Show-me Institute Podcast

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 showmeinstitut

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.

3-16-2017 The Eagle - Tuohey on Criminal Justice Reform by Show-Me Institute

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? Cli

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

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.