Policy Documents

The Heartlander: April-May 2008

edited by Diane Carol Bast –
April 1, 2008

Climate Change Conference Invigorates Debate

The 2008 International Conference on Climate Change brought together more than 500 attendees and 100 expert speakers presenting the message that global warming is not a crisis.



Budget and Tax

  • The March issue of Budget & Taxes News reports on the effect of taxes on economic growth, Chicago’s bottled water tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax, and more. The April issue discusses property tax reform, toll roads, economic development, and more.
  • Legislative Specialist Nick Baker wrote Research & Commentary collections on the flat tax and smokeless tobacco and prepared an analysis of an “environmentally friendly products” measure before the Tennessee legislature.
  • USA Today and the Chicago Tribune published letters to the editor by Research Fellow Steve Stanek.



Insurance and Finance

  • Consumers in five states are paying higher premiums for homeowners insurance than necessary thanks to ill-advised regulation, according to a new report card we released with the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
  • Legislative Specialist Matthew Glans has prepared Research & Commentary emails on payday loans and the subprime mortgage loan crisis. He was published by USA Today.



Environment

  • The March issue of Environment & Climate News addresses nuclear power, bedbugs, CO2 regulation, bee colony collapse, and organic farming. The April issue covers climate change, wetlands, wolf populations, greenhouse gas taxes, aquatic herbicides, and more.
  • Policy Study No. 115, “Understanding Visual Exhibits in the Global Warming Debate,” reveals how images can be manipulated to support a partisan view.
  • The Summary for Policymakers of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) was released on March 3.
  • Heartland environment policy spokespersons made more than a dozen appearances and appeared on several radio talk shows. The Los Angeles Times published a letter to the editor by Senior Fellow James M. Taylor.



Health Care

  • The March issue of Health Care News addresses telemedicine and, health insurance mandates, SCHIP, specialty hospitals, walk-in clinics, low-dose radiation, and more.
  • Legislative Specialist Kate Campaigne was published by The New York Times and San Jose Mercury News.
  • The American Spectator published an op-ed by Jeff Emanuel, research fellow and managing editor of Health Care News.
  • Policy Advisor John Garven spoke at a March 18 forum hosted by Americans for Prosperity and the National Federation of Independent Business.



Education

  • The March issue of School Reform News highlights virtual schools, tax credits, No Child Left Behind, redistricting, charter schools, and more. The April issue reports on merit pay for students, charter schools, open enrollment, higher education, teacher pay, and curriculum standards.
  • A new Heartland report card ranks state efforts to increase accountability and improve student achievement with school choice.



Infotech and Telecom

The April issue of Infotech & Telecom News features a special report on the wireless industry and covers VoIP taxes, video games, net neutrality, Universal Service Fund reform, digital television, the proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! merger, and more.



Urban Affairs and Politics

Senior Fellow Lee Walker discussed presidential politics on several talk radio shows and will attend a Liberty Fund colloquium in July.