more.
Dr. Ashley Rogers Berner Ashley Berner is Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy and Associate Professor of Education. She served previously as the Deputy Director of the CUNY Institute for Education Policy and as an administrator at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, University of Virginia. Palgrave MacMillan released Pluralism and American Public Education: No One Way to School (2017), and Dr. Berner has published articles, book chapters, and op-eds on citizenship formation, academic outcomes, pluralism, and the political theories of education in different national contexts. She led the design of the Institute’s School Culture 360™ and ELA and Social Studies Knowledge Maps™. Her earlier teaching experience took place in a Jewish pre-school, an Episcopal secondary school, and an open university in Louisiana; she currently advises doctoral students and teaches in the master’s program at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Berner represents the Institute’s work across the country and consults regularly with international, federal, and state-level agencies, non-governmental organizations, and school systems. She held a five-year fellowship at the Center for the Study of Law & Religion at Emory University School of Law and currently serves as an advisor to iCivics and the Educating for American Democracy project. Dr. Berner holds degrees from Davidson College (Honors A.B.) and from Oxford University (M.Litt. and D.Phil. in Modern History).
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Chris Braunlich is the former Co-President and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Virginia’s non-partisan public policy foundation. He was appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell to the Virginia State Board of Education, where his colleagues elected him president of the Board.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Missouri's new transitional benefits law, Chesterfield discussing the use of eminent domain in their legal battle against Dillard's, the future of nuclear reactor construction, and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Clip from the July 26 episode of The Show-Me Institute Podcast. Listen to the full episode here: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/economy/tax-free-weekend-property-tax-freeze-and-school-lunches/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Ishmael, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss freezing property taxes for seniors, what the research says about the impact of "Tax Holidays", the latest developments in the Kansas City Royals search for a location for a new ballpark, and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with AEI's Rick Hess about his new book "The Great School Rethink".
Learn more about the book: https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-great-school-rethink/
Frederick M. Hess is a senior fellow and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he works on K–12 and higher education issues. The author of Education Week’s popular blog “Rick Hess Straight Up,” Dr. Hess is also an executive editor of Education Next, and a Forbes senior contributor. He is the founder and chairman of AEI’s Conservative Education Reform Network.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss more than $500 million in line-item vetoes by Governor Parson, the plan to increase the use of license plate readers in St. Charles County, what Missouri can learn from Florida public policy, and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss changes to St. Louis water rates, a new standardized test coming to Missouri schools, the challenges of increasing transparency in hospital pricing, and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Trish Flanagan is the executive director of Building Futures: Design and Build Workshop.
Founded in 2012, by Gay Lorberbaum, Paul Krautmann, and Frank Lorberbaum, Building Futures: Design and Build Workshop began as a year-round Saturday workshop focused on supplementing the education of the under-served young people in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Aaron Hedlund, David Stokes and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the most recent report on inflation in the U.S., the daunting task of updating Missouri's Medicaid enrollment data, and the intriguing idea of privatizing the water utility in the City of St. Louis following a string of over a dozen water main breaks over the weekend.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Matthew Ladner is executive editor of redefinED. He has written numerous studies on school choice, charter schools and special education reform, and his articles have appeared in Education Next; the Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice; and the British Journal of Political Science. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received a master's degree and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Houston.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Mark A. Calabria about new mortgage regulations designed to increase equity in home ownership, if today's housing market has echoes of the pre-2008 market, what higher interest rates for longer could mean for first-time home buyers, and more. Mark A. Calabria is a senior advisor to the Cato Institute. He provides strategic input and direction on the federal economic policymaking process. He previously served as director of financial regulation at the Cato Institute, where he cofounded Cato’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives.Find Mark's latest book "Shelter from the Storm: How a COVID Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted" here: https://amzn.to/3ODhPVHProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Patrick Ishmael, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to put a bow on the legislative session, discuss new restrictions on short-term rentals, and calls to increase security in downtown St. Louis following a rash of car break-ins around Busch Stadium. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the end of 2023 Missouri legislative session. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On May 9, 2023, Jay Nordlinger delivered a talk titled “Adventures in Journalism” at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.During the talk, Nordlinger surveys today’s media landscape with what has become frequent dismay.“We’ve never had so much journalism and so many outlets, which is great,” the National Review senior editor says. “But politics and journalism have merged, and … I’ve seen a lot of journalists begin to act like politicians with political calculations. That’s crippling to a writer.”“You’ve got to be free at the keyboard,” he says, “to pursue the truth as you find it.”Nordlinger, who lives in New York, writes the column “Impromptus” for NationalReview.com and is a book fellow of the National Review Institute. He’s the author of two books: Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World and Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators. Selections of his work have been republished in two anthologies.He also is a music critic for The New Criterion and the host of two podcasts, Q&A and Music for a While.The event was co-presented by the Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, the John W. Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise, and Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with former superintendent John C. Carver. John writes about education policy at growthringsjcc.blogspot.comProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
On April 26, 2023, the Show-Me Institute, in partnership with EdChoice and Show-Me Opportunity, hosted a virtual event featuring EdChoice’s Marty Lueken, Director of Fiscal Research & Education Center, and Mike McShane, Director of National Research, join Show-Me Institute’s Director of Education Research, Susan Pendergrass. You can watch video of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLHGAqIEuj0Mike and Marty discussed their recently published report titled K-12 Without Borders: Public School Students, Families, and Teachers Shut in by Education Boundaries, which examines what a K-12 education system with fewer school district borders would mean for students, teachers, and taxpayers. Read the full report here: https://manhattan.institute/article/k-12-without-borders-public-school-students-families-and-teachers-shut-in-by-education-boundariesShow-Me Institute Policy Briefs on Open Enrollment in Missouri: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/school-choice/open-enrollment-in-missouri/https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/school-choice/school-choice-and-school-transportation-exploring-opportunities/Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James Shuls, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the latest on the Missouri budget process, get an update on education legislation, why some Missourians are going to be surprised by the increase in their property tax bills, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Daniel DiSalvo about his new report Big City Pensions and the Urban Doom Loop. Daniel DiSalvo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a professor of political science in the Colin Powell School at the City College of New York–CUNY.DiSalvo’s scholarship focuses on American political parties, elections, labor unions, state government, and public policy. He is the author of Engines of Change: Party Factions in American Politics, 1868–2010 (2012) and Government Against Itself: Public Union Power and Its Consequences (2014). DiSalvo writes frequently for scholarly and popular publications, including National Affairs, City Journal, American Interest, Commentary, The Weekly Standard, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, and New York Post. He is coeditor of The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics. DiSalvo holds a Ph.D. in politics from the University of Virginia.Produced By Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Will Flanders about what Missouri can learn from Wisconsin's educational choice programs. Will Flanders is the Research Director at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Together with the education policy team, Dr. Flanders conducts econometric research on the application of WILL’s principles of freedom and liberty to the educational system in Wisconsin. Since joining WILL, he has authored or co-authored reports on the return on investment from charter schools, the effects of Act 10 on the teaching workforce, and the economic benefits of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.Produced By Show-Me Opportunity
Ben DeGrow is the Policy Director of Education Choice for ExcelinEd.Ben worked nearly two decades in state-based public policy, providing expert analysis in school choice, school finance and more. In his time at Colorado’s Independence Institute and Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy, he led dozens of studies and research project initiatives while also managing or supporting various coalitions to advance student opportunity through greater parental choice. Ben’s classroom experiences include service as a university graduate assistant, high school history teacher and a substitute in Michigan public schools. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Hillsdale College, a Master of Arts degree from Penn State University and a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Ishmael, David Stokes, and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss recent changes to language used in University of Missouri System job listings, the progress on the state budget process, the upcoming elections, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the start of the second half of the legislative session, the tax cut bill moving through the House, upcoming ballot items and the status of the open enrollment bill. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On March 21, 2023, the Show-Me Institute hosted a virtual event with Senator Jim Talent and Heritage Foundation’s James Jay Carafano. They discussed rising tensions between the United States and China, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of conflict over Taiwan, and more.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Adam Peshek is Senior Director and Senior Fellow at Stand Together Trust, where he focuses on education policy. Prior to joining STT, Peshek spent eight years in leadership positions with ExcelinEd, including managing policy director. In this role, Peshek provided strategic support to state leaders interested in developing and implementing policies that expanded educational options for children. He also served as vice president of advocacy, directing the organization’s advocacy efforts with governors, state legislatures and departments of education, and other stakeholders.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks to Allison Schrager about inflation, the Federal Reserve's next move in light of panic in the banking sector, how supply-side reforms can boost the economy and more.Allison Schrager is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a City Journal contributing editor, where her research focuses on public finance, pensions, tax policy, labor markets, and monetary policy. She is also the author of An Economist Walks Into a Brothel and co-founder of LifeCycle Finance Partners, LLC, a risk advisory firm.Read Allison's report here: https://bit.ly/3JHQK0wProduced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. Paul Hill about his career in education reform, the current state of school choice, and more. Paul T. Hill is the founder of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Washington Bothell. His current work focuses on re-missioning states and school districts to promote school performance; school choice and innovation; finance and productivity; and improving rural schools.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with AEI's Andrew G. Biggs about what can be done to address the looming crisis of the insolvency of America's social security system. Read Dr. Biggs' recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal: https://on.wsj.com/3KSCwetAndrew G. Biggs is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies Social Security reform, state and local government pensions, and public sector pay and benefits.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about how the 2022 campaign and election cycle provided an opportunity to better understand whether national issues and narratives around education match those at the state level.Read Andy's full report here: https://bit.ly/3ECp4Hr Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, Elias Taspelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss film and entertainment tax credits, Susan's break down of state and federal funding for education in Missouri, freezing property taxes for people over 65, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Aaron Smith about how other states fund open enrollment programs in their public school systems and what Missouri can learn from those models. Aaron Garth Smith is the director of education reform at Reason Foundation.Smith works extensively on education finance policy and his writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including National Review, The Hill, and Education Week.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Chad Aldeman about school funding, teacher pay, pension systems and more. Chad Aldeman is the Policy Director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. Prior to joining the Edunomics Lab, Chad worked at Bellwether Education Partners and the U.S. Department of Education. He has published reports on K-12 and higher education accountability systems; school choice; and teacher preparation, teacher evaluations, and teacher compensation. He also served as the founding editor for TeacherPensions.org. His work has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. Chad holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s of public policy degree from the College of William and Mary.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jason Bedrick. Read Jason's full report here: https://herit.ag/3JMFLDAJason Bedrick a research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, where he focuses on policies that promote education freedom and choice, religious liberty, classical education, and restoring the primary role of families in education.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with James Pethokoukis about why advancements in A.I. are cause for optimism, not hysteria. James Pethokoukis, a columnist and an economic policy analyst, is the Dewitt Wallace Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he writes and edits the AEIdeas blog and hosts a weekly podcast, “Political Economy with James Pethokoukis.” He is also a columnist for The Week and an official contributor to CNBC.Before joining AEI, he was the Washington columnist for Reuters Breakingviews, the opinion and commentary wing of Thomson Reuters, and the business editor and economics columnist for US News & World Report.Mr. Pethokoukis has written for many publications, including Commentary, Investor’s Business Daily, National Review, The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Examiner, and The Weekly Standard. His numerous broadcast appearances include CNN, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, “The McLaughlin Group,” MSNBC, and “Nightly Business Report” on PBS.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss which bills are moving in Jefferson City, a recent court decision on the City of St. Louis' earnings tax, and the mayor of Cool Valley being impeached.
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Don Soifer. Don Soifer is Chief Executive Officer of the National Microschooling Center, America’s comprehensive resource center, movement-builder and authority for the most exciting new education movement in a generation. He co-created and co-directed the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the nation’s first public–private partnership microschool with the City of North Las Vegas, delivering unprecedented academic growth with a previously underserved population of families under pandemic operating conditions.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Krissia Campos Spivey.Krissia Campos Spivey is a rising national leader in ensuring equality of educational opportunity for Hispanic families. After raising the bar for parent-facing school choice resources in Spanish as a part of National School Choice Week, she’s expanding on that work as director of the newly launched Conoce tus Opciones Escolares (CTOE). In tandem with National School Choice Week, CTOE helps parents explore all of their K-12 education options, in Spanish, year-round.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Shelby Doyle about National School Choice Week 2023. As vice president of public awareness, Shelby serves as the lead strategist for media outreach, digital communications, and as a national spokesperson. In addition, she works with schools, organizations, and individuals across the country to help raise awareness about the tens of thousands of independently-planned events that make up the Week.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the newly added spending data at MoSchoolRankings.org, takeaways from the State of the State Address and a new court decision on applying the City of St. Louis earnings tax to remote work. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Brian Riedl. Brian Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on budget, tax, and economic policy. Previously, he worked for six years as chief economist to Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and as staff director of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. He also served as a director of budget and spending policy for Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and was the lead architect of the ten-year deficit-reduction plan for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James Shuls, Aaron Hedlund and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss teacher pay in Missouri, the case for and against reforming child care policies, and a new report on modernizing the state's unemployment insurance system. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Ness Sandoval, Ph.D, is associate director of SLU’s Geospatial Institute (GeoSLU) and an associate professor of sociology. Dr. Sandoval’s research tells stories using maps and works with students to use data and maps to look into the future.Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James Shuls, David Stokes and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss which pre filed bills they are tracking before the start of the 2023 legislative session, another school district's decision to move to a four day school week, and the massive TIF approved in Chesterfield. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Jude Schwalbach is a policy analyst at Reason Foundation.He previously worked at The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy where his research focused on expanding educational opportunities for K-12 students and reducing the federal footprint in education. Before joining Heritage Foundation, Schwalbach taught high school in Phoenix, Arizona.Schwalbach’s writings have appeared in The Hill, National Review, RealClear Education, Orange County Register, Washington Times, and redefinED.
Zach Lawhorn is joined by David Stokes, James Shuls, and Elias Tsapelas to discuss midterm election outcomes, the school choice wave, and how federal spending affects Missouri's budget.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Joshua Cowen is a Professor of Education Policy at Michigan State University. His current research focuses on teacher quality, student and teacher mobility, and evaluations of state and local education programs. His work has been published in multiple scholarly journals and policy briefs, has appeared in numerous national media outlets, and has been funded by a diverse array of philanthropies as well as state and federal grants. From 2015-2018, he served as co-editor of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, the flagship peer-reviewed education policy journal in the United States. He was previously Associate Editor of Education Finance and Policy, and remains on the editorial boards of both journals.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass speaks with Michael Hartney about his new book, How Policies Make Interest Groups.
Order Michael's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Michael-Hartney/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMichael+Hartney
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Patrick Ishmael and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the special session, a property tax scheme in KC, the latest on food truck restrictions in Ladue and a new TIF in Chesterfield.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a bachelors degree from Missouri Southern State University and a masters degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, James taught first grade and fifth grade in southwest Missouri.
Produced By Show-Me Opportunity
Dan Goldhaber is an AIR vice president and director of Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research at AIR. He is also an affiliate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington, the director of the Center for Education Data & Research, and the co-editor of Education Finance and Policy.
Dr. Goldhaber's work focuses on issues of educational productivity and reform at the K-12 level; the broad array of human capital policies that influence the composition, distribution, and quality of teachers in the workforce; and connections between students' K-12 experiences and postsecondary outcomes. Topics of published work in this area include studies of the stability of value-added measures of teachers, the effects of teacher qualifications and quality on student achievement, and the impact of teacher pay structure and licensure on the teacher labor market. Previous work has covered topics such as the relative efficiency of public and private schools, and the effects of accountability systems and market competition on K-12 schooling.
David Stokes, Abigail Wagner and Quin Rizer Join Zach Lawhorn.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Taspelas, and SMI Intern Quin Rizer join Zach Lawhorn.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Susan Pendergrass and Abigail Wagner join Zach Lawhorn.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Howard Wall, Ph.D., directs the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise and is a Senior Research Fellow in the Center for Economics and the Environment. He is also a Professor of Economics in Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood University.
Prior to joining Lindenwood in 2011, Wall was a vice president and regional economics adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass is joined by David Stokes and Patrick Tuohey
Patrick Tuohey is co-founder and policy director of the Better Cities Project.
He works with taxpayers, media, and policymakers to foster understanding of the consequences — sometimes unintended — of policies regarding economic development, taxation, education, and transportation. He previously served as the senior fellow of municipal policy at the Show-Me Institute.
David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy.
Read Patrick's report here: https://showmeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181203%20-%20TIF%20and%20Political%20Contributions%20-%20Tuohey.pdf
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Neal McCluskey is the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. He is the author of the book Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education and is coeditor of several volumes, including School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom and Unprofitable Schooling: Examining Causes of, and Fixes for, America’s Broken Ivory Tower. McCluskey also maintains Cato’s Public Schooling Battle Map, an interactive database of values and identity‐based conflicts in public schools, and oversees Cato’s Private Schooling Status Tracker.
David Stokes, Patrick Ishmael, and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to recap the 2022 legislative session, a new bill in St. Louis, and the return of The Loop Trolley.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On May 10, 2022, Aaron Hedlund, chief economist at the Show-Me Institute, and Tyler Goodspeed, Kleinheinz Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, discussed the impact of decades-high inflation on the economy, workers, and consumers, as well as the role of the Federal Reserve in solving the problem and the risk of the next recession.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Susan Pendergrass and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Disney bringing special taxing districts into the headlines, the latest on a tax credit bill, and everything education legislation.
Susan speaks with Senior Director of Government Relations at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Ron Rice.
Ron C. Rice has over 15 years of public policy experience in the fields of education, urban development, and community empowerment initiatives as an executive state government appointee and two-term local elected official.
Prior to joining the National Alliance, Ron served as the Special Assistant/Chief Policy Analyst for the Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, and as a city councilman for two terms in Newark under Mayor Cory Booker where he created his ward’s Education Support Committee and consistently supported charter school facility needs and their growth and advancement throughout the city, specifically working with KIPP (TEAM Rise and SPARK Academies), Uncommon Schools (North Star Academy), and community charters such as Marion P. Thomas Charter School, Lady Liberty Academy, and Adelaide Sanford Charter School.
Over the past decade, the revenue for hospitals generated by the federal 340B drug discount program, initially intended to serve low-income, uninsured populations, has exploded even while a number of important Massachusetts hospitals have reduced the level of charity care they provide, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. The Pioneer Institute study, “340B Drug Discounts: An Increasingly Dysfunctional Program,” notes that nationwide, 340B drug sales rose from $9 billion in 2014 to $38 billion in 2020.
William S. Smith is Senior Fellow and Director of the Life Sciences Initiative at Pioneer Institute. He has 25 years of experience in government and in corporate roles, including as vice president of public affairs and policy at Pfizer, and as a consultant to major pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies. He held senior staff positions for the Republican House leadership on Capitol Hill, the White House, and in the Massachusetts Governor’s office. He earned his PhD with distinction at The Catholic University of America (CUA).
Raises for Teachers, Billions for Meta, and a New Stadium for The Chiefs by Show-Me Institute
Jakob Puckett, Corianna Baier and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss changes to a St. Louis EV charging station law, the upcoming April 5 elections and the idea of a gas tax holiday in Missouri.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On March 17, 2022 Senator Jim Talent and Heritage Foundation’s James Jay Carafano joined us for a virtual event to discuss the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the United States.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Mark P. Mills is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a faculty fellow at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is also a strategic partner with Montrose Lane (an energy-tech venture fund). Previously, Mills cofounded Digital Power Capital, a boutique venture fund, and was chairman and CTO of ICx Technologies, helping take it public in 2007. Mills is author of the book The Cloud Revolution: How the Convergence of New Technologies Will Unleash the Next Economic Boom and a Roaring 2020s (Encounter Books, 2021), and host of the new podcast The Last Optimist. He is also author of Digital Cathedrals (2020), and Work in the Age of Robots (2018). Mills earlier coauthored (with Peter Huber) The Bottomless Well: The Twilight of Fuel, the Virtue of Waste, and Why We Will Never Run Out of Energy (Basic Books, 2005).
His articles have been published widely, including in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, and Real Clear. Mills has appeared as a guest on CNN, Fox, NBC, PBS, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In 2016, Mills was named “Energy Writer of the Year” by the American Energy Society. Earlier, Mills was a technology advisor for Bank of America Securities and coauthor of the Huber-Mills Digital Power Report, a tech investment newsletter. He has testified before Congress numerous times, and briefed state public-service commissions and legislators.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Jay P. Greene is a senior research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation. At Heritage, Jay conducts and disseminates research on the key issues facing education today, including the cultural, civic, and economic implications of how education systems are designed and implemented.
He is one of the country’s leading experts on education policy, with highly influential research on a broad range of topics—from the effects of expanding school choice and how education shapes character and values to the misuse of social science research in policy debates. In addition to authoring dozens of publications in peer-reviewed journals and writing or editing four books, including the best-selling Education Myths, Greene’s research on school choice was also cited four times in the Supreme Court’s landmark case, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Jakob Puckett, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss a new plan to spend millions on capital improvements in St. Louis, rumors of a federal gas tax holiday and the latest on Missouri expanding Medicaid.
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the first month of the legislative session.
Michael Q. McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, Susan Pendergrass, Director of Research and Education Policy at Show-Me Institute, and Patricia Levesque, Chief Executive Officer of ExcelinEd discuss the state of accountability in education, why state leadership is critical, and how Missouri and other states can reform their accountability systems.
Visit: MoSchoolRankings.org.
Matthew Spalding is the Kirby Professor in Constitutional Government at Hillsdale College and the Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C., campus. As Vice President for Washington Operations, he also oversees the Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship and the academic and educational programs of Hillsdale in the nation’s capital.
He is the best-selling author of We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future, which details America’s core principles, shows how they have come under assault by modern progressive-liberalism, and lays out a strategy to recover them. Spalding is also executive editor of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, a line-by-line analysis of each clause of the U.S. Constitution. His other books include A Sacred Union of Citizens: Washington’s Farewell Address and the American Character; Patriot Sage: George Washington and the American Political Tradition; and The Founders’ Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes. Corianna Baier and Jakob Puckett join Zach Lawhorn for the final SMI Podcast of 2021.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Missouri schools are failing to teach the core subjects of reading and math, and the most recent test scores show that students are falling further behind. In response to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) failure to perform one of its most basic functions, the Show-Me Institute, in conjunction with Show-Me Opportunity, launched The Missouri School Rankings Project and MoSchoolRankings.org.
On November 18 in St. Louis, Missouri, Susan Pendergrass, director of research and education policy, presented her findings from the Missouri School Rankings Project and give an overview of how to use the website.
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Elias Taspelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss legislative priorities for 2022, the rejection of a TIF in Webster Groves and a bid to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for state workers.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss a plan to spend millions on the expansion of broadband access in Missouri.
Download a copy of the 2022 Blueprint here: https://bit.ly/3pGyae8
The 2022 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward presents 14 policy ideas aimed at moving Missouri forward to a brighter future. The Blueprint covers a broad range of issues—from education to health care, from public pensions to corporate welfare, and from tax policy to government transparency. Our expert policy team has thoroughly researched and analyzed the problems facing our state today, and their work informs the policy solutions that follow. We believe that with the right policies Missouri could lead the nation in wealth, quality education, and a vibrant and flourishing civil society.
Corianna Baier, David Stokes and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the Missouri Parents' Bill of Rights, a lawsuit filed by Missouri's AG against The Springfield School District, an update on corporate welfare around the state and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
This special episode is a presentation by Douglas Murray recorded on November 10, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Douglas Murray is a best-selling author, an award-winning political commentator, and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute. He has written books on neoconservatism, terrorism and national security, freedom of speech, and the rise of woke culture and identity politics. His upcoming book, The War on the West: How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason, explores why in recent history it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating the West’s contributions is condemned as hate speech.
Presented by Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, NewsTalkSTL, and Show-Me Opportunity.
Read Michael's issue brief here: https://www.manhattan-institute.org/revitalizing-local-democracy-case-cycle-local-elections
Michael T. Hartney joined the Boston College political science faculty in fall 2017. Previously he was Assistant Professor of Politics at Lake Forest College. Professor Hartney’s main research and teaching interests include: state and local government, interest groups, and public policy.
His scholarship has been published (or is forthcoming) in leading academic journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, the American Political Science Review, Perspectives on Politics, and Public Administration Review and has garnered media coverage in the Economist, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Hartney’s forthcoming book (under contract with the University of Chicago Press) examines the causes and consequences of teacher union political power in the United States.
At Boston College, Hartney teaches courses on the politics of education, environmental politics and policy, and US state and local politics. He is also a research affiliate at Harvard University’s Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG), and, in 2020-21, a national fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Andrew J. Rotherham is a co-founder and partner at Bellwether Education Partners, a national nonprofit organization working to support educational innovation and improve outcomes for underserved students. He is also a contributing editor to U.S. News & World Report and a senior editor at The 74, an education news and analysis publication. Rotherham writes the blog Eduwonk.com, teaches at the University of Virginia, and is a senior adviser for Whiteboard Advisors. Among other positions, Rotherham previously served at the White House as special assistant to the president for domestic policy during the Clinton administration, as a member of the Virginia Board of Education, as an education columnist for Time magazine, and as founder and executive editor of RealClearEducation. In addition to Bellwether, Rotherham has founded or co-founded two other education organizations and served on the boards of or advised successful education startups in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Save your spot for November 10: https://bit.ly/2Yg4ESE
Douglas Murray joined Colombo and Katie on NewsTalkSTL to discuss what we can learn from some of the elections held this week, his event next week in St. Louis, and more.
You are invited to join the Show-Me Institute, Show-Me Opportunity, National Review Institute, and NewsTalkSTL on Wednesday, November 10 for a complimentary event with Douglas Murray. Murray will give an outsider’s perspective on the recent shifts in American culture, the culture wars, and the attack on free speech and education. Please RSVP to secure your seat.
Murray is a best-selling author, an award-winning political commentator, and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute. He has written books on neoconservatism, terrorism and national security, freedom of speech, and the rise of woke culture and identity politics. His upcoming book, The War on the West: How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason, explores why in recent history it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating the West’s contributions is condemned as hate speech.
Corianna Baier, Jakob Puckett and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the East-West Gateway Council of Governments' decision to reject a federal grant to fund The Loop Trolley, the food truck debate in Ladue, preview next week's elections and more.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Find your school at MoSchoolRankings.org
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Corianna Baier join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the launch of The Missouri School Rankings Project and MoSchoolRankings.org, a report that Sam Page is asking the St. Louis County Council to use federal stimulus money to avoid budget cuts and the future of the downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Please join the Show-Me Institute and Reason for an evening of conversation on Thursday, October 21.
Register Here: https://showmeinstitute.org/event/tech-panic-why-we-shouldnt-fear-facebook-and-the-future/
Robby Soave joined The Mark Reardon Show on 97.1 FM Talk (KFTK-St. Louis) to discuss his new book, Tech Panic, cancel culture, his upcoming virtual event with Show-Me Institute and more.
In a time when some people argue that Big Tech has gotten too big, Robby Soave’s message is simple: don’t panic. In his new book, Tech Panic: Why We Shouldn’t Fear Facebook and the Future, Robby argues that whatever challenges the future holds, we will be better prepared to handle them as a country, as a society, and as individuals if the government hasn’t vaporized social media via some giant, metaphorical “Unfriend” button.
Robby is a senior editor at Reason and has also been published in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, and U.S. News & World Report. Named on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2017, he became well known for his correction of a Rolling Stone article on sexual assault at the University of Virginia and his correction of the highly reported incident concerning Catholic high school students at the Lincoln Memorial in 2019.
Get your tickets for November 10 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=167779042633
Join the Show-Me Institute, Show-Me Opportunity, National Review Institute, and NewsTalkSTL on Wednesday, November 10 for a complimentary event with Douglas Murray. Murray will give an outsider’s perspective on the recent shifts in American culture, the culture wars, and the attack on free speech and education. Please RSVP to secure your seat.
Murray is a best-selling author, an award-winning political commentator, and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute. He has written books on neoconservatism, terrorism and national security, freedom of speech, and the rise of woke culture and identity politics. His upcoming book, The War on the West: How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason, explores why in recent history it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating the West’s contributions is condemned as hate speech.
The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The presentation begins at 6 p.m.
Find your school: https://moschoolrankings.org
Dr. Susan Pendergrass The Tim Jones and Chris Arps Show on NewsTalkSTL to discuss MoSchoolRankings.org. The brand new website makes student performance data more transparent than ever by providing parents, policymakers, educators, and taxpayers with access to easy-to-understand information about every Missouri public school and school district.
Chester "Checker" E. Finn, Jr., scholar, educator and public servant, has devoted his career to improving education in the United States. At Fordham, he is now Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus. He’s also a Senior Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution.
Finn served as Fordham’s President from 1997 to 2014, after many earlier roles in education, academe and government. From 1999 until 2002, he was John M. Olin Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and previously at Hudson Institute. In 1992-94, he served as founding partner and senior scholar with the Edison Project. He was Professor of Education and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University from 1981 until 2002. From 1985 to 1988, he served as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement and Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. Earlier positions include Staff Assistant to the President of the United States; Special Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts; Counsel to the U.S. Ambassador to India; Research Associate at the Brookings Institution; and Legislative Director for Senator Daniel P. Moynihan.
Robby's latest book is Tech Panic: Why We Shouldn't Fear Facebook and the Future - https://amzn.to/3a8dcNV
Join Robby live in St. Louis on October 21 for discussion of big tech, cancel culture and more. Details and registration information here: https://bit.ly/3Bpn9ma
Robby Soave is a senior editor at Reason. He enjoys writing about culture, politics, education policy, criminal justice reform, television, and video games. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, U.S. News & World Report, The Orange County Register, and The Detroit News. In 2016, Forbes named him to the “30 Under 30” list in the category of law and policy. In 2017, he became a Novak Fellow at The Fund for American Studies. He also serves on the D.C. Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On October 5, David Stokes joined The Mcgraw Show on The Big 550 KTRS to provide an update on the Douglas Hill Development in Webster Groves.
David Stokes, Mike McShane and Jakob Puckett join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Illinois pension problem, how an increase in corporate tax rates could impact Missourians and a Greater St. Louis inc. plan to get the city to "greatness".
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Gerard Robinson is a Fellow of Practice and Vice President for Education, Advanced Studies in Culture Foundation.
Gerard served as Commissioner of Education for the State of Florida and Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. His other leadership roles have included Executive Director of the Center for Advancing Opportunity and Director and President of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. Robinson also was a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is coeditor of Education for Liberation: The Politics of Promise and Reform Inside and Beyond America’s Prisons(2019) and Education Savings Accounts: The New Frontier in School Choice (2017). In addition, he cohosts The Learning Curve: National Education Podcast. Robinson has been published or quoted in AEI Ideas, Gallup News, Newsweek, The Hedgehog Review, the Hill, the New York Times, the Washington Examiner, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and US News & World Report. He earned a BA from Howard University and an EdM from Harvard University, as well as an AA from El Camino Community College.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas and Mike McShane join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the impact mask mandates are having on the school choice debate, what we know about St. Louis' "economic justice action plan" and the extension of a rollback on telemedicine regulations.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Corianna Baier and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the just released preliminary test scores from last year, a multi-million dollar development planned for Webster Groves and cities around the state debate regulations for food trucks.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Dr. Michael Q. McShane is the director of national research at EdChoice and Senior Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute.
Mike is the editor of New and Better Schools, the author of Education and Opportunity and coeditor of Educational Entrepreneurship Today, Teacher Quality 2.0 and Common Core Meets Education Reform. His analyses and commentary have been published widely in the media, including in the Huffington Post, National Affairs, USA Today and The Washington Post. He has also been featured in education-specific outlets such as Teachers College Commentary, Education Week, Phi Delta Kappan and Education Next. In addition to authoring numerous white papers, McShane has had academic work published in Education Finance and Policy and the Journal of School Choice. A former high school teacher, he earned a Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas, an M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in English from St. Louis University.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Corianna Baier and Jakob Puckett join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the possible expansion of America's Convention Center Complex, the future of The Dome at America's Center, another attempt at a comeback by the Loop Trolley and which policy topics will be hot in 2022.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Brandon Edwin Chrostowski is on a mission to change the face of re-entry in the United States. In 2007, he founded EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. His belief that “every human being regardless of their past has the right to a fair and equal future” is what has driven the creation of EDWINS. The idea for EDWINS was born “from a break” that Chrostowski received early in life and has grown into a six-month program conducted at EDWINS restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio as well as in prison. His approach is simple: arm those re-entering society with a skill set and a smile. The program provides training in Culinary Arts and the Hospitality Industry. Individuals are not only equipped with basic culinary skills, but also are assisted with finding employment, have the opportunity to utilize free housing, basic medical care, clothing, job coaching, and literacy programs. Chrostowski began his career in Detroit sixteen years ago and has since trained in some of the world’s finest restaurants. He received an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Restaurant Management at The Culinary Institute of America. He apprenticed at Chicago’s legendary restaurant, Charlie Trotters and after graduation worked at Lucas Carton, Paris’ longest standing Michelin 3-star restaurant. At Lucas Carton, Brandon began to develop cutting-edge skills, while learning the intricacies of a French kitchen. After spending time in Europe, Brandon decided to return to the United States to refine further what he learned in France. In New York City, Brandon worked at Le Cirque as a Chef de Partie and then as a saucier at Picholine. After spending several years in the kitchen, Brandon decided to expand his restaurant knowledge by working in the dining room. He chose Le Pavilion in upstate New York, which is owned and operated by former CIA instructor Claude Guermont. At Le Pavilion, Brandon learned the dynamics behind professional table service.Brandon then had the opportunity to manage Chanterelle in New York City, a New York Times and James Beard award-winning restaurant, while working under the tutelage of restaurateurs Karen and David Waltuck. At Chanterelle, Brandon also worked closely with Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn. Certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2008, Brandon was the General Manger, fromager and sommelier of L’Albatros Brasserie for nearly five years building it into one of Cleveland’s finest restaurants. Leaving in 2013 Brandon commitment to EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute has grown, teaching in prisons and opening its flagship restaurant. Today EDWINS Leadership and restaurant Institute graduates nearly 100 students a year between its prison program and restaurant institute.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt against school districts that have required masks for students and teachers, a judge's decision to overturn The Creve Coeur City Council's rejection of a plan to build a new QuickTrip and the latest on Medicaid expansion.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Patrick Ishmael and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the recently released census data, Florida's expansion of school choice and a Missouri school district says no thank you to millions in stimulus money.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Ray Domanico is a senior fellow and director of education policy at the Manhattan Institute. His career has spanned the public and non-profit sectors, in research and advocacy roles. Most recently, Domanico was director of education research at New York City’s Independent Budget Office, where he led a team tasked with studying and reporting on the policies and progress of America’s largest public school system. Previously, he served as senior education advisor to IAF Metro NY where he worked with local leaders and educators to design and support a small group of new district high schools and charter elementary schools. Domanico began his career in research positions in the New York City school system, and he has taught graduate-level courses in educational research and policy analysis at Brooklyn College and at Baruch College.
Domanico holds an MPP (master of public policy) from the University of California, Berkeley.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Patrick Ishamel join Zach Lawhorn to recap this week's special election, shed light on a KC City Council meeting that may have happened in the dark, discuss what to do with billions in unspent stimulus money and what school mask mandates could mean for school choice.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes joined The Mcgraw Show on The BIG 550 KTRS to recap the recent Missouri Special election.
David Stokes on The Gary Nolan Show on 93.3 The Eagle - Columbia, MO and KWTO - Springfield, MO.
David Stokes and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss next week's special elections, the recent Medicaid expansion ruling and a drama-filled job search for a new Lake Ozark City Administrator.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Ishmael joined The Mark Reardon Show on 97.1 FM Talk to discuss what he's learned after sending thousands of records requests to schools across Missouri.
David Stokes joined The TCT on NewsTalk STL to discuss some of the issues that will be voted on during Missouri's special election.
Listen to more TCT: https://newstalkstl.com/
Aaron Hedlund, Susan Pendergrass and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the state of the economic recovery, the possibility of mask mandates for the upcoming school year and the recent CRT listening session in Jefferson City.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Ishmael joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss this week's CRT hearing and provide an update on the Show-Me Curricula Project.
David Stokes joined TCT on NewsTalk STL to discuss the current state of tax incentives in St. Louis and some recent development dealmaking.
On July 21, Patrick Ishmael joined The Vic Porcelli Show to provide an update on his Show-Me Curricula project and discuss what he's learned about CRT in Missouri schools after sending out thousands of records requests.
Listen to more of The Vic Porcelli Show on NewsTalk STL: https://newstalkstl.com/
Susan is joined by Corianna Baier and Elias Tsapelas to discuss how prepared Missouri is for the next economic downturn.
Read their full report here: https://bit.ly/3xINSrS
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, Patrick Ishmael and Jakob Puckett join Zach Lawhorn to discuss Missouri's newly signed COVID liability legislation, MO DESE's application for American Rescue Plan funds and Jakob's recently published report on tolling in Missouri.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, Patrick Ishamel and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the recently signed online sales tax bills, the Missouri Supreme Court ruling on the state's sunshine law and DESE's application for $2 billion in federal relief money.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On Wednesday, June 30, Dr. Aaron Hedlund joined The Pete Mundo Morning Show on KCMO Radio to discuss the current state of the economy, concerns about rising gas and housing prices, and more!
On Tuesday, June 29, David Stokes joined The McGraw Show on The Big 550 KTRS to discuss news from Crestwood, Webster Groves, Clayton and more.
Medicaid Expansion Ruling, Special Session And The Cost Of Tax Subsides by Show-Me Institute
Megan Rose is the CEO of Better Together, an organization that strengthens families and communities by promoting work, protecting children, and supporting families in crisis. With the help of hundreds of compassionate volunteers and church communities, Better Together builds lasting support systems that help families cope with hardships—job loss, substance abuse, homelessness, and even jail time—and ensure that children are cared for in a safe home until the family can be reunited.
Founded in 2015, Better Together provides a voluntary and preventive alternative to foster care through its Better Families program, which has served more than 2,500 children and kept 98% of them out of the system. Additionally, the organization’s Better Jobs program has helped nearly 28,000 job seekers through church-based job fairs across 20 states.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
This week on the podcast, Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Patrick Ishmael discuss a tax giveaway in Crestwood, a new database to track spending in Missouri and how celebrities can change education.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
The Crestwood TIF Commission is considering a proposal to redevelop the land that was once the Crestwood Mall. The plan includes a Dierbergs grocery store and multiple retail spaces that would be partially funded with $13.5 million from tax-increment financing and $3.5 million from a community improvement district. There is also a residential component of the development that will not include public funding. There is a TIF Commission public hearing on this proposal at 7 p.m. on June 17th, 2021.
David Stokes joined The McGraw Show on The Big 550 KTRS to discuss the project
Margaret “Macke” Raymond has served as founder and director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University since its inception in 1999.
There's a Policy for That is produced by Show-Me Opportuniy
Susan Pendergrass, Patrick Ishmael and David Stokes discuss a new report that claims Missouri ranks 49th in K-12 education funding, Property Reassessments and Upcoming Property Tax Hike Votes, new TIF deals around the state and the call from some Missouri legislators for a special session on public safety.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Pendergrass, Patrick Ishmael and David Stokes discuss the end of the Missouri legislative session, the “pass it now, fix it later” approach of some policymakers, Mayor Jones’ approach to corporate welfare in St. Louis and the latest on a nearly $43 million change to the KCPD budget.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On May 19, Show-Me Institute senior fellow of education policy Michael Q. McShane joined The Pete Mundo Morning Show to set the record straight on ESAs.
Listen to more of The Pete Mundo Morning Show: https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/pete-mundo-morning-show/
Download A Public Safety and Policing Plan for NYC's Next Mayor: https://www.manhattan-institute.org/public-safety-for-nyc-next-mayor
Hannah E. Meyers is director of the policing and public safety initiative at the Manhattan Institute. Most recently, she managed corporate and private investigation teams for an international firm and directed research strategy for a counter-extremism NGO. She served for five years with the Intelligence Bureau of the New York City Police Department, partnering with detectives on counterterrorism investigations and bringing one of the first state-level terrorism cases to prosecution. During her time at NYPD, she also supervised an intelligence analysis team and was seconded to the FBI. Earlier in her career, Hannah did think tank research pertaining to terrorism and human rights, was a contributing writer on a variety of topics, and served as deputy director of policy for a New York State gubernatorial nominee.
On May 13, David Stokes joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss a gas tax increase that is headed to the Governor's desk and a trend in Missouri local government - tax outsiders.
Listen to more of The Gary Nolan Show: https://939theeagle.com/the-gary-nolan-show-on-demand/
Brian Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
Read Brian's piece in National Review titled - Four Principles for a Conservative Infrastructure Alternative: https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/04/four-principles-for-a-conservative-infrastructure-alternative/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read the ProPublica story here: https://www.propublica.org/article/missouri-pace-loans
As reported by ProPublica's Jeremy Kohler and Haru Coryne, more than 100 homes with PACE loans in metropolitan Kansas City and St. Louis are at risk of being sold at public auctions after their owners fell at least two years behind on payments, according to a ProPublica analysis. Of those homes, at least 29 are slated for sale at auction this year.
On April 29, 2021, David Stokes joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss what PACE loans are, the issues with them and why oversight is vital when the government decides to outsource to the private sector.
Andy's piece in The Dispatch: https://thedispatch.com/p/what-the-narrative-on-school-reopenings
Andy Smarick is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where his work focuses on education, civil society, and the principles of American conservatism.
He currently serves as the chair of the Maryland Higher Education Commission and was previously the president of the Maryland State Board of Education. His other government experience includes serving as an aide in the White House Domestic Policy Counsel of President George W. Bush, legislative assistant at the U.S. House of Representatives, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, New Jersey deputy commissioner of education, and legislative aide at the Maryland state legislature.
Previously, Smarick was a senior fellow and director of the program on civil society, education, and work at the R Street Institute, as well as a Morgridge Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He helped found a college-prep charter school for disadvantaged students and the National Alliance for Public Charter schools, and he was a founding board member of 50CAN.
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, Dr. Susan Pendergrass joined The Gary Nolan Show to provide an update on House Bill 349.
HB 349 would establish the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. The program would allow taxpayers to claim a tax credit of up to 50 percent of their tax liability for contributions to educational assistance programs. The funds would be pooled in ESAs for use on tuition, textbooks, tutoring services, and other costs.
In 2012, James Whitford founded the True Charity Initiative to advance nationally the cause of privately-funded effective charity at the most local level. His work has appeared in Heritage Foundation’s Index of Culture and Opportunity, Patrick Henry College’s Newsmaker Series, World, The Christian Post, and The Hill.
Learn more at www.truecharity.us
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
William Mattox currently serves as the Director of the J. Stanley Marshall Center for Educational Options at The James Madison Institute. In this role, he works with a wide variety of researchers, policymakers, educators, and parents to promote innovative reforms designed to make it possible for all K-12 students to obtain a high-quality education tailored to their unique needs, interests, aptitudes, and learning styles.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Developers have asked the City of Boonville for a tax-increment financing (TIF) subsidy to “help” them build a new subdivision for 400 homes in Boonville.
On March 11, 2021, David Stokes joined The Gary Nolan Show to discuss
Find more information at ShowMeInstitute.org
Aaron Hedlund is chief economist at Show-Me Institute and an associate professor with tenure in the economics department at the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as a research fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. From 2020 to 2021, Hedlund was the Chief Domestic Economist and Senior Adviser at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Before joining the CEA, he was also the Acting Director of Academic Outreach and Senior Fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity. His other public policy experiences include stints at the Heritage Foundation and the International Trade Commission as well as service in senior state-level advisory roles. Hedlund's research focuses on the intersection of macroeconomics, finance, real estate, and labor. Some of the topics he has studied extensively include the causes and consequences of housing booms and busts, the forces driving up college tuition and student debt, and the macroeconomic implications of China's economic transformation. He has also written and spoken extensively on market-oriented reforms to the tax code and healthcare system. In addition to appearing in peer-reviewed academic journals, Hedlund's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and National Review, has been used as expert testimony in state-level policy initiatives, and has been presented at numerous think tanks, academic institutions, and central banks both in and outside of the United States. Hedlund received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor's in economics and mathematics from Duke University.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Lee Habeeb is CEO and founder of American Private Radio and host of Our American Stories.
Download the Our American Stories podcast on Itunes, Google Play, Spotfiy or wherever you find your podcasts and visit ouramericanstories.com to find an affiliate station near you.
Join us for a virtual event with Lee on Thursday, March 18 2021. Register here: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/uncategorized/the-power-of-storytelling-connecting-policy-with-people
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Howard J. Wall directs the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise and the Center for Economics and the Environment at Lindenwood University. Prior to joining Lindenwood in 2011, he was a vice president and regional economics adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. While at the St. Louis Fed, he established and directed the Center for Regional Economics-8th District (CRE8), which provided economic analyses of issues affecting state and local economies. In addition, Dr. Wall spent 10 years as an academic in the economics departments at West Virginia University and Birkbeck College, University of London; had two stints as a visiting scholar at the Bank of Japan; and was a senior Fulbright scholar at the Instituto de Economa de Montevideo, Uruguay. He has published more than 50 papers in scholarly journals such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, International Economic Review, Economic Journal, Journal of Urban Economics, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, and the Journal of Regional Science.
The SHow-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri St. Louis and a Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On this episode, Susan Pendegrass is joined by Michael Podgursky and David Rose. Michael Podgursky is a professor of economics at the University of Missouri Columbia, a senior advisor on urban education and economic development at Saint Louis University and sits on the board of directors of the Show-Me Institute. Dave Rose is a Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. They discuss David’s new book, Why Culture Matters Most.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On January 21 David Stokes joined Gary Nolan on The Gary Nolan Show to discuss the news that Lake Ozark leaders want to address legitimate road issues along the heavily used Bagnell Dam and Valley roads with a new transportation development district (TDD).
David Stokes joined Gary Nolan on Thursday, January 14 to discuss the possibility of a new online sales tax in Missouri.
Listen to The Gary Nolan Show here: https://www.garynolan.com/
David Stokes appeared on The Gary Nolan Show on January 7 to discuss HB 607, Columbia's new trash bag regulations, and more.
Listen to the full show here: https://www.garynolan.com/
Dr. Jeff Milyo is a Professor and Department Chair in the department ofPolitical Economics, Law and Economics, Health Economics at the University of Missouri - Columbia. His new book, Campaign Finance and American Democracy: What the Public Really Thinks and Why It Matters (with David Primo), is available now.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity.
Ron Rice is a Senior Director at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Ron C. Rice has over 15 years of public policy experience in the fields of education, urban development, and community empowerment initiatives as an executive state government appointee and two-term local elected official
John is an entrepreneurial-minded business executive and attorney. John has served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel for some of the country's leading asset management firms. John has extensive experience starting, growing, restructuring and managing businesses.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Susan Marino is Executive Director at Lafayette Preparatory Academy in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Jamie Rosenberg Founder & Chief Executive Officer of ClassWallet.
Passionate about helping education; Serial entrepreneur; Quit M&A law to dedicate his career to helping teachers; Founder of AdoptAClassroom.org, which has helped teachers in 1/3 of schools in the US and improved the learning environment for 3.5 million children.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Grace-Marie Turner is president of the Galen Institute, a public policy research organization that she founded in 1995 to promote an informed debate over free-market ideas for health reform.
She has been instrumental in developing and promoting ideas for reform to transfer power over health care decisions to doctors and patients. She speaks and writes extensively about incentives to promote a more competitive, patient-centered marketplace in the health sector.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is an educational, research, and human rights nonprofit devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to pursuing the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.
In support of VOC’s mission to “educate this generation and future generations about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism," the St. Louis Commission (VOC-STL) is committed to bringing this important human rights initiative to the local community. In recent years St. Louis has seen a growing support of communism and a celebration of communist symbols as a reflection of equality and justice. This increased activity is an insult to the millions of victims of communism, including local residents who fled oppressive communist regimes for a better life in the United States. The local commission is a volunteer based operation, including the leadership team and residents who are concerned about the rising support for this deadly ideology and who envisions a world free from the false hope of Marxism and safe from the tyranny of communism.
Kim McGrath serves as Director of VOC-STL.
Dan Powell serves as the Strategic Development Chair of VOC-STL.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On September 10, 2020, the Show-Me Institute hosted a virtual town hall featuring Manhattan Institute’s Brian Riedl. Brian discussed the looming national debt crisis in America, fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and more.
Brian Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on budget, tax, and economic policy. Previously, he worked for six years as chief economist to Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and as staff director of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. He also served as a director of budget and spending policy for Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and was the lead architect of the ten-year deficit-reduction plan for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
During 2001–11, Riedl served as the Heritage Foundation’s lead research fellow on the federal budget and spending policy. In that position, he helped lay the groundwork for Congress to cap soaring federal spending, rein in farm subsidies, and ban pork-barrel earmarks. Riedl’s writing and research have been featured in, among others, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and National Review; he is a frequent guest on NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, and C-SPAN.
Read the full report: https://www.manhattan-institute.org/plan-make-medicaid-fair-accountable
Christopher Pope is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Previously, he was director of policy research at West Health, a nonprofit medical research organization; health-policy fellow at the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and research manager at the American Enterprise Institute. Pope’s research focuses on healthcare payment policy, and he has recently published reports on hospital-market regulation, entitlement design, and insurance-market reform. His work has appeared in, among others, the Wall Street Journal, Health Affairs, US News and World Report, and Politico.
Pope holds a B.Sc. in government and economics from the London School of Economics and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Washington University in St. Louis.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Michael F. Cannon is the Cato Institute’s director of health policy studies. Cannon has been described as “an influential health‐care wonk” by the Washington Post. His articles have been featured in the Wall Street Journal; the New York Times; USA Today; the Washington Post; the Los Angeles Times; the New York Post; the Chicago Tribune; the Chicago Sun‐Times; the San Francisco Chronicle; SCOTUSBlog; Huffington Post; Forum for Health Economics and Policy; JAMA Internal Medicine; Health Matrix: Journal of Law‐Medicine; Harvard Health Policy Review; the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics; and the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. Cannon is the coeditor of Replacing Obamacare: The Cato Institute on Health Care Reform and coauthor of Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It. Previously, he served as a domestic policy analyst for the U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee, where he advised the Senate leadership on health, education, labor, welfare, and the Second Amendment.
Stuart Butler is a Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at The Brookings Institution. Prior to joining Brookings, Butler spent 35 years at The Heritage Foundation, as Director of the Center for Policy Innovation and earlier as Vice-President for Domestic and Economic Policy Studies. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution. He is a member of the editorial board of Health Affairs and the board of Mary's Center, a group of Washington DC-area community health centers.
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. He is a native of Kansas City and graduate of Saint Louis University, where he earned honors degrees in finance and political science and a law degree with a business concentration. His writing has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Weekly Standard, and dozens of publications across the state and country. Ishmael is a regular contributor to Forbes and HotAir.com. His policy work predominantly focuses on tax, health care, and constitutional law issues. He is a member of the Missouri Bar.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Walter Blanks Jr. is a Communications Associate at AFC and the first private school choice program recipient AFC has hired. Before joining AFC full-time, Walter was chosen for the first cohort of the American Federation for Children Future Leaders Fellowship, a year-long advocacy and professional development program for graduates of private school choice programs. Before moving to Washington, D.C. to join the national team, Walter championed educational freedom and shared his story across the country serving as a 2018 50CAN National Voices Fellow, an advocacy fellowship that aims to find, connect and support young leaders in education.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read Aaron Renn's full report here: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/employment-jobs/kansas-city-missouri-vs-kansas
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. He is a native of Kansas City and graduate of Saint Louis University, where he earned honors degrees in finance and political science and a law degree with a business concentration.
Elias Tsapelas is a Senior Analyst at the Show-Me Institute. Before joining the Show-Me Institute, he worked for the State of Missouri’s Department of Economic Development and Office of Administration—Division of Budget & Planning. His research interests include economic development, health policy, and budget-related issues.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On July 9, 2020 Dr. Michael Q. McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice and Senior Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute hosted a panel discussion on how to safely reopen Missouri Schools. The panel included: Dr. Susan Pendergrass - Director of Research and Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute Senator Cindy O’Laughlin - Missouri’s 18th Senatorial District Representative Chuck Basye - Represents Missouri's 47th District in the Missouri House of Representatives
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
This event was sponsored by EdChoice: https://www.edchoice.org/ The Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity
Ranken CEO, Stan Shoun brings a background of military service, a degree in aeronautical engineering and a long career in technical education to his position. Embarking on a second career in education after retiring from the US Navy in 1996, Shoun served as the Vice President of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) in Lynchburg, Va., and also served as that college’s Dean of Math, Science and Engineering. Most recently, he held the position as President of Ranken Technical College (2009-2019). As CEO, Shoun is responsible for strategic planning of programs and partnerships that integrate education and workforce solutions.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Brian Blase was Special Assistant to the President at WH National Economic Council '17-'19; CEO of Blase Policy Strategies.
Elias Tsapelas is a Senior Analyst at the Show-Me Institute.
Learn more about Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Howard Wall, Ph.D., directs the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise and is a Senior Research Fellow in the Center for Economics and the Environment. He is also a Professor of Economics in Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood University.
Prior to joining Lindenwood in 2011, Wall was a vice president and regional economics adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In addition, he spent ten years as an academic in the economics departments at West Virginia University and Birkbeck College, University of London; had two stints as a visiting scholar at the Bank of Japan; and was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the Instituto de Economía de Montevideo, Uruguay. Wall has published more than 50 papers in scholarly journals such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, International Economic Review, Economic Journal, Journal of Urban Economics, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, and the Journal of Regional Science.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Nathan Willett is an algebra II teacher in the Kansas City Public School District and an intern at the Show-Me Institute.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
As director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, Lindsey Burke oversees the foundation’s research and policy on issues pertaining to preschool, K-12, and higher education reform. Burke’s commentary, research, and op-eds have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, and she is a frequent guest on radio and television shows and speaks on education reform issues across the country and internationally. She has published evaluations of education choice options for public policy foundations across the country, and has done extensive work developing and evaluating education savings accounts (ESAs).
On May 21, Show-Me Institute co-hosted a virtual town hall featuring National Review Institute's Richard Brookhiser and Justin Dyer, Director of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri.
In his latest book, NRI fellow Richard Brookhiser recounts the history of American liberty through the stories of thirteen essential documents. He offers up a truer and more inspiring story of American nationalism as it has evolved over four hundred years. He makes the case that Americans have always sought liberty, asked for it, fought for it; every victory has been the fulfillment of old hopes and promises. This is our nationalism, and we should be proud of it.
This event was sponsored by: National Review Institute, Show-Me Institute, Kinder Institute, and The Kansas City Public Library.
Andy Smarick is the Director, Civil Society, Education and Work; Resident Senior Fellow at R Street where he researches and writes about civil-society issues, including localism, governing institutions, education and social entrepreneurship.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Neal McCluskey is the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. He is the author of the book Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education and is co‐editor of Educational Freedom: Remembering Andrew Coulson, Debating His Ideas and Unprofitable Schooling: Examining Causes of, and Fixes for, America’s Broken Ivory Tower. He also maintains Cato’s Public Schooling Battle Map, an interactive database of values and identity‐based conflicts in public schools, and is on the editorial advisory board of The Line, a journal promoting civil discourse in K‑12 policy debates. His writings have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Forbes. In addition to his written work, McCluskey has appeared on PBS, CNN, the Fox News Channel, and numerous radio programs.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On May 4, 2020, The Show-Me Institute hosted a virtual town hall on the topic of How to Reopen America with guest speaker Dr. Arthur B. Laffer and Senator Jim Talent
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Corianna Baier is an Analyst at the Show-Me Institute.
Corianna grew up in Michigan, where she earned her B.S. in Economics from Hillsdale College. She then earned her M.A. in Economics from Troy University.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute:https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
On April 3, 2020 the Show-Me Institute hosted a Telephone Town Hall on Economic Recovery After a Pandemic with guest speakers Andy Puzder and Senator Jim Talent.
Speaker:
Andy Puzder is the author of The Capitalist Comeback, a Senior Fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and for more than 16 years he was the CEO of CKE Restaurants, the owner of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardees quick service restaurant chains. He was President Trump’s first nominee for Secretary of Labor and is a frequent guest on cable news and a speaker at colleges and universities.
Moderated by:
Senator Jim Talent brings over 30 years of government and political experience including service in both chambers of Congress. He is a nationally-recognized leader on military affairs whose counsel is frequently sought by administrations and members of the House and Senate on both sides of the political aisle. Senator Talent has worked for decades on readiness issues including military preparedness, combating bio-weapons and responding to a large-scale pandemic event. From 2007 to 2012, he co-chaired, with former senator Bob Graham of Florida, two congressional commissions on the danger of bio-weapons and pandemic events that included an examination of the resilience of the American health-care system in response to a pandemic event. Their reports, recommendations, and report cards are receiving new attention in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Michael Q. McShane is Director of National Research at EdChoice and a Senior Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute. His analyses and commentary have been published widely in the media, including in the Huffington Post, National Affairs, USA Today, and The Washington Post. He has also been featured in education-specific outlets such as Teachers College Commentary, Education Week, Phi Delta Kappan, and Education Next. In addition to authoring numerous white papers, McShane has had academic work published in Education Finance and Policy and the Journal of School Choice. He is the editor of New and Better Schools (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015), the author of Education and Opportunity (AEI Press, 2014), and coeditor of Teacher Quality 2.0 (Harvard Education Press, 2014) and Common Core Meets Education Reform (Teachers College Press, 2013).
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
On March 27, 2020 the SHow-Me Institute hosted a telephone town hall on the coronavirus pandemic with guest speakers Colonel Randall Larsen and Senator Jim Talent.
Speakers:
Colonel Randall Larsen, USAF (ret) serves as the National Security Advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, a position he has held since 2005. After a distinguished career of service in the USAF, Colonel Larsen became a leader in homeland security and in particular in the area of defense from a bio attack. In that capacity he has become the go-to expert on pandemic resilience for think tanks, universities, the press, and political leaders of both Parties. He was the CEO of the Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center which produced the Bio-Response Report Card, the first and only stem to stern study of America’s pandemic resilience. It was and remains the gold standard for epidemiologists and public health authorities. He is the author of a number of books and frequent guest on cable news.
Senator Jim Talent brings over 30 years of government and political experience including service in both chambers of Congress. He is a nationally-recognized leader on military affairs whose counsel is frequently sought by administrations and members of the House and Senate on both sides of the political aisle. Senator Talent has worked for decades on readiness issues including military preparedness, combating bio-weapons and responding to a large-scale pandemic event. From 2007 to 2012, he co-chaired, with former senator Bob Graham of Florida, two congressional commissions on the danger of bio-weapons and pandemic events that included an examination of the resilience of the American health-care system in response to a pandemic event. Their reports, recommendations, and report cards are receiving new attention in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kevin Erdmann is a Visiting Fellow at the Mercatus Center. Erdmann is currently engaged in two book projects with Mercatus on housing finance, land-use restrictions, and monetary policy. His first book, Shut Out (Rowman & Littlefiled, 2019) offers a contrarian theory on the causes of the housing boom and bust.
Find Shut Out here: https://amzn.to/2PCJ6bd
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Neal McCluskey is the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. He is the author of the book Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples, and Compromises American Education and is co‐editor of Educational Freedom: Remembering Andrew Coulson, Debating His Ideas and Unprofitable Schooling: Examining Causes of, and Fixes for, America’s Broken Ivory Tower. He also maintains Cato’s Public Schooling Battle Map, an interactive database of values and identity‐based conflicts in public schools, and is on the editorial advisory board of The Line, a journal promoting civil discourse in K‑12 policy debates. His writings have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Forbes. In addition to his written work, McCluskey has appeared on PBS, CNN, the Fox News Channel, and numerous radio programs.
McCluskey holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he double‐majored in government and English, has a master’s degree in political science from Rutgers University, Newark, and holds a PhD in public policy from George Mason University.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Corey A. DeAngelis is the director of school choice at Reason Foundation and an adjunct scholar at Cato Institute. Follow Corey on twitter @DeAngelisCorey
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
David Stokes is the Executive Director of the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA):http://grha.org/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Missouri recently received its latest grades on “The Nation’s Report Card,” (an assessment given to 4th- and 8th-graders in each state every two years by the U.S. Department of Education), and the news isn’t good. Read more from Dr. Susan Pendergrass: https://bit.ly/2PxRbgD
James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institue: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about Virginia's new book School Choice: A Legacy to Keep: https://www.amazon.com/School-Choice-Virginia-Walden-Ford/dp/0825309395/
Watch the trailer for MISS VIRGINIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mELLiJrYB5U
Virginia Walden Ford is one of America’s leading advocates for parent empowerment. As a student, a mother, an advocate, and a grandmother, Virginia has spent her life fighting to create new educational opportunities for children and families.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
More information on Andrew's upcoming book - The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child - https://amzn.to/2qCJnla
Andrew Campanella has served as president of National School Choice Week since 2012.
Andrew is also the author of the forthcoming book The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child, which offers practical advice to parents in navigating the process of exploring their options and choosing the best fit for their families. More information can be found at schoolchoiceroadmap.com
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Crosby Kemper III is executive director of the Kansas City Public Library; the Chair of the Schools, Health, Libraries, and Broadband (SHLB) coalition; and former CEO of UMB Financial Corporation. He co-founded and is chairman of the Show-Me Institute.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO-AM, Kansas City, MO Listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about R Street Institute: https://www.rstreet.org/
Shoshana Weissmann manages the Institute’s social media and email marketing, in addition to contributing graphics and video skills. She also works on occupational licensing reform and other issues, and has written for various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
Shoshana most recently managed digital communications for Opportunity Lives, a group that highlighted positive stories and policy solutions. Before that, she managed social media and wrote for The Weekly Standard. Earlier in her career, she managed digital communications for the America Rising PAC, where her strategy was highlighted in a piece that appeared in The New York Times.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from The Marc Cox Morning Show-KFTK, St. Louis, MO Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/31PCRFM
Patrick Tuohey is the Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute: https://bit.ly/2m5L8ER
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a great piece by Jacob Barker on an effort by the city of Wentzville to partner with a private developer to finance and build a rec center it has long wanted. The outrage is that the private firm is connected to Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Los Angeles Rams, perhaps the most hated man in the St. Louis region.
The rest of the piece catalogues the standard objections to special taxing districts, which in this case is a Community Improvement District (CID). They include: unfair taxation, developer subsidies, a blight finding so that the developer is even less constrained in spending the CID funds, and the lack of transparency in the tax collection and spending.
While everything in the Post-Dispatch story is true, none of it is unique. Kroenke’s involvement may make it even less palatable, but special taxing districts such as these are common and becoming more so. My colleague Graham Renz and I wrote about it in this essay, which includes some especially odious examples and ideas for reform. It would be a wonderful irony if a man like Kroenke, who has profited so handsomely from such subsidies, was himself a cause for their reform. One can hope.
Learn more about the Shoe-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 93.9 The Eagle, Columbia, MO Listen to the full show here:https://939theeagle.com/the-gary-nolan-show/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Read Dr. Biggs' article in The Hill:https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/448431-401ks-can-fill-the-pension-gap
Andrew G. Biggs is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies Social Security reform, state and local government pensions, and public sector pay and benefits.
Before joining AEI, Biggs was the principal deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), where he oversaw SSA’s policy research efforts. In 2005, as an associate director of the White House National Economic Council, he worked on Social Security reform. In 2001, he joined the staff of the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security. Biggs has been interviewed on radio and television as an expert on retirement issues and on public vs. private sector compensation. He has published widely in academic publications as well as in daily newspapers such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He has also testified before Congress on numerous occasions. In 2013, the Society of Actuaries appointed Biggs co-vice chair of a blue ribbon panel tasked with analyzing the causes of underfunding in public pension plans and how governments can securely fund plans in the future. In 2014, Institutional Investor Magazine named him one of the 40 most influential people in the retirement world. In 2016, he was appointed by President Obama to be a member of the financial control board overseeing reforms to Puerto Rico’s budget and the restructuring of the island’s debts.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Read the full report on Missouri school performance data here: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/accountability/report-missouris-report-card-and-essa-requirements
The 2015 federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes a requirement intended to keep parents informed about the quality of the schools their children attend: States must produce “report cards” on their performance at the state, district, and local levels. The ESSA lists the data that must be included, so in theory, parents and other stakeholders can learn where a school or district is doing well and where improvement is needed.
In this report, Abigail Burrola and Dr. Susan Pendergrass compare the report cards issued by Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to the specific requirements listed in the ESSA to see if the state is meeting its obligations. Unfortunately, we find that not all of the required information is included in the report cards, and some of the data that can be found is couched in jargon and confusing language, making the report cards far less useful than they could be to parents.
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO-AM, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
On August 28, 2019, the Show-Me Institute filed suit against Missouri’s Office of Administration for violating the state’s Sunshine Law.
Government entities may think they can get away with these excuses because too few citizens are able to invest the time money and emotional energy required to pursue a legal fight to keep these government entities transparent and accountable. We have determined that this case is a crucial opportunity to ensure equality in government transparency for all Missourians.
Learn more about the case: https://bit.ly/2ZwsO5O
Learn more about the Freedom Center of Missouri:http://www.mofreedom.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Dr. Evers Op-ed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-wants-to-teach-your-kids-that-capitalism-is-racist-11564441342
Williamson M. Evers, is currently a research fellow at the Hoover Institution. He specializes in research on education policy especially as it pertains to curriculum, teaching, testing, accountability, and school finance. Evers was head of the “agency action team” for the U.S. Department of Education in the Trump transition from early September 2016 through January 2017. He was the US assistant secretary of education for planning, evaluation, and policy development from 2007 to 2009. From July to December 2003, Evers served in Iraq as a senior adviser for education to Administrator L. Paul Bremer of the Coalition Provisional Authority and ran, with colleagues, the K-12 system in that country. He was a member of the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K-12 Education from its beginning in 1999 until it wrapped up in 2014.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Dr. Susan Pendergrass and Ray Hartmann discuss the big business of subsidies for sports teams in St. Louis.
Ray's column: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/as-the-blues-score-another-fat-public-subsidy-the-scorecard-is-clear-taxpayers-lose/Content?oid=31941081
Ray Hartmann is an independent journalist and entrepreneur. He has appeared weekly as a panelist on the Nine Network of Public Media’s political roundtable “Donnybrook” since the show’s inception in 1987. (The show has the highest ratings of any locally produced PBS show in the nation.) Ray also writes a weekly column for the RiverFront Times.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO-AM, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO-AM, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Dr. Susan Pendergrass and Rex Sinquefield discuss his return to St. Louis, the biggest challenges facing the city today, active vs. passive investing and more.
Rex Sinquefield is co-founder and former co-chairman of Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. He also is co-founder of the Show-Me Institute. In the 1970s, he co-authored (with Roger Ibbotson) a series of papers and books titled Stocks, Bonds, Bills & Inflation. These works provided the first seminal data on the performance of the financial market in the United States. At American National Bank of Chicago, he pioneered many of the nation’s first index funds. He is a life trustee of St. Louis University and DePaul University and a trustee of the St. Vincent Home for Children in Saint Louis. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Saint Louis University. He previously served as a member of the editorial board of the Financial Analysts Journal and the investment committee of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. He received a B.S. from Saint Louis University and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1972.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
The Show-Me Institute Podcast is produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO-AM, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about The Biome School: https://thebiomeschool.org/
Bill Kent Jr., President and CEO, has led Youth Learning Center (YLC) since its inception. Recognizing that so many of the boys he grew up with did not have the family support he enjoyed and that many of those boys ended up in prison, Mr. Kent was moved to leave his business career and dedicate his professional life to improving academic and life outcomes of youth from under-resourced backgrounds.https://thebiomeschool.org/about-us/our-team/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 939 the Eagle, Columbia, MO: 939theeagle.com/category/gary-nolans-blog/
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. showmeinstitute.org/patrick-ishmael
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Read the full report: http://bit.ly/2wdvNEa
Recently, Patrick Tuohey held a press conference about the findings in the report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyVBIJ59yIo&t=
Kansas City’s recent study of economic development incentives found that such incentives offer a return on investment almost four times that which was invested. This dramatic discovery runs counter to the vast majority of research on the value of such economic development subsidies.
Based on multiple open records requests over the past few months, it appears the $350,000 “Kansas City Incentives Study” was fatally flawed from its inception and completely unresponsive to the city council’s directive.
Susan Pendergrass is Director of Research and Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/susan-pendergrass
Patrick Tuohey is the Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/patrick-tuohey
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Dr. Susan Pendergrass is the Director of Research and Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute
Dr. Douglas Thaman is the Executive Director at the Missouri Charter Public Schools Association:https://www.mocharterschools.org/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
In this episode of the Show-Me Institute Podcast, Dr. Susan Pendergrass, Director of Research and Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute and Dr. James Shuls, an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute discuss the challenge of having a productive conversation about teacher pension reform in Missouri.
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute https://showmeinstitute.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO, Kansas City listen live here: www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
RSVP for our NextGen Event in St. Louis (Monday, May 20) to hear more about Overcharged: showmeinstitute.org/overcharged-why…much-healthcare
Segment from The Randy Tobler Show, FM Newstalk 97.1, KFTK-St.Louis:https://971talk.radio.com/shows/randy-tobler-show
We’re in the twilight of the legislative session here in Missouri, and as tends to happen, it looks like there’s going to be a legislative twist at the end. General Motors, the American car conglomerate, is reportedly considering a $1 billion expansion at its Wentzville auto production facility in the suburbs of St. Louis. The first the public heard about the proposal was on May 1, meaning that if the legislature passes a tax incentive plan of any kind for the company, General Motors will have gone from nothing to likely millions of dollars in hand in the course of only about 18 days.
Segment from The Annie Frey Show: https://971talk.radio.com/shows/annie-frey-show
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 939 the Eagle, Columbia, MO: 939theeagle.com/category/gary-nolans-blog/
Patrick Tuohey is the Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute. https://showmeinstitute.org/patrick-tuohey
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about Overcharged: https://showmeinstitute.org/overcharged-why-americans-pay-too-much-healthcare
Segment from the Pete Mundo Show on KCMO (Kansas City, MO) http://www.kcmotalkradio.com/
RSVP for Overcharged in St. Louis: https://showmeinstitute.org/overcharged-why-americans-pay-too-much-healthcare
Segment from The Marc Cox Morning Show: https://971talk.radio.com/shows/marc-cox-morning-show FM News Talk 97.1-KFTK, St. Louis, MO
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 939 the Eagle, Columbia, MO: 939theeagle.com/category/gary-nolans-blog/
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. showmeinstitute.org/patrick-ishmael
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
See what your city spends: https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/budget/municipal-checkbook
ERRATUM: New Madrid's original quote to the Show-Me Institute was roughly $8000, rather than roughly $9000
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute.
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Segment from the Pete Mundo Show on KCMO (Kansas City, MO) http://www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Link to the editorial:https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-expanding-charter-schools-to-metro-counties-could-hurt-suburban/article_cb7cb8fb-3f95-5b62-86ea-1aa68f9744c3.html
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 939 the Eagle, Columbia, MO: 939theeagle.com/category/gary-nolans-blog/
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. showmeinstitute.org/patrick-ishmael
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 939 the Eagle, Columbia, MO: https://939theeagle.com/category/gary-nolans-blog/
Patrick Ishmael is the director of government accountability at the Show-Me Institute. https://showmeinstitute.org/patrick-ishmael
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Private-sector employers have everything to gain by ensuring that new graduates are ready to start work right away. That’s why many professional associations issue their own industry-recognized credentials (IRCs), such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.
To promote IRC attainment among high school students, several states have begun offering teachers bonus pay for every student of theirs who passes an IRC exam.
More students getting IRCs could create a stronger workforce for our state. Other states are finding creative ways to make this happen—shouldn’t Missouri?
Segment from Pete Mundo Mornings on KCMO, Kansas City listen live here: http://www.kcmotalkradio.com/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Segment from KZRG Morning Newswatch. Listen to KRZG here: https://bit.ly/2OsaUgJ
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://bit.ly/2FrURwI
Patrick Tuohey is the Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute. He works with taxpayers, media, and policymakers to foster understanding of the consequences—sometimes unintended—of policies regarding economic development, taxation, education, and transportation.
Connect with Patrick Tuohey: https://showmeinstitute.org/patrick-tuohey
Segment from The Gary Nolan Show on 93.3 The Eagle
Listen to the full segment here: https://bit.ly/2OkVeM9
Read the blog disscused here:https://bit.ly/2Cp2xhc
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute:https://showmeinstitute.org/
Dr. Susan Pendergrass: https://showmeinstitute.org/susan-pendergrass
Patrick Tuohey: https://showmeinstitute.org/patrick-tuohey
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute:https://showmeinstitute.org/
The 74 Million article discussed:https://www.the74million.org/article/shuls-accountability-has-built-a-regulatory-iron-curtain-around-schools-that-shuts-out-a-childs-most-important-teachers-parents/
Segment from The Annie Frey Show, KFTK, St. Louis Listen to the entire episode here: https://971talk.radio.com/media/podcast/annie-frey-show-podcast
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute here:https://showmeinstitute.org/
Poverty rates in Missouri have trended downward in the years since the Great Recession. Recent research has indicated that nearly seven in ten Missouri children born into families in the bottom income quintile are expected to have escaped poverty by adulthood. But what of the poverty that remains in our state? In a pair of essays, Emily Stahly first examines the incidence of poverty across Missouri—particularly intergenerational poverty, in which economic hardship extends from one generation to the next. She next considers the cost of poverty, not only in terms of lost opportunity for the impoverished, but also in the form of entitlement spending borne by taxpayers. Finally, she examines education as a possible path out of poverty and looks at ways policymakers might remove obstacles along that path.
To learn more about intergenerational poverty in Missouri and to find data sources for statistics included in this podcast, read the full essays here: To learn more about intergenerational poverty in Missouri and to find data sources for statistics included in this podcast, read the full essays here: https://bit.ly/2Xjnt1Q
Learn more about the Show-Me Institute at ShowMeInstitute.org
Show-Me's Dr. Susan Pendergrass and Fox News' Brian Kilmeade discuss school choice and the state of education in the US.
Watch Zoned here: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/school-choice/zoned
Show-Me Institute's Patrick Ishmael talks school choice with KCMO.
Watch the short film here: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/school-choice/zoned Learn more about school choice in Missouri at ShowMeInstitute.org
Listen to the full show:https://www.garynolan.com/gary-nolan-show-thursday-january-17th-2019/
Show Me Institute Director of Government Accountability Patrick Ishmael Joins KZIM/KSIM to discuss Show-Me's 2019 Policy recommendations for Missouri.
http://www.kzimksim.com/
Learn more: https://showmeinstitute.org/
Learn more about the SHow-Me Institutes checkbook project here:https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/budget/municipal-checkbook
Jonah Goldberg joins KMOX's Mark Reardon Show to discuss his new book and visit to St. Louis. Aired on September 17, 2018.
Jonah Goldberg joins KFTK's Tim Jones to talk about his new book and visit to St. Louis. Aired on September 14, 2018.
Jonah Goldberg joins KMOX's Hancock and Kelley to discuss his upcoming event with the Show-Me Institute on 9-18-2018. Originally aired on 9-14-2018.
Jonah Goldberg joins KMOX's Hancock and Kelley to discuss his upcoming event with the Show-Me Institute. Originally aired on 9-14-2018.
Patrick Ishmael, Show-Me Institute's Director of Government Accountability, joins Gary Nolan to debunk the most common Right to Work myths.
Originally aired on 93.9 The Eagle's Gary Nolan Show on July 5, 2018.
Learn more about Right to Work: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/employment-jobs/prop-facts
Dr. James V. Shuls, Show-Me Institute's Distinguished Fellow of Education Policy, joins KMOX's Charlie Brennan to discuss why Missouri lowered its testings standards and the negative repercussions its had on students.
Originally aired on KMOX in St. Louis on July 3, 2018.
Learn more in "Like A Sore Thumb: Missouri's Testing Standards Buck National Trend": https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/accountability/sore-thumb-missouris-testing-standards-buck-national-trend
About the author: James V. Shuls is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Distinguished Fellow in Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, Education Week, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, James taught first grade and fifth grade in southwest Missouri.
Missouri is one of only five states in the country where 17-year-olds are still automatically tried as adults, but with that comes some problems. Show-Me Institute's Director of Municipal Government, Patrick Tuohey, discusses the benefits of reforming the state's sentencing laws for juvenile offenders. Originally Aired on "The Gary Nolan Show" on 5/10/2018
How can 90% of Missouri students graduate from high school, but only 42.5% are “College or Career Ready”? Well, some are arguing that even though graduation rates are at an all-time high, rates of proficiency have stagnated and declined. On top of that, many Missouri students lack access to higher-level coursework such as AP course like calculus or physics. The lack of “STEM” courses offered in high schools is a huge problem, especially when it comes to preparing students for success in college and the work force.
Originally aired on 3/14/2018 on KZRG radio in Joplin.
Show-Me Minute: Liberty
At the Show-Me Institute, our motto is “Where Liberty Comes First”. But what does Liberty mean?
It’s making your own decisions. Taking responsibility for your own actions.
Lots of Missourians are willing to do that, but government refuses to do simple things to help people take charge of their lives.
How about more school choice for parents and their children?
And fewer government handouts to corporations and developers?
Why not make sure with public pension plans that the money will be there for retirees?
Liberty means a health care system designed to help patients not the big insurance companies.
It also means lowering taxes so Missourians have more options in what to do with THEIR money.
As Ronald Reagan said, as government expands, liberty contracts.
Check out our 2018 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org/blueprint
This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Free Markets
When I say free markets, what do I mean? Grocery stores where you don’t have to pay anything? No, it’s an economy with no or very little government interference.
Where consumers decide who succeeds or fails, not public officials picking winners and losers.
We’ve seen it all too often. Governments giving away millions of dollars in tax subsidies for everything from sports stadiums to big box stores. But study after study shows that tax subsidies don’t work, and then the bill comes to us, the taxpayers, in the form of reduced services or higher taxes.
Why not let the market decide? If a company wants to open a big store in Missouri, fine. But let the company assume the reward of success and the risk of failure without taxpayer money. The great economist Milton Friedman once said, “Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself.”
Check out our 2018 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org/blueprint
This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute-Education Reform
If knowledge really is power, are we giving our kids enough mental muscle? According to recent tests, most of Missouri’s students aren’t ready for high school work by 9th grade, and aren’t ready for college upon graduation.
We need to reform education, and explore every option. Why are Kansas City and St. Louis the only cities allowed to have charter schools in Missouri? The demand is there, and yet thousands of students are denied the chance for a better education.
Why aren’t advanced and online classes available through course access to all students throughout the state?
Bright young minds don’t just reside in big cities.
And why doesn’t Missouri adopt education savings accounts, a tax credit program that can save the state and school districts money? Why not explore all these options to bolster education in Missouri, and give our kids the mental muscle for success?
Read more about education reform in our 2018 Missouri blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org/blueprint
This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Transportation
Remember the old muffler commercial where the mechanic says to the car owner, you can pay me now, or pay me later? He meant the muffler was worn out, and the implication was the longer the owner waited, the higher the repair bill was going to be.
So it is with Missouri’s highways. Mo Dot says I-70 desperately needs to be replaced, and the cost for that and other big projects will be in the billions of dollars. Time to look for solutions.
Some say raise the gas tax. Missouri’s tax is among the lowest in the country, and hasn’t been raised in more than two decades. Others say a toll road. Make those who use the highway pay for it, they say, especially truckers. Their big rigs cause much more road damage than cars.
Whatever the solution, something needs to be done. Missouri’s roads need fixing. Remember the muffler commercial. We can pay now, or pay more later.
Check out our 2018 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org/blueprint
This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute Charter Schools
Demand for Charter schools is at an all-time high. But that doesn’t mean your child necessarily has the choice to attend one. Charter schools are limited to students in Kansas City and St. Louis. But even in those areas, there are limitations.
Is that fair? Currently, tens of thousands of students across the state are denied the chance at a better education. The solution is simple…why not make charter schools available statewide?
More than 23 thousand students signed up for charter schools last year in Missouri, that’s up 11% from the year before. University Academy, a charter school out of Kansas City, is one of the top performing schools in the state. It even has a waiting list of 700 students.
So the demand is there. Why not offer students a way out of underperforming schools and allow them to attend a school of their choice?
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org.
This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
In an election year, you can vote for anyone you choose. But if you’re a union government worker, like many police officers, teachers and firefighters in Missouri, the odds are good you have no choice at all.
Imagine we voted for our public officials once and only once for a lifetime appointment. Would that be fair? In Missouri, once a union becomes the exclusive representative for a group of public employees, the union remains in power indefinitely.
Another election is not scheduled unless employees can push through a decertification election…a difficult and often expensive process.
Why not have regular union elections? They would serve as a good check on potential abuses when union leaders don’t have to answer to anybody. It’s what we use to keep public officials in check.
Elections would help rank-and-file union members hold their leaders accountable. It’s called democracy.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute - Tax Subsidies
Remember alphabet soup when you were a kid? And trying to make the letters into words? Lawmakers like to play with letters too…with tax subsidies.
TIFs, CIDs, TDDs, the list goes on. But they have one thing in common. They give corporations OUR tax dollars.
That’s money that we taxpayers could otherwise save and spend ourselves.
And Missouri is one of the most generous states when it comes to handing out corporate welfare. More than $5 billion in subsidies since 1990. It might be money well spent if the state was booming…but Missouri stands near the bottom in economic growth.
Instead of giving our money to certain businesses, and trying to pick winners and losers, why don’t government officials just cut taxes for all of them, and cut taxes for us too…so we can decide what to do with our money.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Should hair braiders have to go through the same expensive and rigorous training as a cosmetologist?
Attorneys for a group of Missouri women who specialize in African-style hair braiding say “no” and we’re back in court Wednesday appealing their case in federal court.
We’ve discussed the importance of occupation licensing reform before and there’s no better example than Missouri’s licensing restrictions which penalize workers such as hair braiders
We caught up with Institute for Justice attorneys Dan Alban and Paul Avelar, who are representing the hair braiders, for a sit-down discussion after the case’s hearing on Wednesday, September 20th.
To learn more about licensing reform and the hair braiding case check out:
Demand Supply: Why Licensing Reform Matters To Improving American Health Care http://bit.ly/2xkRuVa
Hair Braiders Continue Missouri Licensing Fight http://bit.ly/2fXFcuh
Show-Me Minute: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
We have talked before about why raising the minimum wage is a bad idea. Because it hurts the very people it’s supposed to help. Business owners in Seattle reacted to the city’s new $13 an hour minimum wage by cutting hours for low wage workers. Overall income for those workers dropped $100 million!
So if raising the minimum wage isn’t a good idea, what is?
How about expanding the earned income tax credit? That’s a refundable tax credit for low-to-moderate income workers.
That means they would get to keep more of the money they earn to help make ends meet.
It will also slow the growth of public welfare spending because it encourages and rewards work.
And employers wouldn’t be forced into reducing hours or hiring fewer low wage workers.
Unlike raising the minimum wage, expanding the earned income tax credit would help the very people it’s supposed to.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute - Seattle minimum wage
It seems like a good idea. Raise the minimum wage so low paid workers will make more money.
Their standard of living will rise, and the overall economy will benefit. But, sorry, the market doesn’t work that way, and now there is proof.
A few years ago, the city of Seattle decided to raise its minimum wage from $9.47 an hour to $13 an hour at the start of 2016, one of the highest in the country.
Good, right? No. A study by the University of Washington found that small businesses trying to contain costs cut the hours of low wage workers by about 10 percent.
The wage hike also lowered the annual total payroll for low wage workers in Seattle by $100 million dollars.
That’s a drop in income of about $125 per month for the average low wage worker. So instead of helping, the hike in minimum wage actually hurt the very people it was supposed to help.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
For the first time in our state’s history, the Legislature has fully funded the education formula at a price tag of $3.4 billion, but will this additional funding be well spent? If the past is any indicator of the future it will probably include hiring more teachers, administrators, and staff through what’s called a “staffing surge.” A lot of people believe hiring more teachers and staff translates to higher academic achievement, but is this really the case?
Emily Stahly joins the Gary Nolan Show on 93.9 The Eagle. Originally aired on July 13, 2017.
Brenda Talent joins KMOX's Reardon Roundtable on Friday, June 30, 2017 to debate important issues of the week including safety concerns with MetroLink, healthcare reform, and funding for MoDOT.
On Monday, June 26, 2017, the United State Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of a Columbia preschool that was denied a state grant to purchase scrap tires for their playground. What impact will the court's decision in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer have on religious institutions moving forward? Show-Me Institute's Michael McShane appeared on KCMO radio's Greg Knapp Show on June 28 to discuss.
Graham Renz, Policy Researcher for the Show-Me Institute, joins host Ryan Wrecker to explain if your tax dollars are being spent appropriately in the state of Missouri. Wrecker then transitions to a unique story about a Pennsylvania radio host who quit his job after the station told him he was not allowed to continue to talk down President Trump on his weekend Classic Rock show.
Show-Me Minute-Liberty
At the Show-Me Institute, our motto is “Where Liberty Comes First”. But what does Liberty mean? It’s making your own decisions. Taking responsibility for your own actions.
Lots of Missourians are willing to do that, but government refuses to do simple things to help people take charge of their lives.
How about more school choice for parents and their children?
And fewer government handouts to corporations and developers?
Why not make sure with public pension plans that the money will be there for retirees?
Liberty means a health care system designed to help patients not the big insurance companies.
It also means lowering taxes so Missourians have more options in what to do with THEIR money.
As Ronald Reagan said, as government expands, liberty contracts.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org
Show-Me Minute: Transportation
Kicking the can down the road was fun as a kid, but it’s not good public policy when you grow up.
And that’s what our officials are doing with Missouri roads.
Look, MoDot says I-70 desperately needs to be rebuilt, and the cost for that and other big projects will be in the billions of dollars.
How about hiking the state’s gas tax? It’s one of the lowest in the country, and hasn’t been raised in more than 20 years.
So what about toll roads? Modern ones are electronic with no delays…it’s a user fee so those who drive the roads pay most of the cost. But Missouri lawmakers just said no to even studying toll roads this fiscal year.
So where’s the money going to come from?
We can just keep doing what we have been doing. But kicking the can down the road will only make that road more expensive.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org
Show-Me Minute: Transportation Development Districts (TDDs)
Wouldn’t it be great to have someone else pay your bills? Too many private developers are doing just that…and Missouri taxpayers are footing the bill.
Let’s say a developer wants to build a shopping mall. He sets up what is known as a TDD…transportation development district. He can then add to the sales tax in that area, and use that money to help pay for the mall.
The law requires 50% approval from area residents, but most TDDs are formed where no one lives.
So when you shop in that area, you pay more in sales taxes, often with no indication on your receipt.
Nice huh?
According to the State Auditor, in 2014 and 2015 alone, TDDs in Missouri collected more than $176 million in tax revenue—much of it without the approval of area residents.
Reform is needed to change the law that allows what our founding fathers fought against…taxation without representation.
Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org
Listen to our 2017 Missouri Legislative Recap Telephone Town Hall. This recap includes discussion of the bills passed, and defeated in Jefferson City and what this means for our state going forward. This recording is from May 17, 2017.
To learn more visit: showmeinstitute.org
Patrick Ishmael interviewed on campaign finance reform during an "Up In the Air" segment from 3-16-2017 in St. Louis.
Brenda Talent joins KMOX's Reardon Roundtable on Friday, March 3, 2017 to discuss the policy proposals presented by President Trump in his first address to Congress, St. Louis mayoral race, and an increase to St. Louis City's minimum wage.
Originally aired on KMOX on March 3, 2017.
Kansas City leaders want a four decade commitment from taxpayers, but have they earned their trust? Patrick Tuohey explains Kansas City's general obligation bond (GO bond) placed before voters on the April 4 ballot. Originally aired on KCMO on February 8, 2017 in Kansas City.
Listen to a recording of our first Telephone Town Hall from Thursday, January 12, 2017.
We just released our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward, which presents 15 policy ideas covering a broad ranges of issues - from education to healthcare, from public pensions to union reform, and from tax policy to transportation. We look forward to discussing policy reforms that will help get Missouri back on track.
Show-Me Institute's Director of Government Accountability Patrick Ishmael appeared on KZIM-KSIM in Cape Girardeau on January 3, 2017 to talk about our "2017 Blueprint" for growing Missouri's economy. For more information on "2017 Blueprint" visit: http://showmeinstitute.org/publication/good-government-miscellaneous/2017-blueprint-moving-missouri-forward
Wendell Cox appeared on KCMO radio with host Mike Ferguson to discuss his new paper, "Kansas City-Genuinely World Class: A Competitive Analysis."
Read the entire paper here: http://showmeinstitute.org/blog/local-government/kansas-city-genuinely-world-class
Show-Me Minute: Uber
Ever had trouble finding a taxi? Me too. That’s why I used Uber on a recent trip to Texas. The ridesharing service was easy to use, comfortable and affordable. In Missouri, it may not have been possible at all.
That’s because taxicab regulators in Kansas City and St. Louis don’t like companies like Uber and have filed suit to stop them. They control the number of cabs and prices that are charged, supposedly to ensure safety and supply and demand.
What they really want to do is eliminate any competition.
Competition is a good thing. Innovative companies should not be penalized for providing a needed service. Sure ridesharing services should be safe and drivers licensed, but are other regulations like huge insurance fees really necessary?
More rides can mean better service and lower prices, and result in plenty of jobs for drivers.
If the ridesharing services aren’t good, customers won’t use them. Let the free market decide who can give you a ride home.
Want to help? Click on showmeinstitute.org and donate to liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute "Growth"
It’s hard to ignore an elephant in the room. But our leaders seem to be doing just that. Something’s wrong with Missouri’s economy. We are way behind most states in annual growth in goods and services. From 2001 to 2014, Missouri ranked 45th in GDP growth.
It’s an elephantine problem, but lawmakers keep ignoring it.
So how do we get Missouri moving again?
How about cutting income taxes? Lost revenue, you say? Well, if Missourians had more money to spend, that would mean more revenue for the state. And why not stop handing over our money in corporate welfare? Missouri has dished out more than $5 Billion in corporate giveaways since 1990.
Maybe our leaders should just let the free market work…and stop ignoring the economic elephant in Missouri.
Want to help? Go to our website at Showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for Liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute Education Savings Accounts
If you try on a pair of shoes that don’t fit, should you have to buy them? Of course not. So why should you have to buy an education that doesn’t fit your child? Education savings accounts are a great way to customize your child’s education.
ESA’s work like this. The money the state would normally pay to your child’s public school would go into an account that you control. You would get a debit card for private school tuition, online learning programs, or any number of other approved uses. You can use that money to tailor your child’s education.
Rather than sending more money to a bureaucracy that doesn’t respond quickly to student needs, Education Savings Accounts would put parents in charge. It’s school choice at its best, and thousands have signed up across the country. Missouri needs to get on board …and help parents provide a better education for their kids.
Want to help? Go to showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
Show-Me Minute - Health Care
Know what a Rube Goldberg type of device is? It’s something that’s way more complicated than it should be…like health care.
When you go to the doctor, do you know what it’s going to cost? Wouldn’t it be nice not to be shocked by the eventual bill?
Reform is needed, not more of the same broken system…and direct primary care may be one answer.
Under it, doctors assign clear prices to care and guarantee direct access for patients. And they cut out the middleman insurer! That benefits doctors and patients.
Missouri is one of more than a dozen states to protect direct primary care practices from state regulators.
More reform is needed…but Direct Primary Care is a good start toward lower patient costs and more competition for doctors…and a health care system that may finally work.
Want to help? Go to our website at showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
To bring real reform to public education, the system needs to think outside of the box.
Looking to buy a Tesla? A new lawsuit may mean the end of Tesla in Missouri.
Originally aired on KFTK's Marc Cox Show on 9/16/16
SMI's Patrick Ishmael discusses his new blog on the University of Missouri blinding and killing half a dozen beagles.
Originally aired on The Gary Nolan Show on 9/1/2016
For more information visit showmeinstitute.org
Would raising the cigarette tax in Missouri help or hurt Missourians? You may be surprised to find out what the proposed tax is funding and what it isn't. Show-Me Institute policy researcher Michael Highsmith appears on KWTO to discuss.
Originally aired on 8/27/2016
James Shuls talks with KFTK's Marc Cox about the recent discovery of lead in the drinking water at several St. Louis city public schools. Some have used this to argue for more funding, but, as Shuls points out, St. Louis's public schools have one of the highest per pupil spending rates in Missouri.
Learn more at:
http://ShowMeInstitute.org
Brenda Talent appeared on KMOX’s Reardon Roundtable and discussed Mayor Francis Slay’s legacy and the controversy surrounding St. Louis Business Journal’s 25 "Most Influential Business Women."
Originally aired on 8/19/2016 on KMOX.
The Show-Me Institute's Patrick Tuohey joins host Marc Cox of KFTK 97.1FM in St. Louis to talk about what Missouri's big cities need to do to attract more businesses.
Learn more at:
http://www.ShowMeInstitute.org
Healthcare giant Centene is asking for almost $150 million from taxpayers for its expansion project in Clayton, Missouri. Is this just another example of corporate welfare?
Find out more at more at showmeinstitute.org
Originally aired on KTRS on 8/8/16
The tumultuous events at the University of Missouri last fall resulted in the firing of one professor, Melissa Click, and the resignation of the school dean and UM system president. With its reputation in shambles, can Mizzou recover?
Mike McShane talks with Mike Ferguson on KCMO radio. Originally aired on 8/8/2016
For more information visit showmeinstitute.org
St. Louis-based healthcare giant Centene is asking for $147 million from taxpayers to build two high rise office buildings, a hotel, and an entertainment district. Find out more at showmeinstitute.org
Originally aired on The Gary Nolan Show on 8/4/16
Would raising the minimum wage in Missouri help or hurt lower income workers? You may be surprised. Originally aired on KWTO on 8/2/16.
Does the Missouri Legislature need to be more open and transparent when it comes to public meetings? Originally broadcast on KFTK on 7/15/16.
Missouri's roads and highways needs improvements, but what's the best way to do this? This first aired on KMBZ on 7/26/2016.
Learn more at:
http://www.ShowMeInstitute.org
The former Chrysler assembly plant in Fenton, Missouri has been vacant since manufacturing moved to Mexico in 2007. Now developers are looking for $57 million in tax payer dollars to redevelop the former site.
Since the late 1990s, Missouri’s economy has increased at half the rate of the United States as a whole. But the question remains: Why has the Missouri economy reported such slow growth over the past eighteen years?
Millions of taxpayer's dollars have been put into KC's 18th and Vine jazz district with no signs of improvement. SMI's Patrick Tuohey talks with KCMO's Mike Ferguson on July 11, 2016.
St. Louis is considering spending $2 billion on expanding its low ridership light rail, MetroLink, but what's standing in the way? SMI's Patrick Tuohey on the KFTK's The Marc Cox Show on July 1, 2016.
Is Missouri spending too much on corporate welfare at the expense of taxpayers? Centene, a government healthcare management company, is asking for millions in tax subsidies to build a new office in St. Louis. (Aired 6-30-16 on
SMI's Patrick Ishmael discusses how interstate licensing may help lower healthcare costs for Missourians. Aired 6-27-16 on KCMO.
Interstate licensing is an effective solution to the question of how best to balance patient safety and quality care with the needs of a growing and changing health care market. It's worked in other states, why not try it in Missouri?
Is Brexit the beginning of the end of the European Union? Find out from SMI's Andrew Wilson on The Gary Nolan Show. Aired 6/23/16
SMI's Andrew Wilson discusses the negative impact of the Obama Administration's new mandatory overtime pay mandate.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is Missouri’s bad idea that keeps coming back and refuses to die. TIF has had numerous negative economic effects in Missouri, and in particular in the Saint Louis area. TIF has increased government involvement in the economy, sparked abuse of eminent domain, shrunk the tax base, and made subsidies a permanent fixture of development. Furthermore, TIF has failed at its main purpose: economic growth.
SMI's John Wright discusses recent attempts by graduate students at the University of Missouri to unionize. For more information visit our website.
SMI's Andy Wilson discusses why growth in Missouri has stalled and you won't believe who's responsible.
Aired: 4-12-16 on KWTO, Springfield, Mo.
In Missouri, once a union becomes the “exclusive representative” for a group of public employees, that union remains in power indefinitely. Some have suggested fixing this system by allowing unionized public employees the ability to vote to maintain or replace their union every few years.
A high-school diploma is widely considered to be the most fundamental requirement for admission to college or a chance at a good job. And so it should be—but what’s behind that diploma matters, too. Statistics from ACT show that only 30 percent of the class of 2015 scored "college ready" in all four tested subjects. Much of the problem appears to be a gap between the coursework these students complete to earn their high-school diplomas and the work required for their college classes. Here Missouri faces a problem that doesn’t afflict more densely populated states: we have many small, rural school districts that don’t have the means to offer advanced math and science courses for college-bound students—or cutting-edge career or technical education classes for students who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduating—especially if relatively few students are interested in taking them.
We can’t do a lot about our state’s geography, but neither can we accept limitations on the educational options available to students in smaller school districts. We need a way to bring advanced-level coursework to every Missouri student who wants it. An innovative program called course access offers a possible solution to this problem, and it’s the topic of an essay by the Show-Me Institute’s Brittany Wagner and Michael McShane. To find out more, click on the link below and read the essay.
http://showmeinstitute.org/blog/school-choice/rural-schools-need-course-access
Education Policy Research Assistant Brittany Wagner interviews Neil Campbell, Policy Director for Personalized and Blended Learning at the Foundation for Excellence in Education. They discuss course access, a new school choice policy that allows students to access courses online for a few hours during the traditional school day.
Learn more at:
http://www.showmeinstitute.org
Former Oklahoma state senator Jabar Shumate visited the Show-Me Institute at the end of July. As a legislator Shumate helped reform Oklahoma's public education system by expanding school choice options. In this interview conducted by Show-Me Institute Education Policy Researcher Brittany Wagner, Shumate explains how school choice can transform communities.
Learn more at:
http://www.showmeinstitute.org
Show-Me Institute Policy Analyst Joseph Miller talks with St. Louis entrepreneur Ed Domain about Ed's 2013 accident in a Harris cab and the response of the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission (MTC).
Read the show notes at:
http://showmeinstitute.org/taxi-trouble
Learn more at:
http://www.showmeinstitute.org