The Abstract> Edited by Torie Ludwin, Arnold Ventures (AV) |
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In an era of tight budgets and complex challenges, policymakers and philanthropies have the opportunity to use evidence-based policies to drive better outcomes and save taxpayer dollars, wrote Laura and John Arnold, Arnold Ventures’ founders and co-chairs, in a joint op-ed for Route Fifty this week with Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
This piece follows a public announcement of the Colorado Partnership for Proven Initiatives and lays out a compelling vision about how lawmakers across the country should use research to help determine which programs are succeeding.
“A growing body of research around the real-world outcomes of initiatives and investments has provided the equivalent of GPS for policymakers, charting a clear path to ideas that have been proven to work — ideas ready to scale and implement,” they wrote. |
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Supporting Pro-Growth Tax Policies While Reining in Spending |
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| Fix Our Forests Act Introduced |
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With bipartisan support, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AK) recently introduced the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), which would establish requirements for managing forests on federal lands with the goal of helping to reduce wildfire threats. Charlie Anderson, AV’s executive vice president for infrastructure, called it a “…thoughtful, bipartisan policy that will save lives and property.”
Read his statement> |
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Public Finance After more than 20,000 IRS employees accepted Trump’s resignation offer, The Washington Post offers a glimpse into what may be next for the bureau. (free links)
AV’s Program Integrity Fellow Doug Criscitello looks at the fiscal challenges facing Social Security despite DOGE’s operational reforms, in his Forbes column.
The Tax Policy Center discusses how cuts to spending and staff at the IRS may potentially undermine efforts to modernize the agency and improve tax enforcement.
Infrastructure
Higher Education A report from the Postsecondary Education and Economics Research (PEER) Center analyzes the unintended consequences of tuition caps at public institutions. The study finds that while caps are designed to make college more affordable, they may lead to cost-shifting practices that disproportionately affect low-income students by decreasing institutional aid or charging higher tuition costs in the future.
A brief from The Urban Institute explores alternative approaches to capping federal graduate student lending, estimating the impact of setting loan limits at the median cost of attendance (COA) by degree level (e.g., master’s, professional, doctoral).
Natalie Schwartz at Higher Ed Dive looks at 4 ways community colleges can boost workforce development.
Criminal Justice KMIZ reports on the Missouri Prison Transformation Project, a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Corrections and the University of Missouri to implement and research a new prison housing unit focusing on improving conditions and rehabilitation.
In New York, one of the effects of the prison understaffing and overcrowding crisis is that the state is no longer picking up convicted people from local jails in a timely manner. This is putting an extreme strain on already overburdened local jail systems, WWNY reports.
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Subscribe to AV’s Newsletters |
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Arnold Ventures now has several newsletters for your evidence-and-policy-minded delight:
The Virtual Crime Economics (ViCE) Seminar Series — Invitations to a weekly zoom seminar on the latest in crime economics research Health Care Advocacy — A regular update on Health Care Advocacy Evidence and Evaluation Updates — Exciting and only mildly wonky updates on all things evidence, research, and impact Criminal Justice Digest — Regular research, policy, and advocacy updates from our Criminal Justice team Public Finance Digest — Regular updates on tax policy, fiscal issues, and program integrity
Click here to subscribe to any of them> |
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On Tuesday, April 29, at 1 p.m. ET, the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign will host a LinkedIn Live event with experts on the national corrections crisis. The event will feature a conversation between Brian Dawe, National Director at One Voice United; Dr. Shaneva McReynolds, President of FAMM; John Wetzel, former Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary; and Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia, Managing Director of Justice Initiatives at Chicago Beyond and former Warden of the Cook County Department of Corrections. Juliene James, VP of Criminal Justice Policy at Arnold Ventures, will be moderating the conversation. Register here. |
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The University of Maryland recently announced that its commencement speaker in May will be famed storyteller, singer, and emcee Kermit the Frog. After his sold-out visit to campus in 2024, the school will bring him back, making a hat tip to Muppets creator and alumnus Jim Henson, ’60. How will Kermit address the lovers and dreamers at commencement? Check for themes in “The Rainbow Connection” or “Once in a Lifetime.” |
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