Pam Thomas

The Funding Gap Between Kentucky’s Wealthy and Poor School Districts Is Now Worse Than Levels Declared Unconstitutional

The difference in per-pupil funding between the state’s poorest and wealthiest districts now exceeds the level deemed unconstitutional by the...

Analysis

Public Schools Are Becoming a Lower State Budget Priority

Preschool through 12th grade public education has become less of a Kentucky budget priority in recent years, according to the official analyses of enacted budgets published by the Office of...

Analysis

State Budget Changes in 2023 Session Increase Future Risk

The General Assembly reduced future revenues substantially this session by passing House Bill (HB) 1, a law that will further shrink Kentucky’s largest revenue source by cutting the state income...

Analysis

‘Transplant’ Bill Would Give Large Windfall to Companies Recruiting Remote Workers

A bill aimed at relocating higher-income remote workers to Kentucky could cost the state up to $200 million and widen inequality without necessarily drawing many people to Kentucky who aren’t...

Analysis

House Bill 3 Proposes Harmful, Regressive Policy Changes to Kentucky’s Juvenile System

A robust body of research shows that locking kids behind bars harms their mental and physical well-being, gets in the way of their education, makes them more likely to be...

Op-Ed

Cutting Bourbon Industry Taxes Harms the Communities That Sustain It

Kentucky’s bourbon and spirits industry had a banner year in 2022, with announcements of a record $2.1 billion in new investments. According to the Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA), 2.4 million...

Analysis

Ailing Juvenile System Needs Investment and Care, Not Harsher Penalties

The bipartisan working group on Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) wrapped up last week, and the legislature heads back into session tomorrow. There are several key issues to keep...

Op-Ed

Kentucky Should Not Volunteer for Greater Inequality by Becoming More Like Tennessee

The effort to reduce Kentucky’s income tax – the source of 41% of state revenue – gives a big tax break to the wealthy and will harm funding for public...

Analysis

Kentucky’s ‘Booming’ Bourbon Industry Doesn’t Need Another Tax Cut

Kentucky’s bourbon and spirits industry had a banner year in 2022, with announcements of over $2.1 billion in new investments and 700 jobs created, both record highs. According to the...

Testimony

Testimony on House Bill 1: Tax Cuts Benefit the Wealthy at the Expense of Everyone Else

Pam Thomas, Senior Fellow for KyPolicy, delivered the testimony below to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on Thursday, January 5. The committee was considering House Bill 1, which would...

The Funding Gap Between Kentucky’s Wealthy and Poor School Districts Is Now Worse Than Levels Declared Unconstitutional

Public Schools Are Becoming a Lower State Budget Priority

State Budget Changes in 2023 Session Increase Future Risk

‘Transplant’ Bill Would Give Large Windfall to Companies Recruiting Remote Workers

House Bill 3 Proposes Harmful, Regressive Policy Changes to Kentucky’s Juvenile System

Cutting Bourbon Industry Taxes Harms the Communities That Sustain It

Ailing Juvenile System Needs Investment and Care, Not Harsher Penalties

Kentucky Should Not Volunteer for Greater Inequality by Becoming More Like Tennessee

Kentucky’s ‘Booming’ Bourbon Industry Doesn’t Need Another Tax Cut

Testimony on House Bill 1: Tax Cuts Benefit the Wealthy at the Expense of Everyone Else

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