Trump and Congress: Leading the Charge for Limited Government
H. Sterling Burnett, Washington Times
Fewer than 70 days into the new administration and some in the media are already writing and talking about the “do-nothing” Congress and presidential administration, but don’t be fooled. In fewer than three months, President Donald Trump and Congress have done a lot. The laws passed and executive orders issued by Trump and Republicans are substantially different than those actions taken by most previous administrations. Rather than expand the size and scope of the federal government, Trump and the GOP have worked to reduce government’s influence on society in a variety of ways. READ MORE
Forced Union Fees Are Neither Fair Nor ‘Bipartisan’
Teresa Mull, Orange County Register
The U.S. Supreme Court will likely consider for a second time whether teachers unions should be allowed to force non-union members to pay the unions for collective bargaining services the teachers don’t want. The California Teachers Association contends its forced union fees are the non-union members’ “fair share.” But what is “fair” about strong-arming people into paying for services they don’t want or need – and in many cases violate their moral convictions? READ MORE
House Democrats Freak Out Over ‘Why Scientists Disagree’ Book Mailing
Joseph Bast, Freedom Pub
Liberal Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva issued a press release saying, “Lying to children about the world we live in to further corporate polluter profits is cruel.” No, “cruel” is a congressman lying about the motives, funding, and quality of research produced by a nonprofit organization that is speaking truth to power. “Cruel” is ridiculing and demeaning the 5,000 donors to The Heartland Institute who simply want the truth to prevail in the public debate over a complicated and very consequential public issue. Mr. Grijalva, please stop being cruel. READ MORE
Featured Podcast: Sen. Mike Lee Tells Heartland Why He Wants to Re-negotiate NAFTA
President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a letter to Congress to begin a 90-day countdown to re-open negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced legislation that would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority as co-equal partner in setting federal policy. Lee explains to Heartland’s Jesse Hathaway how his legislation, the Global Trade Accountability Act of 2017, would require the president to brief lawmakers on proposed trade actions, including cost-benefit analyses of those actions. His bill would also give Congress a check over decades of creeping executive power grabs. LISTEN TO MORE
SPECIAL HEARTLAND EVENT ON APRIL 12: An Evening with Australian Senator David Leyonhjelm
Join The Heartland Institute at 6 p.m. CT Wednesday, April 12 – either in person or online – for a special event with Sen. David Leyonhjelm, the only true libertarian in the Australian Parliament and a man many call the Ron Paul of the political scene Down Under! Sen. Leyonhjelm is on a tour of the United States this spring to speak to and learn from fellow lovers of liberty – and The Heartland Institute is honored that he’s put a meeting with us on his schedule. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet a global leader for liberty. REGISTER HERE
A New Way to Pick Supreme Court Justices
Edmund Contoski, Freedom Pub
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court has brought to the fore a troublesome feature of our federal government, namely the selection of Supreme Court justices. The problem developed from the Senate’s failure to approve the nomination of Robert Bork 30 years ago. James Robertson, now a retired district judge, led a team of lawyers to oppose President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Bork to the Court. Recently Robertson wrote, “I regret my part in what I now regard as a terrible political mistake.” READ MORE
DeVos Promotes Vouchers for Military Families
Teresa Mull, School Choice Weekly
While visiting Fort Bragg this week, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said her department will explore the idea of giving military families more options for educating their children. While DeVos’ support for school choice is encouraging, what would be even more encouraging would be her support for school choice at the state level, and prioritizing removing the federal government from education altogether. READ MORE
Health Care Reform Hinges on Waiver Criteria in Rumored White House Bill
Michael Hamilton, Consumer Power Report
A revision of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) is rumored to dilute two more Obamacare mandates objected to by a group of three-dozen conservative House members. The compromise bill could let states apply for a federal waiver exempting them from compliance with the mandates – if states qualify. The waiver criteria will prove all-important and will make or break the upcoming legislation. READ MORE
Bonus Podcast: Dana Harris: Empowering Young People through Civics Education
Dana Harris, advocacy manager at Generation Citizen, joins Heartland’s Teresa Mull to discuss why civics education has declined in modern American schools, how not learning about our nation’s history and government threatens our democracy, and what can be done about it. Generation Citizen is a “civics education nonprofit that works to ensure every student in the US receives an action civics education, which provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in our democracy as active citizens.” LISTEN TO MORE
‘Now Arrives the Hour of Action’ for Federal Entitlement Reform
Jesse Hathaway, Townhall
In his inaugural address in January, President Donald Trump promised “the forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer . . . the time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour of action.” Unless the president changes his tune on federal entitlement reform, those forgotten men and women will be hit with massive tax hikes, enacted to pay off sky-high government deficits. READ MORE
Pretend Conservatives for Not So Clean Energy
Paul Driessen, Environment & Climate News
More and more conservatives are proclaiming the virtues of clean energy. At least that’s what some groups want you to believe. In reality, far-left “charitable” foundations have given pretend conservatives millions of dollars to advance a climate chaos, renewable energy agenda – channeling the funds through intermediary groups to OxiClean the transactions and limit transparency and accountability. READ MORE