The federal-state relationship is in the spotlight because of enormous fiscal challenges facing all levels of government. Tight budgets and a weak recovery in the wake of the Great Recession are leading to discussions about appropriate amounts of public spending and how costs should be allocated among local, state, and national government. Federal and state policy makers require solid data and analysis to engage in a meaningful debate and truly understand how their tax and spending policies affect other levels of government.
-
Collection
How the U.S. Supports Higher Education
Research and analysis on state and federal policies to aid students, families, and institutions
-
Collection
Our Work
View All-
The Impact of Federal Tax Changes on States
Policymakers in Washington are working out the details of a potential tax reform proposal. The last major overhaul of the federal tax code was the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which had a significant—and often forgotten—impact on state tax policy and revenue. Read More
-
Distribution of Grants Proposed for Elimination by White House Varies Widely
The U.S. government funds a wide range of activities, including education, transportation, and health care, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Of the more than $145 billion in discretionary federal grants provided in fiscal year 2016, at least 9.1 percent is proposed for elimination in the budget blueprint for fiscal 2018 President Donald Trump released in March, according to the... Read More
-
When Disaster Strikes, Governments Put All Hands on Deck
On Oct. 8, 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall on the U.S. Atlantic coast, damaging communities from Florida to Virginia. Federal officials declared major disasters in five states, setting in motion an intergovernmental response that would eventually involve 23 federal agencies while states activated their own efforts to deal with the aftermath. As North Carolina Emergency Management Agency... Read More
