Business Climate

Which state is the most taxpayer-friendly?

3 days ago3 min read

Which state is the most taxpayer-friendly?

The Cowboy State has once again won the tax rodeo for having the most competitive tax structure according to the Tax Foundation. The Tax...

New banking hurdles mean most Americans finish last

Madilynne Clark

4 days ago3 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

New banking hurdles mean most Americans finish last

In any relay race, when the first leg stumbles out of the gate, every team member is hurt. Regulators recently placed a massive hurdle of...

Christmas comes early for American small businesses

Amber Gunn

Dec 103 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Christmas comes early for American small businesses

Sometimes the best gift is simply the absence of something—especially if that something is an invasive federal rule that violates the...

Chris Cargill

Dec 52 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

The federal red tape ruining Christmas

The Federal Register – a manual of proposed and final rules and regulations required by federal bureaucrats – has hit a new record and is li

Montana fights for pole position on lowest regional income tax rate

Jason Mercier

Nov 224 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Montana fights for pole position on lowest regional income tax rate

In the important race for tax competition, Governor Gianforte has announced a major income tax reduction proposal for the Treasure State....

Amber Gunn

Oct 214 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Rent control is a great destroyer

In a market economy, whenever there is a “shortage” of any product, rationing occurs by price, and the price is determined by the choices of

Who’s spending $1,100 an hour trying to block the Albertsons-Kroger merger?

Chris Cargill

Oct 102 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Who’s spending $1,100 an hour trying to block the Albertsons-Kroger merger?

State-specific action costing taxpayers millions of dollars even has a skeptic on the bench.

Lawmakers move to protect property owners from squatters

Amber Gunn

Oct 34 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Lawmakers move to protect property owners from squatters

Legislation proposed in Wyoming would help owners remove illegal occupants (also known as squatters) from their property. The issue...

Spokane’s Prop 1: The Community Safety Sales Tax

Chris Cargill

Sep 304 min read

GOVERNANCE

Spokane’s Prop 1: The Community Safety Sales Tax

Like many cities across Washington state, the city of Spokane is facing a public safety crisis. Graffiti and garbage line many downtown...

Washington’s Initiative 2066: Promoting energy choice by protecting access to natural gas for homes and businesses

Madilynne Clark

Sep 233 min read

ENVIRONMENT

Washington’s Initiative 2066: Promoting energy choice by protecting access to natural gas for homes and businesses

This November, Washington voters will decide if consumer energy choices deserve protection. Over the course of the last year, Washington...

Mostly high marks for our region in Schweitzer's 2024 Index of Freedom report

Sam Cardwell

Sep 182 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Mostly high marks for our region in Schweitzer's 2024 Index of Freedom report

Regionally based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) recently released its 2024 Index of Freedom report . The top five states in...

Failure to extend the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) would hurt taxpayers

Sam Cardwell

Aug 193 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Failure to extend the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) would hurt taxpayers

Unless Congress acts soon, taxpayers across the Mountain States will face an automatic tax increase next year. This is because lawmakers...

Mountain States lead the way in regulatory freedom

Jason Mercier

Aug 133 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Mountain States lead the way in regulatory freedom

When it comes to finding regulatory freedom, head West, at least until you get to the coast. According to the latest rankings from the...

Return to sender: Why policymakers should avoid retail delivery fees

Sam Cardwell

Aug 64 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Return to sender: Why policymakers should avoid retail delivery fees

As the world becomes more digitized almost every consumer participates in online shopping. Forbes estimates in the U.S. that 20.1% of all...

Protect teen jobs by avoiding costly minimum wage increases

Chris Cargill

Jul 292 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Protect teen jobs by avoiding costly minimum wage increases

Raising the minimum wage is a policy discussion ripe with tradeoffs. On the one hand, a hike in hourly pay could help some low-income...

Now Available: The Mountain States Policy Manual

Jason Mercier

Jul 153 min read

GOVERNANCE

Now Available: The Mountain States Policy Manual

The Mountain States Policy Manual is a 200-page guide filled with facts, figures, research and more than 80 recommendations – it is an...

A lesson in government intervention - for better or worse?

Chris Cargill

Jul 122 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

A lesson in government intervention - for better or worse?

In reality, no stores will close, no employees will be laid off, and Kroger and Albertsons are doing exactly what the government has told th

Boise, Billings and Spokane: Three approaches, three outcomes

Madilynne Clark

Jun 113 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Boise, Billings and Spokane: Three approaches, three outcomes

Where should you live in the Mountain States? The question seems to be on the country’s mind as it has been the fastest growing region...

The Lemonade Stand and the fines that weren't fair

Madilynne Clark

Jun 103 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

The Lemonade Stand and the fines that weren't fair

At the start of the summer and as days are getting warm an American pastime is for kids to run a lemonade stand. These stands are often...

Surprising population data highlights need for policy trifecta

Chris Cargill

May 241 min read

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Surprising population data highlights need for policy trifecta

Policies matter and they have real consequence. Perhaps the starkest example of this is the ability of a citizen to vote with their feet.

WHAT WE COVER

WHAT WE COVER

Free
Markets
First.