The Nicotine Pouch Dilemma: How States Are Botching Tax Policy on Alternative Tobacco Products

As traditional cigarette consumption continues a decades-long, public-health-driven decline, state budgets face an impending fiscal reckoning. For generations, tobacco excise taxes served as a reliable, highly lucrative stream of revenue for local governments. But as smokers successfully stub out traditional cigarettes in favor of non-combustible alternatives, states are experiencing a profound revenue crater. Enter oral…

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The Grid Under Siege: NCLC Urges States to Shift Data Center Costs Away from Struggling Households

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As national utility rates reach historic highs, the stability of the American household energy budget is fraying. A new policy roadmap released on September 10, 2026, by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) warns that the rapid proliferation of energy-hungry data centers—fueled by the artificial intelligence boom—threatens to exacerbate an existing energy…

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The $12 Billion Trap: States Urged to Combat Rising Overdraft Fees in Post-Deregulation Era

WASHINGTON — In a climate defined by an intensifying national affordability crisis, a new fiscal alarm is sounding for American households. According to data released this week by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), struggling families across the United States paid a staggering $12 billion in overdraft and nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees throughout 2025. This…

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The $12 Billion Trap: States Urged to Intervene as Federal Protections Against Overdraft Fees Vanish

WASHINGTON — June 3, 2026 | In a climate of persistent economic strain, American households are facing a predatory resurgence in banking costs. According to a landmark report released today by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), struggling families across the United States were forced to surrender more than $12 billion in overdraft and nonsufficient…

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