Scholar Commentary

The United States seems incapable of developing modern infrastructure, despite bipartisan support for that goal. Since 2008, China has built more than 15,000 miles of high-speed rail, while the U.S. has built none and is unlikely to do so anytime soon. According to the

New Years in Utah brings a new tax system for the state. Overall, Utahns will see a tax cut along with new, targeted programs for those in need. Though, tax reform skeptics have begun gathering signatures for two separate repeal efforts in order to undo the

From Elizabeth Warren to Tulsi Gabbard, the Democratic presidential candidates have come out strong for breaking up big tech. It has become a central focus of Warren’s campaign, which has caused business leaders like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to voice concern, and the

Author of Are Marijuana and Alcohol Substitutes? Evidence from Neighboring Jurisdictions working paper, Benjamin Hansen joins the Kennedy show on Fox Business to discuss how drunk driving decreased in Idaho after Washington state legalized marijuana.

Brian Isom, CGO research manager, discusses his recent op-ed in the Orange County Register about wildfires, power outages, and market incentives to make even the driest, most overbuilt corners of the US fire-safe.

California’s Health Insurance Marketplace, Covered California, began its 2020 open enrollment period on October 15th and will continue through January 31st. It is an exciting year for the Marketplace. More generous subsidies are available for Californians this year

Ongoing discussions about the future of work continue to center around how to prepare people better to step into the rapidly growing tech field. In a recent survey, 80 percent of companies said they will need more employees with tech skills soon. Thanks to continued

When most people think of disruptive innovation, they think of the world-changing apps and platforms that most of us have come to enjoy. Perhaps they may even think of flying cars, robotics, or wonder what transformational tech will come next. Unfortunately, the idea

Planned power outages across the state of California left over 2 million people in the dark last month. The blackouts, which were planned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE), were meant to reduce the risk of wildfires as high

The Federal Communication Commission recently announced that Salt Lake City would join New York City as the only two 5G innovation zones nationwide. The goal is to create “city-scale testbeds for advanced wireless communications and network research, including 5G

Executive Director, Christopher Koopman, joins Newsmax TV’s Liquid Lunch, hosted by John Tabacco, to discuss the future of social media and internet regulations.

Christopher Koopman discusses free speech and what big tech industries are doing on The Lars Larson Show.

Aaron Hedlund discusses the disparate impact rule under the Fair Housing Act on Marketplace.

Devils Tower, known to Native Americans as Bear Lodge, is an 870-foot butte composed of igneous rock. Long before it featured on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Wyoming landmark was the first national monument declared by President Teddy Roosevelt on Sept. 24

The environmental record for biofuels is bleak, but upcoming regulatory reviews offer a chance to change course. CGO Graduate Research Fellow Arthur Wardle gives a few recommendations for policymakers on Renewable Fuel Standards in the Fall 2019 edition

Every year, millions of Americans file into courthouses for jury duty. They form a critical constitutional pillar of the criminal justice system — an unbiased trial by a jury of one’s peers. As they await their assignments, many potential jurors also must decide

Can we protect endangered and threatened species by relying more on private property owners? Recent changes to the Endangered Species Act are designed to incentivize private landowners in the conservation process. CGO’s Megan Hansen recently was a guest on

For 19 years, Karla Morales Villalobos has had a typical American life, going to school, working and having fun on the weekend. But now, the 22-year-old college student is fighting to keep her family together in federal court. As a 3-year-old, she was “brought here by

Recently, the Department of the Interior announced changes to how it will enforce the Endangered Species Act. In response, multiple states have threatened to sue and a New York Times’ piece described the changes as “significantly weakening the nation’s bedrock

Latinos are quickly becoming a large portion of the American electorate, and issues that are important to them will be a big part of 2020 election strategies. A major element of that outreach strategy will be how candidates handle immigration. But an unlikely

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in most cities. A new study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute finds that in 2017, congestion cost Americans $166 billion, or more than $1,000 per commuter each year in wasted time and fuel. This represents nearly a 47

Staking a claim in the public debate over facial recognition software, presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has called for a ban on police use of the technology. While cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Calif., and Somerville, Mass. have already banned

Recently, Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) presented a plan to eliminate carbon emissions in the country by 2050. The bill would implement a national renewable energy standard, similar to renewable portfolio standards that currently exist in 35 states and the District of

One out of four people today requires a government license to earn an honest living. In 1950, that number was only one out of 20. Occupational licensing — regulations that require training and state-issued certification to practice certain trades — has seen massive

CGO Research Director Megan E. Hansen talked about her new policy paper, Executive Discretion and the Antiquities Act, and shared suggestions for how to improve public lands management on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal morning program.

If all you knew of America’s biggest tech companies was what emerges from the echo chambers and grandstanding that is Washington, D.C. political chatter, you’d likely have grave concerns about their collective future. Perhaps you are concerned. After all, if one thing

Megan E. Hansen, CGO Research Director, discusses what can be done to balance national land and public need. See original posting from The Lars Larson Show.

In their first meeting late last month, a group of 16 legislators, tax attorneys, and members of the governor’s office formally began studying Utah’s tax system to make recommendations to Utah’s legislature that will both ensure stable sources of revenue for the state

Christopher Koopman, Executive Director, talks with American Radio Journal’s Lowman Henry about the impact on consumers of anti-trust actions against big tech firms. See original posting from American Radio Journal.

Photo: Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP For generations, Bruce Adams and his family have lived off the land by grazing cattle in southeastern Utah. When President Obama designated 1.35 million acres as Bears Ears National Monument