Sutherland Institute

I had the privilege of moderating the discussion with Rep. Blake Moore of Utah's First Congressional District during today's installment of the Sutherland Institute 2024 Congressional Series. The Congressman gave a preview of what tax policy debates could look like in 2025, spoke of the need to rein in federal spending, and touched on the importance of removing work disincentives (benefits cliffs) in the nation's social safety net system. Thanks to the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah for hosting the event, and to Zions Bank for their support.

"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." –Franklin D. Roosevelt

We agree that a stronger child tax credit is good for families and expands financial resources available to children. However, simply giving more money to families without concurrent policy efforts to promote marriage as a positive cultural norm suggests a lack of understanding of the broad range of financial, social and emotional benefits that strong families, bound together in marriage, create for parents and children alike, including better mental and physical health, improved education outcomes, higher levels of social capital and self-reported happiness.

Thanks to my friends at AEI for sharing this article.

Child tax credits are good, but… Marriage is a much more reliable guarantee of financial security and freedom from poverty for families than a few thousand dollars from Uncle Sam.

Matt Sandgren authors a fitting tribute.

And congratulations to a great community of artists and professionals who make the industry work in Utah.

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Personal decisions have economic consequences. And that’s good news.

“Some might argue this inefficiency is unfortunate but nevertheless necessary since humans must be weaned off fossil fuels to save humanity from climate change, but this argument fails for several reasons. For starters, EVs come with their own carbon footprint, and it’s not small. EVs actually require much more CO2 to produce than gas-powered cars.”