Feds Can Learn Lessons From States About Using Data To Inform Policy

"Without evidence, the federal government is an ineffective fiduciary on behalf of the taxpayer." That's the conclusion of a congressional report accompanying legislation, co-written by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), that establishes a federal Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission. The legislation, which received bipartisan support, was enacted in March.

The report also notes, "in many instances, federal decision-makers do not have access to the data necessary to best inform decisions."

Many states, however, have developed innovative approaches for using data to inform policy, approaches that federal decision-makers can learn from and emulate. The members of the new commission — tasked with studying how the use of data can be improved — should consider these successful and established state practices.

Ingrid Schroeder directs the Pew Charitable Trusts' fiscal federalism initiatives.

Read the full article at TheHill.com.