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The Buckeye Institute Asks the U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Both of Buckeye's Home-Distilling Cases Together
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 17 [Category: Think Tank] -- The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution that says its mission is to advance free-market public policy, posted the following news release:
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The Buckeye Institute Asks the U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Both of Buckeye's Home-Distilling Cases Together
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Columbus, OH -On Thursday, The Buckeye Institute filed its response brief in McNutt v. U.S. Department of Justice-one of The Buckeye Institute's two cases challenging the unconstitutional federal prohibition on home distilling-with the U.S. Supreme Court.
In
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 17 [Category: Think Tank] -- The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution that says its mission is to advance free-market public policy, posted the following news release:
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The Buckeye Institute Asks the U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Both of Buckeye's Home-Distilling Cases Together
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Columbus, OH -On Thursday, The Buckeye Institute filed its response brief in McNutt v. U.S. Department of Justice-one of The Buckeye Institute's two cases challenging the unconstitutional federal prohibition on home distilling-with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Inits response, The Buckeye Institute urged the Supreme Court to grant review of McNutt and also Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury.
"By reviewing both cases, the U.S. Supreme Court can consider the scope and reach of Congressional power under the commerce clause, taxing power, and necessary and proper clause to regulate activities undertaken in the home," said Andrew M. Grossman, senior legal fellow at The Buckeye Institute, partner in BakerHostetler's Washington, D.C. office, and counsel of record for the case. "The Buckeye Institute strongly agrees that the U.S. Supreme Court should grant certiorari in McNutt as well as in Ream."
The Buckeye Institute argues that addressing McNutt and Ream is critical to resolving the direct conflict between the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (which upheld the federal ban on home distilling) and the Fifth Circuit (which declared that same federal ban on home distilling to be unconstitutional). The Buckeye Institute additionally urged the U.S. Supreme Court to grant review in both of these two cases in order to consider the full scope and reach of Congressional authority under not only its taxing power and the necessary and proper clause, but-critically-also the scope of Congressional power under the commerce clause, which is presented only in Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury.
"The importance of the fundamental constitutional questions in these two cases being addressed together can hardly be overstated," said Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute and a lead attorney on both cases. "At stake are nothing less than the cornerstones of America's system of government-federalism and limited government."
Read more about The Buckeye Institute's cases and stay up-to-date on their progress at: BuckeyeInstitute.org/McNuttvDOJ and BuckeyeInstitute.org/ReamvUSTreasury.
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Original text here: https://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/research/detail/the-buckeye-institute-asks-the-us-supreme-court-to-take-up-both-of-buckeyes-home-distilling-cases-together
Democrats Who Win Battleground Districts Run as Problem Solvers, Not Manufactured Candidates, New PPI Report Finds
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 [Category: ThinkTank] (TNSrpt) -- The Progressive Policy Institute posted the following news release:
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Democrats Who Win Battleground Districts Run as Problem Solvers, Not Manufactured Candidates, New PPI Report Finds
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WASHINGTON (September 17, 2026) -Democrats who hold competitive, heavily working-class districts make up just 10% of state senators and 13% of state house members across the seven battleground states that decide presidential elections. Among 28 such lawmakers interviewed for a new report, 15 describe themselves as moderates, and none identify as democratic
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 [Category: ThinkTank] (TNSrpt) -- The Progressive Policy Institute posted the following news release:
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Democrats Who Win Battleground Districts Run as Problem Solvers, Not Manufactured Candidates, New PPI Report Finds
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WASHINGTON (September 17, 2026) -Democrats who hold competitive, heavily working-class districts make up just 10% of state senators and 13% of state house members across the seven battleground states that decide presidential elections. Among 28 such lawmakers interviewed for a new report, 15 describe themselves as moderates, and none identify as democraticsocialists. Twenty of them ran ahead of Kamala Harris in 2024. A report released today by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) argues those facts are connected, and that the Democrats actually winning working-class voters look nothing like the left-wing insurgents dominating national media coverage of the party's direction.
The report, titled "Democrats Who Win the Working Class: Profiles From the Seven Battleground States" and authored by Robin Johnson, a political and governmental relations consultant and part-time lecturer in political science at Monmouth College, Stuart Malec, Vice President of Public Affairs at PPI, and Jolie Libert, Political Director at PPI, compiles as-told-to interviews with state legislators from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Each won a district decided by less than 10 points where the share of adults without a bachelor's degree exceeds the national average of 64.3%.
Five themes emerged across the interviews:
* On what voters care about... legislators returned again and again to the cost of living. "It's all about pocketbook, bread and butter issues; the wallet; how can I afford to take care of my family?" said Assemblymember Max Carter (D-Nev.), a former union electrician. State Rep. Bryan Cohn (D-N.C.), who beat a Republican incumbent in a rural district, put it more bluntly: "A solid economic platform will connect with them not just economically, but also emotionally. Everything else is vapor."
* On how the party talks... several warned that Democrats describe the economy in words their constituents never use. "The term 'affordability,' for example. Who talks like that?" said State Rep. Karen DeSanto (D-Wis.). "My voters say that they can't afford gas. That's how I speak."
* On cultural issues... the national brand among non-college voters is "busted," in the words of State Sen. Jamie Wall (D-Wis.). Most of the legislators do not hide their own positions, and many ran explicitly on abortion rights, but they refuse to let culture war fights crowd out economic concerns, and several objected to litmus tests from national advocacy groups that leave swing-district lawmakers exposed.
* On business... many cited relationships with local employers and chambers of commerce as central to their appeal, arguing there is daylight between being pro-business and being anti-worker.
* On tactics... the lawmakers were nearly unanimous that door knocking matters most, with several stressing longer conversations over volume, and listening over pitching. "I still have a pair of bronze boots from my first race when I knocked on 6,000 doors and walked 600 miles," said Assemblymember Carter.
The report also pushes back on the idea that winning working-class voters is a casting problem. The 28 legislators interviewed are small business owners, lawyers, veterans, ministers and one former professional clown. The authors conclude that authenticity comes from community ties rather than biography, a contrast they draw directly with Graham Platner, whose blue-collar image outpaced a resume that included a prep school education and a famous architect grandfather.
These lawmakers ran on things voters could feel in a monthly bill. Nevada's Assemblymember Carter spearheaded a wage theft crackdown signed by the state's Republican governor. State Rep. Elaine Marzola (D-Nev.) cited votes to cap insulin at $35 and to force the state's energy utility to return more than $63 million to overcharged customers. State Rep. Tangie Herring (D-Ga.) secured property tax relief for seniors. Michigan Democrats campaigned on repealing the state's retirement tax, and the Wisconsin legislators interviewed all ran in 2024 on adopting Medicaid expansion.
PPI selected state legislators deliberately, arguing their perspective is absent from New York and Beltway-centric debates about how Democrats can win. The report contends that with smaller districts and less money for television, state lawmakers spend more time connecting with constituents face-to-face, making them the party's best available read on what's happening on the ground in places where its national brand is a liability.
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Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @ppi.
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REPORT: https://www.progressivepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PPI-Dems-Who-Win.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.progressivepolicy.org/democrats-who-win-battleground-districts-run-as-problem-solvers-not-manufactured-candidates-new-ppi-report-finds/
(TNSmrp)
Federal Reserve raises interest rates, eyes on future economic policy: CEI analysis
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Competitive Enterprise Institute posted the following news release:
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Federal Reserve raises interest rates, eyes on future economic policy: CEI analysis
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Today, the Federal Reserve has decided to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, the first increase in over three years. The decision shows the Fed's commitment to fighting inflation and stabilizing the economy.
CEI senior economist Ryan Young:
"As expected, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate in an effort to tame inflation. Speculation now turns to whether this was
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Competitive Enterprise Institute posted the following news release:
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Federal Reserve raises interest rates, eyes on future economic policy: CEI analysis
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Today, the Federal Reserve has decided to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, the first increase in over three years. The decision shows the Fed's commitment to fighting inflation and stabilizing the economy.
CEI senior economist Ryan Young:
"As expected, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate in an effort to tame inflation. Speculation now turns to whether this wasa one-time increase, or whether the Fed is entering a new cycle of continuing increases.
"The answer is not necessarily in the Fed's hands. Upcoming policy choices on Iran, Canada, and tariffs will play a large role.
"Credibly ending the Iran war will help energy prices come down, though not for several months, since damaged infrastructure will take time to rebuild.
"Ending the pointless trade war with Canada will ease pressure on autos and construction that use Canadian steel and lumber.
"And tariffs will continue to raise prices not only by taxing products, but by their haphazard implementation. If Congress grants President Trump additional tariff authority in its Russia sanctions bill, this problem will grow even worse."
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Original text here: https://cei.org/news_releases/federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-eyes-on-future-economic-policy-cei-analysis/
Center on Budget & Policy Priorities: Census Data Underscore Importance of Food Assistance and Health Coverage Access
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following statement:
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September 15, 2026
New Census Data Underscore Importance of Food Assistance and Health Coverage Access
Statement of Sharon Parrott, CBPP President, on 2025 Census Data
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At a moment when the cuts enacted in last year's harmful Republican reconciliation law have begun to take away food assistance and health coverage from millions of people, today's Census data are a reminder of the important role Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, and SNAP can play in helping families
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following statement:
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September 15, 2026
New Census Data Underscore Importance of Food Assistance and Health Coverage Access
Statement of Sharon Parrott, CBPP President, on 2025 Census Data
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At a moment when the cuts enacted in last year's harmful Republican reconciliation law have begun to take away food assistance and health coverage from millions of people, today's Census data are a reminder of the important role Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, and SNAP can play in helping familiesafford the basics -- and why the cuts are so misguided.
In 2025, poverty showed signs of improvement, incomes rose as wage gains outpaced inflation, and the uninsured rate remained at historic lows. Even with this progress, more than 44 million people -- or more than 1 in 8 people overall and including 9.7 million children -- lived in families with incomes below the poverty line ($41,700 for a four-person family renting in an average-cost community). Some 27 million people had no health insurance, and income inequality after taxes stood at its highest in at least 17 years.
Basic needs programs were key to raising incomes above the poverty line and ensuring people could access the health care they needed. Refundable tax credits lifted 6 million people above the poverty line, and SNAP lifted more than 3 million people above the poverty line, while the ACA marketplace and Medicaid provided much needed coverage to tens of millions of people.
Today's data don't reflect the impact of recent rising inflation or most of the cuts to food assistance and health coverage enacted in the 2025 Republican reconciliation law. That law made the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in our nation's history and failed to extend the premium tax credit enhancements that made the ACA marketplace more affordable and successful in expanding coverage and lowering costs. These cuts are already taking food assistance and health coverage away from millions of people who need it, driving up poverty and hardship.
The impacts of the harmful 2025 Republican reconciliation law and other policies are already on display:
* Since July 2025, the number of people receiving SNAP has fallen by roughly 5 million (12 percent), and based on data from 25 states, it is likely that well over 1.5 million children have lost food assistance. In Arizona, SNAP participation dropped by 54 percent from July 2025 to May 2026. The sharp nationwide drop in enrollment doesn't coincide with labor market strengthening, suggesting it is largely policy-driven.
* In February 2026, some 3 million fewer people were enrolled in ACA marketplace coverage compared to February 2025. Further declines in marketplace enrollment are expected as expensive monthly premiums stack up and more people can no longer afford coverage.
* Starting in January 2027, new restrictions that take Medicaid expansion coverage away from people who don't meet a harsh work requirement are projected by the Congressional Budget Office and other analysts to result in millions more people becoming uninsured.
The 2025 figures also predate rising overall inflation rates due to the Administration's tariffs and war against Iran.
Economic and health insecurity are not limited to any one racial or ethnic group, but long-lasting inequities mean that poverty and a lack of health coverage fall far more heavily on certain groups. For example, child poverty rates (using the Supplemental Poverty Measure) stood at 11.9 percent for Asian children; 7.7 percent for white, non-Hispanic children; 22.0 percent for Black children; 10.1 percent for American Indian and Alaska Native children; and 19.5 percent for Hispanic children.
The Census report also serves as a reminder that the nation has the tools to tackle important challenges like poverty, uninsurance, and inequality. A century ago, Social Security didn't exist; in 2025, the program lifted 28.8 million people above the poverty line. Newer policies like the Earned Income Tax Credit and refundable Child Tax Credit lifted 6.1 million people above the poverty line last year. And we know it is possible to do more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, relief policies temporarily cut child poverty by half, showing what we can achieve with investments that help people afford the basics.
Health coverage data also show how policy can improve outcomes. Census' American Community Survey data show that the share of people who lacked health insurance fell roughly 40 percent between 2013 and 2016 as the ACA's major provisions took effect, and then dropped further as more states adopted the Medicaid expansion. The pandemic-era temporary Medicaid provisions that kept people covered, along with premium tax credit enhancements that made ACA marketplace coverage far more affordable, brought the uninsured rate to a record low of 7.9 percent in 2023.
Policymakers who supported last year's harmful cuts in food assistance and health coverage ignored these lessons from our history, choosing policies that exacerbate poverty and reverse progress on health coverage. In enacting the reconciliation law, they also chose to exacerbate rather than push back against inequality, with high-income households benefitting substantially more from the tax cuts than families with lower incomes, who also bear the brunt of both deep cuts to Medicaid, ACA marketplace coverage, and SNAP and the rising cost of basic needs.
Today's data show how backward this approach is. In 2025, after-tax income inequality stood at its widest point in at least 17 years. For the first time in after-tax data available since 2009, a household with after-tax income higher than exactly 90 percent of all U.S. households received fully 10 times as much income in 2025 as a household with income lower than all but 10 percent of households.
If the President and Republicans in Congress had not enacted these deep cuts -- and had not taken other steps driving up prices -- families would be better off. Moreover, policymakers should have built on the modest progress in 2025 to make gains against poverty and to expand access to affordable coverage.
We have policy tools -- like an expanded Child Tax Credit, premium tax credit enhancements and health coverage available without burdensome red tape, and support to people who are out of work -- available to reduce poverty and improve health coverage markedly. We should use them.
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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs. It is supported primarily by foundation grants.
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Original text here: https://www.cbpp.org/press/statements/new-census-data-underscore-importance-of-food-assistance-and-health-coverage
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center for American Progress: About 1 in 10 Americans Are in Poverty, and Implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Likely Increase That
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release:
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Sep 15, 2026
About 1 in 10 Americans Are in Poverty, and Implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Likely Increase That
Washington, D.C. -- The official poverty rate fell from 2024 to 2025, while the supplemental poverty rate remained statistically unchanged. Newly released 2025 data serve as a benchmark against which to measure the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), according to an analysis from the Center for American Progress examining newly released U.S.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release:
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Sep 15, 2026
About 1 in 10 Americans Are in Poverty, and Implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Likely Increase That
Washington, D.C. -- The official poverty rate fell from 2024 to 2025, while the supplemental poverty rate remained statistically unchanged. Newly released 2025 data serve as a benchmark against which to measure the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), according to an analysis from the Center for American Progress examining newly released U.S.Census Bureau data.
The analysis finds that the official poverty rate fell to 10.2 percent, or 34.5 million people, in 2025, while the supplemental poverty measure remained steady at 13.1 percent, or nearly 44.4 million people. The supplemental poverty measure--which accounts for the impact of programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as well as expenses, including housing, medical care, and child care--provides a fuller picture of families' economic well-being.
"Millions of families are already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities," said Kennedy Andara, a policy analyst on the Economic Policy team at CAP and co-author of the analysis. "Basic needs programs, such as SNAP and Social Security, keep millions of Americans out of poverty. The OBBBA's cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other social safety net programs make it harder for families to put food on the table, access health care, and afford the basic necessities."
The analysis finds:
* Different measures of poverty rates diverged in 2025. The official poverty rate fell to 10.2 percent, or 34.5 million people, in 2025, while the supplemental poverty measure remained statistically unchanged at 13.1 percent, or nearly 44.4 million people.
* Further cuts threaten families' access to food and health care. As the OBBBA's cuts to SNAP and Medicaid take effect, the number of households struggling with food insecurity and a lack of health insurance is expected to increase.
* Safety net programs kept millions of Americans out of poverty. Under the supplemental poverty measure, Social Security lifted 28.8 million people out of poverty in 2025 and was the nation's most effective anti-poverty program. Refundable tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the refundable portion of the child tax credit, had the next-largest effect, lifting 6.1 million people out of poverty--followed by SNAP, which lifted 3.1 million people out of poverty.
* SNAP participation has already fallen sharply. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture administrative data, SNAP participation declined by nearly 2.4 million people between the enactment of the OBBBA in July 2025 and December 2025--and by roughly 5 million between July 2025 and May 2026. About 1.2 million are estimated to be children in the 25 states that reported data on child participation.
* Uninsurance rates remained statistically unchanged in 2025. The number of people without insurance in 2025 was 26.7 million, or 7.9 percent of the total population, compared with 27 million, or 8 percent, in 2024. Medical expenses pushed nearly 7.7 million people into poverty in 2025.
Read the analysis: "Poverty Rates Diverged in 2025 but Will Likely Rise Following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's Implementation" (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/poverty-rates-diverged-in-2025-but-will-likely-rise-following-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-acts-implementation/) by Kennedy Andara and Mimla Wardak
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Christian Unkenholz at cunkenholz@americanprogress.org.
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Original text here: https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release-about-1-in-10-americans-are-in-poverty-and-implementation-of-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-will-likely-increase-that/
[Category: ThinkTank]
CAP Analysis Urges States To Pursue the Long Game on Energy Affordability
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2026:
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CAP Analysis Urges States To Pursue the Long Game on Energy Affordability
Washington, D.C. -- As electricity costs rise, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress shows how the most successful responses by state officials are those that protect consumers today while continuing to invest in energy efficiency and clean energy resources that lower bills over time.
The analysis highlights states such as Rhode Island and Massachusetts, along with Washington, D.C.,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2026:
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CAP Analysis Urges States To Pursue the Long Game on Energy Affordability
Washington, D.C. -- As electricity costs rise, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress shows how the most successful responses by state officials are those that protect consumers today while continuing to invest in energy efficiency and clean energy resources that lower bills over time.
The analysis highlights states such as Rhode Island and Massachusetts, along with Washington, D.C.,that have recently rejected or reversed proposals to scale back energy efficiency investments, recognizing that short-term cuts to cost-effective investments can come at the expense of long-term affordability.
Rather than sacrificing savings from efficiency investments for the sake of immediate relief, states should pair long-term investments with policies that simultaneously protect ratepayers in the short term. This could include offering innovative financing for energy efficiency programs and making artificial intelligence (AI) data centers pay their fair share and cover the costs of efficiency and grid upgrades.
The analysis finds that states do not have to choose between near-term affordability and long-term savings. The most durable affordability strategy pairs immediate bill relief with continued investment in the resources that lower energy costs over time.
Read the analysis: "The Long Game on Energy Affordability" (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-long-game-on-energy-affordability/) by Frederick Bell
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org.
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Original text here: https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release-cap-analysis-urges-states-to-pursue-the-long-game-on-energy-affordability/
[Category: ThinkTank]
AFPI Responds to Supreme Court Ruling Denying Emergency Relief to Lift Block on Mail-In Ballot Rule
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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AFPI Responds to Supreme Court Ruling Denying Emergency Relief to Lift Block on Mail-In Ballot Rule
September 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's denial of emergency relief from a nationwide injunction regarding the new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail-in ballot rule.
"Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling denying relief from a district court nationwide injunction is an example of obstructive lawfare
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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AFPI Responds to Supreme Court Ruling Denying Emergency Relief to Lift Block on Mail-In Ballot Rule
September 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's denial of emergency relief from a nationwide injunction regarding the new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail-in ballot rule.
"Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling denying relief from a district court nationwide injunction is an example of obstructive lawfareon the part of the Left as it pertains to the 2026 midterm elections, but it was not a ruling on the merits, and the Administration should continue to press its case in court to ensure that election mail operates with meaningful safeguards, transparency, and accountability," said Ken Blackwell, AFPI's chair of Election Security.
"As noted by Justice Kavanaugh, who concurred with the ruling, 'there is at least a fair prospect that the final rule falls within the Postal Service's statutory authority'. While California and other states managed to run out the clock and relief was not granted due to the proximity to the election, the fight continues to ensure that Americans do not have to choose between accessible mail voting and secure elections."
The America First Policy Institute will continue to make the case for common sense election security policy changes to ensure that ballot mail matches the information supplied by state election officials and that every lawful vote is accounted for.
See here (https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/comment-on-proposed-rule-amending-the-mailing-standards-of-the-united-states-postal-service) for AFPI's comment submitted in support of the USPS rule.
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Original text here: https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-responds-to-supreme-court-ruling-denying-emergency-relief-to-lift-block-on-mail-in-ballot-rule
[Category: ThinkTank]
