Common Sense Unfiltered

This episode of Common Sense Unfiltered features experts discussing the trajectory of CSI Iowa, the economic impact of restricting interchange fees in Iowa, and analyzing Iowa HSB 324, as well as exploring the broader implications for small businesses, consumers, and the economy. Resources: CSI Iowa Report: The Economic Impact of Restricting Interchange Fees in Iowa - https://csinstituteia.org/res...

CSI CEO Cinamon Watson discusses new CSI report findings with experts Mike King, Greg Walcher, and Cole Anderson.  Read the latest report by CSI Fellows Mike King and Greg Walcher unravelling the complexities of river and stream access in Colorado: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/energy-and-our-environment/public-access-and-private-property-the-economics-of-colorado-river-...

CSI's Cinamon Watson, Katie Ratlief, and Kelly Caufield invite Dustin Zvonek onto Common Sense Unfiltered to discuss CSI's latest homelessness research.

On April 15, 2025, the White House issued an executive order (E.O.) 14241 “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” aimed at strengthening the United States’ supply of critical minerals and addressing associated national security concerns. This executive action mandates the development of a comprehensive report to identify vulnerabilities within critical mineral supply chains an...

Rapid economic and population growth in Arizona’s dry central valley has created tremendous wealth and opportunity. Rapid development also has caused many state and national leaders and several members of the media to declare the region “out of water” and to demand an end to growth as the solution. Like other southwestern states, it is clear the valley is in need of more water than the Colorado Ri...

There are two broad approaches to homelessness. Housing first prioritizes providing stable, permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness without preconditions such as sobriety, employment, or mental health treatment. The core idea is that housing is a basic human right, and that once a person has a secure place to live, they are better able to address other challenges like mental hea...

Common Sense Institute recently published a study titled " Highway Detours: The Ongoing Shift of Transportation Dollars. " It was authored by our Transportation Fellow Ben Stein, who, in 2006 became the Budget Director for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). At CDOT he oversaw the development and execution of the annual budget for the department which then had an annual budget in exc...

Our host DJ Summers,  Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute , delves deeper into CSI's recent report "Returning Government Employees to Work a Boon for Urban Economy" on this episode of Colorado Clarity. On January 20, 2025, the new presidential administration indicated a desire to have all federal employees return to in-person work. The administration directed all executive b...

In this special edition of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, March 4, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled "Over Easy or Overpriced? The Growing Cost of Living in Colorado." Our panelists included: Tamra Ryan - CSI Coors Economic Mobility Fellow Lynn Granger - President & CEO of the...

The state of Iowa does not have a Department of Government Efficiency, however, Iowa lawmakers began improving government efficiency through a state initiative known as “alignment” more than a year before the American public ever heard of a “DOGE” at the federal level. Common Sense Institute commission a report that evaluates Iowa’s 2023 government alignment. Specifically, it identifies the portio...

Everybody wants cleaner energy – but not everybody is going to be happy about how much clean energy is going to cost them.   Our host DJ Summers, Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute , referencing CSI's recent report "The Future of Energy Prices in Colorado," breaks down the state’s emission reduction laws which require zero carbon emissions from the electric sector by 2040,...

Public concern over crime in Oregon has intensified, with a significant majority of residents expressing dissatisfaction with local government responses. A May 2024 poll revealed that 78% of Portland-area voters disapprove of how local authorities are handling crime, reflecting widespread unease across various demographics. This sentiment is further underscored by a December 2023 survey, where 74%...

Like other states across the nation, Iowa faces a severe shortage of quality affordable childcare. Research by the Iowa Women’s Foundation found that the annual average cost of infant care in Iowa is 18.4% higher than in-state tuition at a four-year public college and 14.1% higher than annual housing costs. The fact is, childcare is prohibitively expensive if not entirely inaccessible to many Iowa...

The Common Sense Institute's 2024 Ballot Guide highlights the potential economic and fiscal impacts of key ballot measures in Colorado. Proposition 127, for instance, could lead to significant revenue losses for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and reduce overall economic output by $61.65 million. Other measures, such as school choice and law enforcement funding, focus on improving education options an...

In this episode of Colorado Clarity, host DJ Summers sits down with Chris Brown, Vice President of Policy & Research at the Common Sense Institute, to break down the multi-year inflationary cycle that’s become a central issue in the presidential election. Together, they dive into CSI’s recently released Inflation Misery Index, with a focus on its impact on Colorado’s economy. How much misery a...

Earlier this year, the Common Sense Institute released a thorough review of homelessness spending at all levels – non-profits, state and local governments, and federal grants and transfers. The report identified over 200 Arizona providers – public and private - who today spend a collective $1 billion per year on homelessness-related expenses. Despite those resources, Arizona’s counted homeless pop...

In this episode of Colorado Clarity, we sit down with Dr. Reggie Washington to discuss the critical state of maternal healthcare. As an expert in the field, Dr. Washington sheds light on the challenges, disparities, and advancements in maternal care, both in Colorado and across the nation. Join us as we explore the vital role of equitable healthcare access for mothers and the work being done to im...

Iowa’s policymakers, providers, and insurers operate within a state comprised of an aging population and large rural areas. According to the Iowa Department of Justice, the state ranks 16th nationally for the number of residents 50-years-old and over. Approximately 18% of Iowa’s more-than-three-million residents are 65 years old and older while 23% are under 18 years old. The average life expectan...

In this episode, DJ Summers is joined by Former Chief of Police Paul Pazen to discuss the pressing issue of rising crime rates and the upcoming November Ballot Initiative, Proposition 130. This critical measure aims to allocate funding to agencies across the state to enhance public safety and support law enforcement efforts. With his extensive experience and unique perspective, Paul Pazen is ideal...

In this episode, DJ Summers is joined by Kelly Caufield, CSI Colorado’s Executive Director, to discuss Amendment 80, a key proposition on the upcoming November ballot. If passed, this amendment would embed school choice into the Colorado Constitution. Tune in to learn what this could mean for education, families, and the future of schooling in the state.

This November Oregon voters will decide on Ballot Measure 118, which would increase Oregon’s taxes on corporations six-fold, with the proceeds to be distributed equally across all eligible individuals. Under the proposal, Oregonians would face the most aggressive gross receipts tax in the nation by far. Host and Chairman Earl Wright welcomes Mark McMullen, Vice President of Research and Policy for...

In this special edition of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, September 10, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled: "Unscrambling the 2024 November Ballot" Our panelists included: Paul Pazen -  CSI Public Safety Fellow  and Former Denver Police Chief Lang Sias - CSI Mike A. Leprino Free En...

Our President and CEO Kristin Strohm fills in for Earl Wright on this edition of Common Sense Digest as she welcomes four full-time Daniels Fund Scholars to the show to discuss the work of four remarkable summer interns.  These young men and women are working to help advance CSI’s mission of examining the fiscal impacts of policies and legislation by crafting reports that better inform citizens. O...

Ballot Initiative 91, a bold move to ban big cat hunting in Colorado. The group "Cats Aren't Trophies" is leading the charge to stop the killing, wounding, pursuing, or trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. This quirky yet crucial issue is stirring up debates across the state, especially among rural residents and hunters. How will this impact Colorado's economy? Will taxpayers foot the...

Deep diving into one of the most contentious issues on Colorado's 2024 state-wide ballot: the proposed ban on slaughterhouses. With only one slaughterhouse in Denver and a wave of complaints driving the proposal, we explore how this ban could impact Coloradans.   Is there a tangible benefit to banning these establishments, or is the push fueled by emotion rather than economic sense? We also discus...