Tax Overhaul Process Retreated from Democracy
Recent legislative process that led to tax changes fell short in terms of key principles of democracy.
Federal Court Approves “Ballot Selfie” Prohibition
New York law banning photos of voters with their ballots survives constitutional scrutiny.
State Court Breathes Fresh Air into Pennsylvanians’ Environmental Rights
Recent state supreme court decision reaffirms and expands a constitutional duty to preserve natural resources.
Information-Based Regulation and the Search for Amazon’s Second Headquarters
Rankings for company’s new headquarters offer cautionary lessons about using rankings as regulatory tools.
Valuing Commentary
Commentaries on new book reinforce its author’s call for strengthening the civil service.
Reliance on Contractors is Likely Here to Stay
Policymakers cannot know whether the trend Verkuil identifies is good or bad, but we should find out.
Valuing Bureaucracy Is a Quixotic Project
Verkuil’s proposal for replacing contractors with professional bureaucrats is unlikely to be adopted.
The Sunshine Act and Transparency at the FCC
New practice of releasing drafts of proposed actions enhances the public’s understanding of agency actions.
Trump’s Red Tape Rollback
The Trump Administration’s regulatory rollback highlights the opportunities and obstacles that lie ahead.
Of “Workarounds” and Bureaucrats
Civil service reformers should consider changes to lengthy, single-agency employee tenures.
Valuing Democratic Governance
Verkuil offers a compelling argument for reshaping the bureaucracy, but the odds of adoption are slim.