Opinion
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HHS Mandate Sparks Outcry from Religious Groups
Opinion -A requirement under President Obama’s health care law for employers to provide access to insurance coverage of preventative services at no direct cost to employees caused uproar among faith communities and religious organizations when the administration -
CBO: Obamacare Could Make 20 Million People Lose Employer Based Insurance
Opinion -The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation have prepared a new analysis of the ramifications of President Obama's health care law on employer-based insurance. -
Most Banks Pass ‘Stress Tests’; Economists Harbor Doubts
Opinion -The Federal Reserve has announced it believes 15 of the 19 biggest banks in the nation would be safe in the face of a major economic downturn, but do the “stress test” results mean much? -
Heartland Institute Responds to Rep. Markey Letter on ‘Fakegate’
Opinion -MARCH 15, 2012 – The Heartland Institute today sent a letter to Rep. -
Oklahoma’s Health Insurance Exchange Time-Waster
Opinion -The next ten months will decide whether President Barack Obama’s namesake health care law survives or dies on the table. -
High Percent of Milwaukee Voucher Students Have Special-Needs
Opinion -A new study finds the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP)—the oldest and largest voucher program in the country—serves many more special-needs students than previous reports have stated. -
Informative Book on Plant Life Encourages Further Inquiry
Opinion -Review of How the Government Got in Your Backyard, by Jeff Gillman and Eric Heberlig (Timber Press, 2011), 248 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1604690019Two university professors have teamed up to write a book explaining the nexus of environment and politics as it -
Bills Tackling Auto Salvage Fraud Pass in Florida, Utah
Opinion -Auto salvage fraud is a little-known problem that can have devastating effects. Vehicles that have sustained heavy damage from accidents or natural disasters are often unsafe and should not be allowed back on the road. -
Dogged Determination
Opinion -Federal prosecutors are suing a Long Island co-op for trying to evict an elderly couple for buying a “comfort dog” in violation of the co-op’s no-pets rule.When the couple moved into the co-op in 2006, its rules prohibited pets. -
Study: Feds Approving Fewer Oil and Gas Leases
Opinion -The number of oil and gas leases granted by the federal government in the western United States declined by 44 percent during the first two years of the Obama administration versus the last two years of the Bush presidency, according to a new study -
Heartland Institute Responds to Passage of Auto Salvage Bills
Opinion -WASHINGTON, DC MARCH 14 – The Heartland Institute’s Center on Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate today welcomed news that legislation seeking to crack down on auto salvage fraud has passed the Utah legislature, while an omnibus measure in Florida was -
Unemployment Insurance Forum Seeks Solutions to Big Problems
Opinion -Most state unemployment insurance systems have had to borrow money from the federal government to make benefit payments, were unprepared for burdens imposed by the sharp economic downturn that began in 2008, and need to be reformed to meet the needs of -
Study: Gleick Forged ‘Fakegate’ Memo
Opinion -March 14, 2012 – A computer analysis of the “climate strategy memo” at the heart of the widely publicized global warming scandal called “Fakegate” concludes disgraced climate scientist Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, is the most likely -
Riverside County, Calif., Sued Over Solar Fee
Opinion -Two solar energy trade groups are suing Riverside County, California over a new surcharge on large solar power projects. The surcharge is an annual fee of $450 per acre on large-scale solar projects. Fee vs. -
Minnesota Passes Legislation Modifying K-12 Teacher Tenure
Opinion -The Minnesota House and Senate recently passed separate legislation ending last in, first out rules for teacher layoffs. -
Heartland Science Director to Testify in State House Today on Renewable Energy
Opinion -MARCH 13, 2012 – Jay Lehr, Ph.D., science director of the Chicago-based Heartland Institute, will testify this morning before the Kansas House Energy and Utilities Committee on renewable energy. Following Dr. -
Heartland Institute Comments on Today’s Surface Transportation Amendment Votes
Opinion -CHICAGO (March 13, 2012) – The U.S. Senate today considered several amendments to the Surface Transportation bill (S. 1813) that dealt with changing incentive structures for energy resources.Most notably, the Senate failed to pass an amendment from Sen. -
Bird Conservancy Seeks Enforceable Wind Turbine Standards
Opinion -The American Bird Conservancy has filed a 100-page petition with the U.S. -
Handbook Outlines Nation’s School Choice Programs
Opinion -A new handbook profiles the nation’s 34 school choice programs, outlining rules and regulations, statistical trends, and legal developments for each. -
Collective Bargaining Curbs Save Wisconsin Schools Millions
Opinion -The very legislation that nearly provoked riots inside Wisconsin’s capitol saved many school districts from financial ruin or having to fire significant numbers of teachers, concludes a new report from the Education Action Group. -
HHS Criticizes ‘Unreasonable’ Health Insurance Rate Hikes
Opinion -U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the health insurance premium rate increases proposed for five states by Trustmark Life Insurance Company were “unreasonable. -
New Colorado Law Further Defines Teacher, Principal Evaluations
Opinion -A new Colorado law builds on previous attempts to evaluate teachers, setting six standards for measuring teacher effectiveness and making tenure contingent on continued “effective” ratings. Lt. Gov. -
Cook County Governments Could Go Broke Without Reforms: Report
Opinion -Property taxes since 2000 have risen twice as fast as consumer prices in Cook County, Illinois, with the steepest increases in suburban Chicago, according to a Heartland Institute analysis released this week. With 5. -
Common Core Disagreement Generates Ed Secretary Rebuke
Opinion -As South Carolina and Utah consider legislation to step back from Common Core education standards, citing local-control concerns, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan released a statement accusing Core critics of promoting a “conspiracy theory.
