State Data Lab

Truth in Accounting (TIA) pursues a nonpartisan mission to compel governments to produce transparent and accurate financial reports, enabling citizens and legislators to address government debt.

Public Sector Unions Related to Higher Debt?

Earlier this year, Michigan became the 24th state in the nation with a ‘right-to-work’ law. And two weeks ago, a Michigan court ruled that the state’s new ‘right to

By State Data Lab

August 26, 2013

Public Sector Unions Related to Higher Debt?

Earlier this year, Michigan became the 24th state in the nation with a ‘right-to-work’ law. And two weeks ago, a Michigan court ruled that the state’s new ‘right to

By State Data Lab

August 26, 2013

Paying More for Less? Interest Expenses Rise

State interest expenses have risen even as interest rates have fallen. It’s general knowledge that falling interest rates help debtors. As long as a loan can be refinanced at

By State Data Lab

August 5, 2013

Paying More for Less? Interest Expenses Rise

State interest expenses have risen even as interest rates have fallen. It’s general knowledge that falling interest rates help debtors. As long as a loan can be refinanced at

By State Data Lab

August 5, 2013

A Lesson from the Motown Meltdown

Sam Beebe - http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/7975001982_974eb74b1e_o.jpg It looks like the Motor City has finally broken down, and it’s heading to the mechanic shop

By State Data Lab

July 19, 2013

A Lesson from the Motown Meltdown

Sam Beebe - http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/7975001982_974eb74b1e_o.jpg It looks like the Motor City has finally broken down, and it’s heading to the mechanic shop

By State Data Lab

July 19, 2013

Does Money Buy Happiness?

Rule number one in effective communication is to establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience. Why should they care? How does it affect their quality of life? Truthful

By State Data Lab

July 18, 2013

Does Money Buy Happiness?

Rule number one in effective communication is to establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience. Why should they care? How does it affect their quality of life? Truthful

By State Data Lab

July 18, 2013

Is Fiscal Stress Hurting Highways?

We’ve all seen that road before: The “Pothole Express.” It’s a violent massage for you and your car. Across the political spectrum, many Americans agree that the government

By State Data Lab

July 15, 2013

The Truth of July 4

Give Me Truth in Accounting or Give me Death! Here’s a related quote, arising about a year later: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

By State Data Lab

July 1, 2013

Home Price Recovery Linked to Taxpayer Burden

In 2012, states with higher taxpayer burdens had a lower recovery in home prices. The American dream is to own a home, and it’s every American’s dream that

By State Data Lab

June 26, 2013

We Fear What We Don't Know

Illinois, New Mexico, and South Carolina have yet to release their annual financial reports of the fiscal year ending last June. These late financial statements create a lack of transparency

By State Data Lab

June 11, 2013