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With more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles on the road, the gas tax no longer provides stable funding for infrastructure.

Mileage-based user fees offer a fairer solution, but they’ll need to protect drivers’ privacy, offer choices, and deliver better roads and bridges with the fees.
Building public trust in mileage-based road funding - Reason Foundation
Mileage-based user fees can either become another tax or a smarter, privacy-safe way to fund the roads people rely on.
reason.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Mounting flight cancellations may be playing a role in Congress finally moving to end the government shutdown.

Unlike most countries with independent air traffic systems, the U.S. relies on Congress, leaving it exposed to political gridlock. That needs to be fixed after the shutdown ends.
FAA emergency order grounds flights for tens of thousands of travelers - Reason Foundation
Required flight cuts begin at 4% on Nov. 7, increase to 6% on Nov. 11, then 8% on Nov. 13, and finally peak at 10% on Nov. 14 and beyond.
reason.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The most powerful opponents to reforming the air traffic control system are members of Congress and the business jet community. Depoliticizing air traffic control will not happen until those two obstacles are overcome.
America’s longest government shutdown shows why we must free air traffic control from politics
Nations that moved air traffic control out of politics have better tech, no shutdown chaos, and stable funding. Congress keeps choosing dysfunction instead.
reason.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
As cars become more fuel-efficient and more people buy electric vehicles, gas taxes aren’t a sustainable way to pay for roads and bridges.

A new approach would charge drivers per mile on major highways using electronic tolling, helping ensure drivers who use the roads pay for them.
November 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Relying on Congress for funding is why American air traffic control technology is outdated and lags behind that of large air traffic control systems in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and others.
Only in America: Burbank’s air traffic control shutdown
It’s time for the U.S. to join the rest of the world in recognizing that governments should regulate safety but not run air traffic control.
reason.org
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This month's Surface Transportation Newsletter looks at why express toll lanes are performing well, why traffic congestion now is worse than ever, how updates to environmental and driverless truck rules could speed up projects, and more. ⬇️
Surface Transportation News: The strong performance of express toll lanes - Reason Foundation
Plus: U.S. traffic congestion at record high levels, reforming environmental litigation, and more.
reason.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Outdated building codes, like requiring two staircases in mid-rise apartments, even though modern safety systems make that unnecessary, cause wasted space, higher costs, and fewer homes. Updating rules like this could unlock safer, more affordable housing.
The staircase rule that’s limiting housing growth
Revisiting the two-stair requirement in building code could improve spatial efficiency and expand housing options.
reason.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The way the government shutdown is impacting air travelers wouldn't happen in most countries. Robert Poole says it’s time for the U.S. to join the rest of the world in having the government regulate safety, but not run air traffic control.
Only in America: Burbank’s air traffic control shutdown
It’s time for the U.S. to join the rest of the world in recognizing that governments should regulate safety but not run air traffic control.
reason.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
The Army Corps of Engineers tested public-private partnerships for water projects, saving over $500 million and 23 years of construction time across four projects. But strict rules limited who could participate.
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Our recent report finds that while public pension funding has improved over the previous year, governments have still saved only 78 cents of every dollar needed to provide promised retirement benefits.
Report: State and local pension plans have $1.48 trillion in debt - Reason Foundation
State pension systems have $1.29 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and local governments have $187 billion.
reason.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 AM
California has passed a new AI law that focuses on transparency rather than regulation. AI companies building extremely powerful models now have to share their safety plans, report major risks, and disclose incidents.
November 6, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Pennsylvania continues to reject legislation that would provide IDs to people leaving prison. These are essential documents needed for work, housing, and reintegration into society.
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 AM
State pension systems have $1.29 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and local governments have $187 billion in unfunded liabilities.
November 4, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The DOJ took Visa to court, alleging the company monopolized the debit-card market.

Alongside ongoing tech antitrust battles, the case will help define how regulators and courts tackle platform‑based markets and evaluate competition, innovation, and consumer welfare in the digital economy.
DOJ v. Visa could prove an important battleground for tech antitrust
In its lawsuit, the Department of Justice alleges that Visa has monopolized the market for debit payment.
reason.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The California Public Employees Retirement Fund held $166 billion in debt at the end of 2024, the most in the country. The Maryland and Massachusetts teachers' retirement plans saw the largest growth in debt.

Explore the public pension plans with the most debt in our latest report:
The public pension plans with the most debt, best and worst investment return rates - Reason Foundation
The Maryland and Massachusetts teachers' retirement plans saw the largest growth in debt, the Fire Fighters' Relief and Retirement Fund of Austin posted the worst returns and the Miami General…
reason.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:11 AM
How much debt is embedded in your state and local budgets?

Reason Foundation’s new analysis finds $6.1 trillion in combined state and local debt, about $18,400 per American.

16 states exceed $100B; California surpasses $1T.

See where your state ranks:
Report: State and local governments have $6.1 trillion in debt
State and local debt is over $100 billion in 16 states and exceeds $50 billion in 27 states. California’s state and local governments have over $1 trillion in debt.
reason.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Ohio's recent bill undermines its own goal: protecting innovators from burdensome rules so the U.S. can stay globally competitive in emerging tech.

Read Reason Foundation's analysis of Ohio's plan to regulate AI, data centers, and other emerging technologies.
Ohio House Bill 392 would clarify the right to compute
The bill is an excellent first start, but two areas for improvement currently limit its intended effect.
reason.org
October 28, 2025 at 10:16 PM
To stay competitive in AI, the U.S. must align its regulatory systems with its innovation ambitions.

Read Reason Foundation’s comments to the Office of Science and Technology Policy on AI regulatory reform ⬇️
Comments to the Office of Science and Technology Policy on AI regulatory reform
A version of the following public comment letter was submitted to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on October 27, 2025.
reason.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The work of this year’s Nobel laureates offers a much-needed case for optimism in the wake of technological change.
Nobel prize winners make powerful case for optimism amid technological change
The Nobel laureates’ work puts free minds and free markets squarely at the center of how societies prosper through innovation.
reason.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:55 AM
At the end of 2023, 48 states carried at least $10 billion in total debt. California’s state and local governments owed roughly $1 trillion, while New York’s totaled $798 billion.

Only Vermont and South Dakota were below the $10 billion mark.

See the full numbers:
Report: State and local governments have $6.1 trillion in debt
State and local debt is over $100 billion in 16 states and exceeds $50 billion in 27 states. California’s state and local governments have over $1 trillion in debt.
reason.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:43 PM
State and local debt is over $100 billion in 16 states and exceeds $50 billion in 27 states.

California leads the nation with more than $1 trillion in total state and local debt.

Read the full report ⬇️
Report: State and local governments have $6.1 trillion in debt
State and local debt is over $100 billion in 16 states and exceeds $50 billion in 27 states. California’s state and local governments have over $1 trillion in debt.
reason.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:19 AM
State governments across the U.S. hold $2.7 trillion in debt, with California topping the list, according to a new report by Reason Foundation.
Report ranks every state's debt, from California's $497 billion to South Dakota's $2 billion
Study finds state governments have a total of $2.7 trillion in debt, with 26 states exceeding $20 billion in debt each and 10 states over $70 billion.
reason.org
October 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Clearance rates, the percentage of reported crimes that result in an arrest, are a key but often overlooked measure of how well the justice system solves crimes.
October 22, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Experts are finding that overprotective parenting can harm kids’ mental health. But the constant threat of government intervention has created a chilling effect on parents who want to give their children more independence.
Ohio lawmakers consider bill to promote an independent childhood
Senate Bill 277 would assure parents that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities without mandated adult supervision.
reason.org
October 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
In 2012, California faced a $200 billion shortfall in pension promises to the state’s public workers.

Lawmakers passed the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), which set limits on pension benefit increases.
Assembly Bill 1383 brings back major pension costs for California
The bill rolls back crucial elements of the landmark PEPRA reform, which would result in billions in extra costs imposed upon California taxpayers.
reason.org
October 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM