The Heartlander: February 2004

P.R. for Education and Capitalism in Full Swing

Heartland’s efforts to promote Education and Capitalism have been going full tilt since the Hoover Press released the book in November 2003. Spin-off op-eds are being released weekly; more than 1,500 copies of the book have been mailed; and the Cato Institute hosted a book forum.

New Study Addresses Packer Ownership

Heartland released Policy Study No. 103, “Packer Ownership of Hogs: Economic and Political Ramifications,” on December 17. More than 2,500 copies of the study were mailed; a three-part series on the topic ran in Environment & Climate News.

Chapbook Asks What’s Wrong with Importing Drugs?

Fifteen thousand copies of What’s Wrong with Importing Drugs from Canada?, a new Heartland chapbook have been printed and mailed.

How Eight States Ruined Their Insurance Markets

Heartland has launched a series of case studies in Health Care News exposing the destructive impact of guaranteed issue and community rating mandates on the individual insurance markets in eight states.

HCN: Medicare Reform, Drug Importation

• The January issue of Health Care News carried extensive coverage of the Medicare reform package signed by President George W. Bush in late November, and prescription drug importation from Canada.

• The February issue launched the eight-state insurance series and covered drug importation, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, and lessons from the flu vaccine shortage.

BTN: Medicare Reform, Fiscal Recovery in the States

• The January issue of Budget & Tax News analyzed the Medicare reform legislation and offered the first in a series on tax and expenditure limitations.

• The February issue reported improvement in the U.S. economy, workers comp reform proposals in California, and Howard Dean as a “tax and spend” governor.

ECN: Energy, Climate Change, Debunking Eco-myths

• The January issue of Environment & Climate News reported the Senate’s defeat of the $31 billion energy bill and Russia’s continued refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

• The February issue debunked myths about global warming and nuclear energy; reported on the new ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone; and covered CAFE, NSR, hog farming, wetlands, and more.

SRN: Voucher News from Colorado, Student Attitudes Toward Cheating

• The January issue of School Reform News reported on a Denver District Court’s decision to halt the Colorado voucher program ... and on the school board election in Colorado Springs, where voucher supporters swept the election. The issue’s featured interview is with Heartland President Joseph L. Bast.

• The February issue discussed character education in public schools and reported the findings of surveys that measure student attitudes towards cheating. The issue’s featured interview is with Victoria Martino, a former public school teacher who founded her own private school.

IT Update Seeks Innovation, Not Regulation

• In the January issue of IT Update, The Heritage Foundation’s James Gattuso explains why the FCC must dramatically revise its rules governing competition for local telephone service. Articles by Doug Bandow, Adam Thierer, Lynne Kiesling, Jim Johnston, and David Fish round out the issue.

• The February issue excerpts FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s December 18 remarks at the Chicago Economic Club and features the work of Richard O. Levine, Joseph S. Kraemer, Randolph J. May, Solveig Singleton, Tom Giovanetti, Adam Thierer, and Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.

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