The Heartland Institute

Opinion

Search/Filter

Kentucky Attorney General Sues to Block Pension Reform Law

Published May 16, 2018

By Brandi Wielgopolski

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear is asking a state circuit court judge to block a new law that would fund state employees’ pension accounts through a combination of employee contributions and funds directly from state and local taxpayers.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Trump Sends Spending Rescission Request to Congress

Published May 15, 2018

By Savannah Edgens

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
President Donald Trump is asking Congress to cancel approximately $15 billion in previously authorized spending, using a process known as rescission.
Trump: Politics Are Delaying Infrastructure Plan

Published May 15, 2018

By Benjamin Dietderich

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
President Donald Trump promoted his plan to use a mix of taxpayer-funded debt financing, public-private partnerships, and direct taxpayer funding to spur infrastructure construction.
- Government Spending
- Economy
CBO Projects Continued Expansion of Federal Debt, Deficit

Published May 14, 2018

By Sarah Quinlan

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
A new report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts the federal government’s debt and deficit will continue to expand over the next 10 years.
Congressman Gathers Support for Revamping HealthCare.Gov

Published April 30, 2018

By Sarah Lee

Opinion -

health-care-news -
U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) is seeking cosigners for a letter that would ask the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to revamp HealthCare.gov.
Virginia Senate Considers Medicaid Expansion

Published April 29, 2018

By Kenneth Artz

Opinion -

health-care-news -
During a special session called by Gov. Ralph Northam, the Virginia House of Delegates approved a $115 billion biennial budget expanding eligibility for Medicaid.
States’ Medicaid Changes Should Prioritize Patients, Not Pharmacies

Published April 28, 2018

By Devon Herrick

Opinion -

health-care-news -
In several states, lawmakers are proposing to use federal Medicaid money to set up state-administered pharmacy benefit programs.
Medicaid Expansion Bill Stopped in Idaho

Published April 27, 2018

By Benjamin Dietderich

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
Time ran out for a bill that would have forced Idaho residents with complex medical conditions off of their private health insurance plans and onto Medicaid rolls.
Utah Considers Medicaid Expansion Proposals

Published April 27, 2018

By Ashley Bateman

Opinion -

health-care-news -
With Gov. Gary Herbert (R) having signed into law a bill to increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid in Utah, a coalition of political advocacy groups is working to expand the program even more.
GOP ‘Swing Senator’ Collins Vows to Fix Obamacare, Not Repeal It

Published April 27, 2018

By Samantha Fillmore

Opinion -

health-care-news -
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) says she intends to continue working to fix flaws in the Affordable Care Act’s individual marketplace provisions, instead of voting to repeal Obamacare.
Are Republicans Draining or Filling the Swamp?

Published April 25, 2018

By Christopher Talgo, Lennie Jarratt

Opinion -

Editorial -
So have Republicans learned from the Obamacare debacle? Is the swamp being drained? Unfortunately, no.
Fan Ownership, Not Stadium Welfare, Would Be Best For Sports Fans and Taxpayers

Published April 24, 2018

By Jesse Hathaway

Opinion -

Editorial -
This year, Major League Baseball’s opening day was the earliest it’s been in the modern history of the game.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Should Be Applauded, Not Attacked

Published April 20, 2018

By Christopher Talgo

Opinion -

Editorial -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has unquestionably been the most effective official in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Are Republicans Draining or Filling the Swamp?

Published April 20, 2018

By Christopher Talgo

Opinion -

Editorial -
On March 9, 2010, Democratic Party speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."
- Economy
- Government Spending
Heartland Institute Experts React to House Passing 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill

Published March 22, 2018

By Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D., Jesse Hathaway, Christopher Garbacz

Opinion -

Press Release -
“When politicians of both parties in Washington get together, America’s taxpayers usually lose.” - Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Protecting American Workers?

Published March 13, 2018

By Daniel Sutter

Opinion -

Editorial -
Will tariffs on imported steel and aluminum protect US workers?
Arizona Senate Considers Compact Prohibiting Stadium

Published March 9, 2018

By Lindsey Curnutte

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
The Arizona state Senate Commerce and Public Safety Committee is considering a bill to enter the state into an interstate compact prohibiting the “use of taxpayer dollars for private professional sports stadiums and facilities” in participating states.
Fannie Mae Seeks Second Taxpayer Bailout

Published March 8, 2018

By Brandi Wielgopolski

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
The Federal National Mortgage Association, a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) commonly referred to as Fannie Mae, is asking the U.S. Treasury Department for $3.7 billion in taxpayer money to offset the effect of accounting changes.
Millennials Face a Harsh Reality

Published March 8, 2018

By Christopher Talgo

Opinion -

Editorial -
Millennials, the largest generation in U.S. history, have been dealt a bad hand.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Report: Illinois Pension Promises Exploded Over Thirty-Year Period

Published March 6, 2018

By Joshua Paladino

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
The rate of increase in pension benefits promised to Illinois government employees has vastly exceeded the growth rate of Illinois residents’ incomes over the past three decades, a new study reports.
Heartland Institute Experts React to Arkansas Medicaid Work Requirements

Published March 6, 2018

By Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D., Matthew Glans

Opinion -

Press Release -
“These are exactly the welfare reform initiatives The Heartland Institute has been pushing in dozens of states.” - Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Pension Reform Offered in Kentucky State Senate

Published March 5, 2018

By Nolan Ryan

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
The Kentucky state Senate State and Local Government Committee is considering a bill to enroll new government employees in a hybrid “cash balance” pension program in which employee retirement benefits are accrued in individual retirement accounts.
- Economy
- Government Spending
Federal Funding Deal Increases Spending, Waives Debt Ceiling

Published March 5, 2018

By Owen Macaulay

Opinion -

budget-tax-news -
President Donald Trump approved a congressional continuing resolution authorizing more federal spending and temporarily waiving the debt ceiling.
Taxpayers Lose When NFL Owners Get Subsidies

Published March 5, 2018

By Jesse Hathaway

Opinion -

Editorial -
Time for lawmakers to sack sports subsidies.