Yesterday, Missourians had the final say on one of the most important state policy debates this year: whether to eliminate their personal income tax, which funds two-thirds of their budget, while raising taxes on many working people. They voted it down. missouriindependent.com/2026/08/04/m...

Missouri voters reject income tax phaseout, initiative petition changes • Missouri Independent

Missouri voters resoundingly rejected major Republican priorities on Tuesday as proposals to eliminate the income tax and change the way majorities are counted lost by large margins across the state.

missouriindependent.com

As local govts face fiscal pressure from huge SNAP & healthcare cuts in last year's reconciliation law, some states are cutting #propertytaxes - the main revenue source for 90% of local govts. Instead, states should target property tax breaks & fund rental assistance. www.cbpp.org/blog/more-st...

My new: "In what is being touted as the 'Golden Age of School Choice,' the option that is most popular with American families—to fund and attend their local public schools—is gradually being made less viable." www.nationofchange.org/2026/05/28/t...

The conservative ‘plan’ to dismantle public schools is entering the home stretch | NationofChange

nationofchange.org

Lawmakers in other states should follow the lead of those in FL, GA, LA, MS, & SC who are reconsidering costly private #schoolvouchers as state budgets tighten. Lawmakers should reprioritize funding for public schools that serve 90% of this nation's students. www.cbpp.org/blog/as-budg...

As Budgets Tighten, Some State Lawmakers Reconsider Costly Private School Vouchers

In the face of historic cuts to federal support for states, some state lawmakers are considering shifting spending priorities away from school voucher programs.

cbpp.org

This #TaxDay, my colleague @WhitneyJemison outlines the harmful tax & budget choices some states have made, including cutting property taxes that fund local services & expanding costly school vouchers, as well as the brighter path other states are taking:

Whitney Jemison@whitneyjemison.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Happy #TaxDay! While millions of Americans file their returns today, statehouses across the country are making decisions that will shape who pays, who gains, & who gets left behind for years to come. And right now, states are headed in two VERY different directions. Some context:

In MA, taxing the ultra-wealthy has delivered billions for education & transportation investments that are broadly shared. And revenues continue to outpace expectations as high earners: 1) stay put and 2) contribute more based on their rising incomes. www.mass.gov/info-details...

CBPP's @wesleytharpe.bsky.social, Clara Wilson, & @joannalefebvre.bsky.social sit down w/ Thomson Reuters on the double threat states are facing from federal cuts & their own policy choices threatening vital programs. The solution? Protecting & raising revenues tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/policy-...

New report: States & localities in '26 are facing a one-two punch—fallout from harmful federal actions on one hand & regressive state policies on the other. The path forward? Protecting & raising revenues to mitigate harm & build forward. Here’s how: www.cbpp.org/research/sta...

Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward

Last summer’s harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for wealthy households and corporations with historically deep cuts that will take away people’s vital health care and food assista...

cbpp.org

"Breaking up the Department of Education and scattering its shards throughout the federal government isn’t reform. It’s disruption. And rural schools, tribal communities and vulnerable students will be the ones who pay the steepest price." www.the74million.org/article/frag...

Fragmenting the U.S. Department of Education Creates Chaos for Rural Students

Superintendent's view: Multiple lines of authority, blurred accountability and conflicting priorities will interrupt essential funding and services.

the74million.org

"It is no surprise that early indications are that the Trump admin will stop governors who seek to craft programs that best fit the needs of their states & families. [This] would be a clear attempt to decimate public education in favor of private & religious schools." www.k12dive.com/news/protect...

Private school choice threatens public school experiences, says EdTrust CEO

Public funding for students and schools must be protected to preserve equitable learning opportunities, Denise Forte writes.

k12dive.com

ELC Executive Director @bob-kim.bsky.social: States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme progressive.org/op-eds/state...

States Should Reject Federal School Voucher Scheme

Vouchers hurt public schools and their students.

progressive.org

New must-read from @propublica.org. More than half of states slashed income taxes in recent years, especially for the wealthy. Now that bill is coming due, right when harmful federal budget cuts are about to hit states too. Time to reverse course.

ProPublica@propublica.org · 8mo ago

NEW: The recent government shutdown, with families skipping meals and babies unfed, could have been a preview of what’s to come when Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill shifts billions in costs for the SNAP program to states that may not be able to afford them.

This past Friday, the Trump Administration made a choice to cut support for vital services people depend on like education funding for children with special needs, financial services in underserved communities, and public health readiness. 🧵

Must read thread on new study showing school vouchers are spurring enrollment in small Christian private schools--the same schools that research suggests produce some of the poorest academic outcomes for students:

National Education Policy Center@nepc.bsky.social · 11mo ago

For those interested in the growth of ESA vouchers and the new federal push for vouchers by Trump and Congressional Republicans, please read this thread about the important new voucher study & the NYT article about that study. reachcentered.org/publications...

Once again, Florida shows what’s waiting for other states that careen toward universal school vouchers: public schools that can’t pay teachers, school closures that dislocate communities, & budget woes from trying to fund two separate education systems. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Delaware is protecting critical funding for services like public schools while more equitably distributing property tax responsibility among homeowners & businesses. Here’s what other states can learn from DE’s thoughtful approach to #PropertyTax reform from last month's special session. 🧵

Kentucky’s Woodford County Public Schools, which serves middle-income families in rural communities outside of Lexington, may need a short-term payroll loan — a red flag for broader school finance instability in the state. More from @joannalefebvre.bsky.social: www.cbpp.org/research/sta...

Tracking the Fallout From State Tax Cuts | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

States have gone on a tax-cutting spree in recent years. More than half have slashed income taxes for wealthy people and corporations, in some cases by extraordinary amounts. Communities are starting ...

cbpp.org

Wyoming Passes 25% Property Tax Cut for Homeowners — Without Replacing Lost Revenue for Local Services: "As a result, local officials are having to cut their budgets by up to 23 percent, and the state is now facing a $686 million school funding deficit by 2030." www.cbpp.org/research/sta...

Tracking the Fallout From State Tax Cuts | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

States have gone on a tax-cutting spree in recent years. More than half have slashed income taxes for wealthy people and corporations, in some cases by extraordinary amounts. Communities are starting ...

cbpp.org

States are increasingly calling for special sessions this year, and it’s not just routine business. From addressing the impact of federal policy, to state tax debates, to shoring up disaster aid and political power plays, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of legislative overtime.🧵

🚨 BREAKING: A shocking $440M in unused ESA voucher funds are sitting in bank accounts — while AZ's public schools are left under-resourced and struggling. This hoarding of taxpayer dollars by mostly wealthy families hurts public school students who go without needed supports 😠

Yesterday, I shared my @educationwork.newamerica.org team's district impact analysis of the $6+ billion that the Trump admin is refusing to disburse to schools (link in 2nd post). Now, @edweek.org has published our funding figures for ALL districts in the US for which we have data. Search for yours↓

See How Much Federal Money Trump Is Holding Back From Your District

Hundreds of districts will lose more than $1 million each, according to a new analysis.

edweek.org

"Eight states—AL, AZ, FL, GA, ID, IN, NE and NC—saw their real per-pupil education expenditures decline even while their per capita GDP went up. These eight states had the capacity to expand educational opportunities for their state’s children but have gone in the opposite direction instead."

Economic Policy Institute@epi.org · last yr.

As states get richer, they should spend more money on education & public schools, right? Unfortunately, most states aren't doing this. Southern states, in particular, are neglecting their students. More info in @hilwething.bsky.social & @dskamper.bsky.social's new blog: www.epi.org/blog/state-e...

New analysis from @itep.org: if only 25% of eligible tax filers were to claim the school voucher tax credit in the Senate's reconciliation bill, federal revenue would be reduced by over $25 billion per year - far more than previous versions. itep.org/trump-megabi...

Senate Megabill Takes Cap Off Unprecedented Private School Voucher Tax Credit, Potentially Raising Cost by Tens of Billions Relative to House Version

The tax and spending legislation approved by the U.S. Senate would create an unprecedented, dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit designed to support private school vouchers. This tax credit has the po...

itep.org

Make no mistake-- today’s Supreme Court ruling does not end constitutionally guaranteed birthright citizenship. However, the SCOTUS has ruled against the injunctions that have been blocking The Trump Administration’s birthright citizenship EO from being implemented nationwide.

The national school voucher proposal in the Senate GOP reconciliation plan would threaten students’ access to quality public schools, give tax breaks to the wealthy, & override states that have rejected these harmful policies. Lawmakers who care about our kids’ futures should reject it.

Public education would be at especially high risk, given that it makes up the largest share of state budgets. For context: just the potential cost of the proposed 5% minimum SNAP match is the equivalent of average salary costs for about 65K public school teachers nationwide.

NEW REPORT: House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, now in the Senate, would shift major new costs to the state- & local-level, paving the way for harmful cuts to food assistance, health care, & other services like education. Here’s the 3 top things to know:🧵

Rather than course correct, Senate Republican leaders are rushing to advance a bill that is in some ways even more destructive and harmful than the unpopular House Republican bill. The Senate must reject it.

House Republicans’ new budget bills promise widespread harm to people & communities in every state across the U.S. One way they seek to hide these harmful impacts is by slashing federal funding & then passing the buck to state & local gov’ts to make the toughest choices & cuts.🧵

CBPP's Samantha Jacoby posted on X explaining how the House Republican tax bill's new federal tax credit to subsidize private school vouchers works: x.com/jacsamoby/st...