From Capitol Hill to Spring Break | Prosperity Pulse #30
Meetings in Washington, time with family, and why the mission matters.
Hello Free Market Warriors!
Spring is a busy season, and I’m grateful to have just returned from meaningful trips to our nation’s capital and a conference in Las Vegas—with more events ahead in the coming weeks.
In Washington, I met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss my new paper co-published with NetChoice, Innovation over Intervention. We had great meetings on The Hill in DC!
One of the highlights was visiting Speaker Mike Johnson’s office and stepping out onto the Speaker’s balcony. We had a great conversation about supporting America’s global technological leadership by prioritizing the consumer welfare standard in antitrust policy. And the view from the balcony wasn’t bad either!
The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) conference on trade, national security, and American prosperity couldn’t have come at a better time. We gathered on the one-year mark of the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs—and the case for protectionism looks weaker than ever.
It was great to hear from some of the sharpest economic minds tackling these issues, and to reconnect with colleagues committed to advancing policies that promote prosperity.
It was also a pleasure to spend time with mostly economists at the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE) meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada. I always value the opportunity to exchange ideas that help people prosper.
I’m grateful for these opportunities to engage on policies that matter. But I’m just as grateful for time at home — taking my sons to soccer games and enjoying spring break with my family.
Moments like these are a reminder that we cannot take our freedom for granted. Bad policy erodes it slowly through higher costs, fewer opportunities, and growing dependence on systems that can’t love your family or build your future. That’s what continues to drive my work each day.
Thank you for your continued support of this mission to let people prosper.
God bless you and your family,
Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
President, Ginn Economic Consulting
Highlights from This Month
1. Economic Health
March’s CPI report is a reminder that inflation remains too high. The Fed is still far from restoring normal conditions, and ongoing policy uncertainty out of Washington is making the outlook worse — not better. I break down what’s driving this and what needs to change.
The latest BLS jobs report showed some improvement in March, but the private sector remains weaker than it should be. I dig into what the unemployment rate, labor force participation, and wage growth are really signaling for families.
The economic damage from COVID-era lockdowns is now well-documented. If we fail to learn from those mistakes, we risk repeating them.
2. Spending & Taxes
When even Washington starts admitting the math no longer works, you know the problem is serious. I explain why policymakers should act now—by reducing spending, adopting a hard spending limit, and getting our fiscal house in order while we still have a choice.
It’s not just a federal problem. State and local governments must get their budgets under control as well. This legislative cycle shows a clear divide: some states are proving that disciplined budgeting can create room for lasting tax relief and stronger growth, while others remain stuck in the familiar cycle of overspending, budget gimmicks, and late-session chaos.
In Kansas, the legislature passed the FY 2027 budget and sent it to Governor Laura Kelly. But as I write at the Kansas Policy Institute, the state doesn’t need a slightly smaller version of an oversized budget — it needs a reset.
Kansas should return to a simple rule: spending growth should be limited to what’s necessary to efficiently provide services—and what taxpayers can afford.
My research was also cited by the MacIver Institute on how states can rein in spending and restore fiscal discipline.
Spending and taxes are inseparable—especially when it comes to reform. For Tax Day at The Daily Economy, I explain why property taxes are fundamentally flawed and should be eliminated. But the real driver behind this burden is overspending.
States should be competing on tax competitiveness. Kansas ranks 23rd nationally in the Tax Foundation’s Facts & Figures 2026 —hardly a position to celebrate, as I note at the Kansas Policy Institute. States can and should compete on tax competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Texas’ new round of Senate and House interim charges offers an early preview of the debates and habits likely to shape the 2027 session. Spending and taxes will be at the center.
And not all taxes come labeled. Regulation often acts as a hidden tax, showing up as higher prices, fewer choices, delays, lower wages, and time lost navigating bureaucracy.
The same is true for excessive tort costs, which are quietly raising prices across the economy — adding roughly $320 billion annually, or about 1.3% to household costs. At National Review, I explain how tort reform could remove one of the most unnecessary and costly burdens we impose on ourselves.
3. Banking Regulations
When Washington overregulates bank capital, Americans pay the price through tighter credit and slower economic growth. In DC Journal, I explain why the recent Federal Reserve proposal is encouraging—not just because it may ease some burdens, but because regulators appear to be learning from past mistakes.
The latest panic over private credit feels all too familiar. A few funds hit redemption limits, some software-heavy loans show signs of stress, and suddenly the political class and much of the media reach for the same tired script: shadow banking, hidden risks, and calls for Washington to step in. But before rushing to regulate, it’s worth asking whether intervention would solve the problem—or make it worse.
4. Technology and Artificial Intelligence
It was encouraging — for once — to see Washington not lead with panic. The Trump White House recently released its new AI policy framework, and I break down what it gets right—and what still needs work.
If antitrust is going to exist, it must be grounded in the consumer welfare standard — not political vibes, not “bigness,” and not claims of “bias,” but real, measurable evidence of consumer harm.
If Texas wants to fully harness the benefits of emerging technology, its leaders should avoid importing the politics of decline from states moving toward moratoria, tighter restrictions, and anti–data center activism. These policies don’t stop digital demand — they simply push jobs, capital, tax base, and strategic advantages elsewhere.
5. Supporting Families
Free-market capitalism remains the best system ever discovered for human flourishing because it respects people as decision-makers—not subjects of political management. Built on private property, voluntary exchange, competition, and the rule of law, it has lifted more people out of poverty than any alternative. I explain why this matters for Kansas at the Kansas Policy Institute.
As conversations around Universal Basic Income resurface alongside concerns about AI and the future of work, it’s important to return to the evidence: when people receive more unearned income, work tends to decline at the margin. Economics still applies, as I argue at The Daily Economy.
The choice isn’t between work requirements or “One Door.” If we want fewer people trapped in dependency, fewer taxpayer dollars wasted, and more people moving into work and self-sufficiency, we need to distinguish between policy tweaks and real institutional reform.
And in Texas, families are already making their priorities clear. In the first year of Education Freedom Accounts, 274,310 students applied by the March 31 deadline. That’s a stronger case for school choice than any politician or think tank could make. It’s time to pass universal school choice.
6. Trade and Immigration
From AIER’s conference on trade, national security, and American prosperity, I break down the impact of the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs one year later and what they’ve actually meant for prices, supply chains, and U.S. competitiveness.
Selective tax breaks for “American-made” beer are still market distortions—and they do nothing to guarantee lower prices for families. In The Sentinel, I urge Kansas lawmakers to reject HB 2714 and similar proposals, because they represent bad tax policy and even worse trade policy.
America grows stronger by securing the border, enforcing the law, fixing the welfare system, and welcoming more legal immigrants who want to work, build, and contribute to the American story.
And while rising oil prices often spark concern, they don’t spell economic disaster—especially for Texas. The U.S. economy is better positioned to navigate higher energy prices because oil, gas, and other commodities operate within global markets, as I explain on KTRH Radio.
7. Health Care
Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) bans may sound conservative or pro-consumer, but they’re largely a cover story. The real driver of high costs is the third-party system that policymakers helped create — and continue to protect. Middlemen didn’t break a free market; they expanded within one already distorted by government.
Banning ownership structures like PBMs isn’t the solution. In PJ Media, I explain that a better path is to empower patients — by expanding competition and reducing barriers at the point of care.
And when the government makes it illegal to open new nursing homes or add beds where care is needed, that’s protectionism. At the Pelican Institute , I examine a Louisiana bill that would extend the state’s moratorium on new nursing facilities and additional beds for years. Economically, this is a state-backed restriction on supply that protects incumbent providers while leaving seniors and their families with fewer options and higher costs.
8. My Personal Connection
I share more of my personal journey with OCPD and major depressive disorder — and how those challenges have also shaped how I show up: continuing to build, love my family well, and stay committed to the work of advancing a freer society.
I also reflect on spring break with my family, alongside the policy battles shaping our country today.
What I’m Learning
Tholos Foundation: A new report highlights the growing threat of Digital Services Taxes to American businesses and taxpayers.
Goldwater Institute: Arizona records show its ESA program is one of the most efficient and accountable programs serving that state’s taxpayers.
Chicago Tribune: Despite political polarization, Americans share more economic common ground than many assume.
R Street: A strong case for why it’s time for Congress to limit the FCC’s power over free speech.
AIER: Veronique de Rugy and Romina Boccia debunk common Social Security myths.
Washington Examiner: A thoughtful look at the relationship between state budgets and federal spending.
CEI: Insightful statements of the recent Meta and Google verdict holding them liable for a woman’s depression and anxiety.
Pelican Policy: A new guide reveals Louisiana has hundreds of statutorily and constitutionally dedicated funds, automatically directing billions each year to specific uses.
First Things: An excellent exploration of how National Conservatism was imported from the UK.
Mackinac Center: Another example of how the assumed monopoly of things, such as ferries in Michigan, are often not because they don’t reduce consumer welfare.
ALEC: The Energy Affordability Report offers a state-by-state comparison of electricity prices and the policies shaping them. Lora Current will be on the Let People Prosper Show soon to discuss.
The Sentinel: Kansans are voting with their feet, as the state lost $361 million in adjusted gross income in 2023 due to domestic migration.
Pelican Policy: Louisiana families are demanding more educational opportunity, reflected in strong interest in the LA GATOR program.
National Review: A new bill in Congress could make it harder for businesses to offer bulk pricing discounts.
CEI: A report finds federal regulations cost the average American household $15,859 annually.
Law & Liberty: Revisiting Adam Smith’s warning on debt monetization, with a thoughtful discussion of solutions to avoid these risks.
Books I’m Reading:
I give a 5-star rating to On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom by Cass Sunstein.
Let People Prosper Show Podcast
The Let People Prosper Show features deep discussions on hot topics:
Episode 194 (Thursday):
I interview Logan Kolas, Director of Technology Policy at the American Consumer Institute, to break down what’s happening in AI policy, why so many proposals are misguided, and what a better path forward looks like.
Episode 195 (Next Thursday):
Joining me next week is persuasion expert Josh Bandoch, to discuss his new book How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion. We discuss why good ideas often fail, the science of persuasion, and persuasion strategies in an era of polarization.
Did you miss This Week’s Economy episode 159?
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Thank you for supporting my mission to promote economic freedom and prosperity. I hope this edition of Prosperity Pulse keeps you informed, inspired, and ready for the days ahead.
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