Posts tagged Institute for the American Worker
Freelance Busting: ‘Absolute Stalemate’
February 20, 2026 // The nearly two-thirds of Americans who would prefer to be our own bosses need protection from this encroachment on our freedom to choose self-employment. So do the vast majority of us who are already independent contractors and wish to remain so. It’s beyond frustrating that the help we need may be a long time coming, especially at the federal level. Experts recently gathered to discuss the reality of the situation in Congress during an hourlong Federalist Society panel, where they minced no words about why the challenges in Washington, D.C., persist.
WATCH: I4AW’s Jonathan Wolfson Testifies Again: Portable Benefits Bill Considered in Kansas House of Representatives
February 11, 2026 // Visiting Fellow Jonathan Wolfson testified before the Kansas House of Representatives to offer expert analysis on HB 2602, a state bill that would allow businesses that hire independent workers to pay for benefits like retirement accounts or insurance without risking being punished by the government for "misclassifying" the freelancer as an independent worker instead of an employee.
Empowering Workers in a Changing Economy with Vinnie Vernuccio | Let People Prosper Ep. 184
February 6, 2026 // Too many labor policies today assume workers need protection from choice. But the evidence shows the opposite. When workers can choose how they work, who represents them, and how they negotiate, they’re better off—economically and personally. Vinnie Vernuccio’s work reminds us that labor policy should serve workers as individuals, not institutions with political clout. If we want a labor market that adapts, innovates, and actually lifts people up, we need reforms rooted in freedom—not nostalgia.
Testimony: Jonathan Wolfson: NH House of Representatives Committee, House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
January 20, 2026 // And what this bill really does at says if a worker and the business that they're working with want to enter into an agreement where a portion of that pay, whether that is the pay, the base pay they agree on or some sort of supplemental pay, wants to go into some sort of account. Maybe that business offers health savings accounts to their employees and they say to that independent worker, would you like us to put some of the dollars that we would otherwise pay you into that health savings account which allow you to have some tax benefits for the dollars going in there instead of going to you directly? This allows them to do that without taking the risk that in the status quo they have. And that risk is that by simply paying those dollars into a benefited account, that business is at risk that that person could be considered misclassified under New Hampshire law. whether that is workers compensation, unemployment insurance, state labor law, or state tax law.
PODCAST: Empowering Workers with a Prosperous Future with Austen Bannan | Let People Prosper
January 15, 2026 // America’s labor policies are stuck in the past—designed for a 1930s economy that no longer exists. Meanwhile, workers have moved on. They want flexibility. They want choice. They want opportunity. And increasingly, government is standing in the way. My guest is Austen Bannan, Workforce Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity and one of the sharpest voices making the case for worker freedom over bureaucratic control. Austen works at the intersection of labor policy, occupational licensing, and education reform—where outdated rules quietly crush opportunity for millions of Americans.
TSA’s union distractions thwart air safety — so Trump is stepping in
December 30, 2025 // A recent report from my colleagues at the Institute for the American Worker shows collective bargaining at assorted federal agencies involve such pressing issues as the height of cubicle desk panels, smoking areas in tobacco-free federal properties and the right to wear sweatpants and spandex in federal offices. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, taxpayers foot the bill for a labor union to occupy half a hospital wing. Across the federal government last year, federal employees spent more than 3.2 million hours doing union work instead of their jobs
Podcast: Austen Bannan “Holiday Economy, Battles with Inflation, and Rights of Workers in a New Employee System
December 2, 2025 // Austen Bannon, Employment Fellow with Americans for Prosperity, joins to discuss the changing workforce, evolving work industry, and rights of workers. Discussion of outdated union mandates and regulations, right to work laws, private contractors, and future technology in the workforce.
Institute for the American Worker (I4AW) Releases “How To Empower Workers” Report
November 19, 2025 // “Workers who are equipped with an updated labor policy framework won’t need to rely on the decisions of Washington politicians or union leaders. Instead, workers will be empowered to associate with the businesses and institutions that help them lead productive and fulfilling lives in the modern economy. Through giving Americans and their families choice and flexibility, we will create the best outcomes so that everyone can chase the American Dream—without needing anyone’s permission but their own.”
U.S. Senators Unveil Bills to Strengthen Workers’ Rights
November 12, 2025 // F. Vincent Vernuccio, President, Institute for the American Worker. “Together, these bills reflect a modern approach to labor relations — one that trusts workers, promotes transparency, and ensures the law is applied fairly. The committee, led by Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), deserves credit for advancing a balanced package that empowers American workers and strengthens freedom in the workplace.”
Newt’s World Episode 899: Employee Rights Act
October 13, 2025 // Newt talks with Vincent Vernuccio, President of the Institute for the American Worker about the Employee Rights Act of 2025, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing and safeguarding the rights of American workers while promoting fairness and accountability in the workplace. Introduced by Senator Tim Scott and Congressman Rick Allen, the bill represents a Republican vision for the workforce, focusing on empowering workers, improving unions, and fostering innovation and growth. Vernuccio highlights the outdated nature of current labor laws,