$18.8 Billion Could Flow to Scholarships Nationwide at Just 10% Taxpayer Participation | The States

A federal school choice tax credit set to benefit 120 million taxpayers, an ATF clarification on silencer repairs, the ongoing fight over Missouri's congressional map, and a Fed decision preview are covered on this episode of The States.Ahead of a January 2027 deadline, 31 states have opted into the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program while 19 states and Washington, D.C. have not. Patrick Gray of the American Federation for Children discusses a new report finding that more than 120 million tax filers are eligible to claim the federal tax credit — up to $1,700 for donations to certified scholarship organizations — and breaks down which states, including Illinois and California, stand to lose out on potentially billions of dollars in new education funding by not participating.The ATF issued an open letter to gun dealers clarifying that repairing a registered silencer or changing its caliber does not count as manufacturing a new device under federal law, so long as the serialized frame or receiver remains unaltered. The segment also covers pending Supreme Court oral arguments set for December 2 on AR-15 bans out of Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut, including the Solicitor General's request to participate in arguments, along with recent state-level gun rulings in Delaware, Maryland, and Washington state.The Center Square reporter Andrew Rice discusses the latest court challenge to Missouri's congressional map, which the U.S. Supreme Court and Missouri Supreme Court have both rejected twice, and compares Missouri's referendum-based legal fight to redistricting battles in Texas and California. Rice also addresses the broader national redistricting landscape ahead of the November 3 midterms and which party holds an advantage under current maps.The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Dr. Orphe Divounguy preview Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate decision, with Divounguy arguing for a hold despite market expectations of a hike, citing weak underlying demand, a narrow labor market, and well-anchored inflation expectations even as energy prices push headline inflation higher.The America's Talking segment includes reporting on a sharp drop in U.S. gasoline and diesel demand amid record retail prices, a measles death under investigation in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, a roughly 1% enrollment decline at the University of Wisconsin's 13 campuses, and NASCAR's decision to keep its 2027 Chicago-area race in Joliet rather than returning to downtown Chicago streets.Energy: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_fa48ab33-cb87-4592-ab13-29f5d3384200.htmlPennsylvania: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_acbd62ec-9beb-409a-b7b5-2d12848ad0cb.htmlWisconsin: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_cc0f89a0-160c-442c-81c4-e8ef6e5da240.htmlIllinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_383f8ece-e61b-4279-bec3-dbf2a4e49377.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.