High Road Strategy Center

State and Local Policy Publications

Below is a list of our reports related to state and local publications, in descending order by year published. Explore other topics here and all High Road Strategy Center reports here.

  • Rogers, J. Cities: The Vital Core. Vol. 280, The Nation, 2005, pp. 20-22.
    From The Nation, June 20, 2005.
    Cities are the most productive and most sustainable centers of the US economy, the most vital and generous centers of our culture and, potentially, the most democratic and forward-looking of our many units of government. They have been neglected in terms of their impact on the economy (the metropolitan area constitutes about 80% of the US population), in their power to pioneer equality (the metro core is where different races coincide, where upper and middle classes live, where most research and education institution are located, where new commerce and innovation begins), in that their sheer size and weight make metro regions a point of leverage in the national economy (here begins “high road” policies).
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  • Mayrl, M. Refocusing Wisconsin’s TIF System on Urban Redevelopment: Three Reforms. COWS, 2005.

    Wisconsin’s tax incremental financing (TIF) was originally intended to provide crucial assistance for urban redevelopment projects. Today however, it has grown into a program with responsibility for promoting all kinds of economic development across the state. This unchecked growth is not without side effects, as the current program may actually discourage urban redevelopment and increase the opportunities for misuse of the program. This report proposes a solution to these problems through three reforms that create a stronger tax incremental district (TID) classification system, remove TIF-based incentives for developing open land, and add incentives for stricter joint review board examination of TIF project plans.

    Documents include both Full Report and Executive Summary.

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  • Rogers, J. “The Delphi Oracle”. The Nation, Vol. 281, 2005, pp. 25-26.
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  • Rogers, J. A Step for Voting Reform. no. 280, The Nation, 2005, pp. 4-5.
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  • Dresser, L., and J. Rogers. State of Working Wisconsin 2004. COWS, 2004.

    The State of Working Wisconsin offers an analysis of unemployment and underemployment in the state.
    Documents below offer Full Report and Executive Summary.

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  • Dahlk, K. The Impact of Budget Cuts on Wisconsin’s Job Centers: Staff Losses and Service Declines. COWS, 2004.

    Wisconsin’s Job Centers were created in the 1980’s to serve as facilities where job seekers and employers can “one-stop shop” for a range of employment-related services. Budget cuts have strained these facilities’ abilities to provide resources to the workers and employers of the state. This report looks at the impact shrinking budgets have on the job centers and consequently on Wisconsin’s workforce development.

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  • Rogers, J. Devolve This!. Vol. 279, The Nation, 2004, pp. 20-28.
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  • Rogers, J. “Devolve This! Toward a Progressive Strategy in the States”. Taking Back America: And Taking Down the Radical Right, Avalon/Nation Books, 2004, pp. 173-89.
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  • Rogers, J. Progressives Should Vote Edwards. The Nation, 2004.

    Reprinted in The Capital Times as “ Joel Rogers: Progressives should vote for Edwards as best on issues,” February 12, 2004.

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  • ,. Raising the Floor: Who Would Benefit From a Minimum Wage Increase in Wisconsin. COWS, 2003.

    COWS investigates the effects of raising the minimum wage in Wisconsin. Since the most recent state legislative proposal would have raised Wisconsin’s wage floor to $6.80 per hour, we use that as the benchmark in our report. This report relies on data and analyses provided by the Economic Policy Institute.

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