Work & Opportunity
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Utah lawmakers can still achieve pro-marriage, pro-family tax reform
By aligning marriage penalty reform with Child Tax Credit expansion, Utah can deliver meaningful, pro-family tax relief this legislative session.
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Let states fix the welfare system that Washington broke
The Upward Mobility Act takes an essential step toward eliminating benefit cliffs, thus reducing government dependence and promoting self-reliance.
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To restore hope for families in poverty, let states lead on welfare reform
America’s welfare system often penalizes work and marriage through benefits cliffs. States can lead reforms that help families escape poverty.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s work-based welfare reforms are just the first step
Utah’s “one-door” model for welfare and workforce services shows how states can drive innovation in social welfare reform. Congress and the President should empower states to reduce dependence and promote lasting self-reliance.
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Representatives Moore and Owens partake in 2025 Congressional Series
The 2025 Sutherland Institute Congressional Series kicked off with Reps. Blake Moore and Burgess Owens. They discussed the One Big, Beautiful Bill and achieving one’s potential.
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What both sides are missing about Medicaid work requirements
The real question isn’t whether to link work with Medicaid; it’s how to help more Americans use safety net programs as a bridge to financial independence.
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Republicans should address welfare’s work disincentives in budget reconciliation
Unlocking upward mobility for millions of struggling people who feel trapped on government assistance also requires reevaluating the government-constructed barriers that can disincentivize people from working or pursuing professional advancement.
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Legislative wrap-up: Five key victories for Utahns
Sutherland worked closely with Utah policymakers to protect and strengthen the important pillars of faith, family and freedom.
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New Evidence on the Social Safety Net, Marriage, and Work
Any policy intervention to address benefits cliffs, plateaus, or other disincentives needs to first seek to identify where there are perception gaps vs. structural gaps in the social safety net.
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Safety net or snare? Reassessing the impact of public assistance
If you work harder and earn more, your family should be better off. But for some recipients of public benefits, the opposite might happen.