Research that works for Kentucky
Shrinking the Federal Workforce Means Cutting Kentucky Jobs
The Trump administration, including through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is taking several actions to reduce the number of federal workers.
Budget & Tax

Chaos, Confusion and Concern Over White House Funding Freeze
On January 29th, the White House announced that they were rescinding the proposed funding freeze.
Another Income Tax Cut Will Dig the Hole Deeper
Kentucky lawmakers are expected to vote early in the legislative session on another half-point cut...
Legislature Moved Goalposts to Meet Conditions for Tax Cuts Whose Bill Is Now Coming Due
The conditions have been met for the General Assembly to potentially cut the individual income...
The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky
This November, Kentuckians will vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would permit...
Criminal Justice

Children in the Balance: Kentucky Reforms Successfully Diverted More Kids from Detention, but Now Those Gains Are at Risk
Executive Summary In 2014, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill (SB) 200 with the goal of reforming the state’s juvenile justice system.
New FBI Data Shows No Evidence of a Violent Crime Wave in Kentucky
Recently-released FBI crime data for 2023 shows a slight increase in total violent crime in...
More Kids Will Be Locked in Kentucky’s Troubled Juvenile Detention Facilities Due to Laws Going Into Effect This Month
Several of the most harmful criminal legal system policy changes in recent Kentucky history go...
The 2024 Kentucky General Assembly Was the Most Regressive for Criminal Legal System Policies in Recent Memory
More than any legislative session in recent memory, the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly doubled down...
Economic Security

Tracking SNAP in Kentucky
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a vital source of assistance that helps put food on the table for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians.
Our Leaders Should Give Thanks to Food Assistance, Not Deplete It
As families across Kentucky fill their homes with food this Thanksgiving, some politicians in Frankfort...
Nearly 400,000 Kentucky Kids Received Summer Food Benefits but Program Could Help Many More
Every child deserves year-round access to nutritious food, but in Kentucky, one in five kids...
New Census Data Shows More Is Needed to Cut Poverty and Improve Incomes
New Census data for 2023 shows that pandemic-era policies made a big difference in reducing...
Education

Federal Education Funding Supplies Over $1 Billion to Kentucky Kids Every Year
The Trump administration is reportedly considering dismantling the federal Department of Education (DOE), while Congress is weighing cuts to the federal budget that could significantly reduce education funding.
Teacher Pay Remains 20% Less Than 2008 Despite Small Gain in 2025 School Year
This school year, average district pay for Kentucky teachers is $13,888 less than 2008 once...
Kentucky Voters Buried Private School Vouchers. One More Idea Must Die to Truly Reinvest in Our Public Schools
Despite the best efforts of anti-public school activists and the deep pockets of out-of-state billionaires,...
Amendment 2 Proponents Misrepresent Education Spending to Tell False Tale About Kentucky Public Schools
An article by the Bluegrass Institute (BIPPS), and a series of follow-ups on individual school...
Health Care

Affordable Care Act Has Helped Make Insurance Affordable for a Decade, but Will Get More Expensive if Congress Doesn’t Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created several new opportunities for health coverage in Kentucky that began in 2014, including a marketplace where Kentuckians with low wages can receive subsidized insurance plans.
Two Years After Dobbs Decision, Harms Are Evident for States Like Kentucky
Two years out from the Dobbs decision, a fuller picture of how people are faring...
Medicaid Renewal Process Underway for the First Time Since Start of Pandemic
Kentucky, like every other state, is re-starting its Medicaid renewals process after a three-year pause...
Nearly 250,000 Kentuckians Covered by Medicaid Will Need to Take Action to Stay Covered
For the past three years, 1.7 million Kentuckians on Medicaid have not had to take...
Jobs & The Economy

Shrinking the Federal Workforce Means Cutting Kentucky Jobs
The Trump administration, including through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is taking several actions to reduce the number of federal workers.
The Case for Paid Parental Leave for Kentucky State Employees
Paid parental leave has countless benefits for workers, children and families. It is also critical...
Federal Investments Are Funding Improvements and Creating Jobs in Nearly All Kentucky Counties
Two recent federal industrial policies, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act...
The State of Working Kentucky 2024
The state of working Kentucky in 2024 includes good news on jobs but within the...