Opinion
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Heartland Institute Tech Experts React to Net Neutrality Vote in Congress
Opinion -The United States Senate today rejected, by a vote of 52–46, a resolution to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. A similar House resolution passed in April, but President Barack Obama had promised a veto. -
Ohio Voters Reject Union Curbs
Opinion -Sixty-one percent of Ohio voters yesterday repealed a law restricting collective bargaining and requiring state employees to contribute to their pension and healthcare benefits. -
The Grinches Who Taxed Christmas
Opinion -The Federal Register yesterday reported a new tax effective today: 15 cents on every fresh-cut Christmas tree to . . . wait for it . . . promote the purchase of fresh-cut Christmas trees. If you’re surprised by the announcement, so are many others. -
Temperatures Defy Global Warming Predictions
Opinion -Activists at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change predicted in 2009 a better than 50-50 chance of global temperatures rising at least 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. -
Ohioans Vote to Overturn Bargaining Limits
Opinion -Ohioans on Tuesday voted 61 percent to 39 percent to repeal Senate Bill 5, a law that would have limited the collective-bargaining ability of public-employee unions. Support for the repeal had majorities in 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties. -
Kansas Mulls Record Loan to Shore Up Government Pensions
Opinion -Kansas lawmakers may have to take out the largest loan in state history—$5 billion—to help plug a growing hole in the state's pension system. -
Heartland Institute Experts React to Fannie Mae’s Request for $7.8 Billion Bailout
Opinion -Fannie Mae, the mortgage giant that lends with the implicit guarantee of taxpayers, is asking the federal government for $7.8 billion in aid to cover losses through July, August, and September of 2011. Fannie Mae announced Tuesday it lost $7. -
Heartland Institute Reacts to Head Start Executive Order
Opinion -President Barack Obama Tuesday directed the Department of Health and Human Services to implement changes to the Head Start program – changes that have not been approved by Congress. -
Transportation Bill Math Shows Neither Party Has the Money
Opinion -An October 26 letter from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to Rep. John Mica (R-FL) has brought to the surface the confusion over funding of the multiyear surface transportation authorization. -
Study: Smoking Bans Have Little or No Immediate Heart Benefit
Opinion -Statewide smoking bans have “little or no measurable immediate effect” on the number of persons who die from heart attacks, according to a new report by medical researchers at two universities. -
Divorce on the Rocks
Opinion -Comedian Rob Delaney has announced he’s suing Kim Kardashian because she’s getting divorced from her husband of 72 days, Kris Humphries.Delaney swears “this is not a joke. -
Nevada Gov. Develops School Choice Legislation
Opinion -As four school reform bills Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) successfully championed earlier in 2011 go into effect, Sandoval is redoubling efforts to expand school choice and end social promotion for third graders who lack basic reading skills. -
Heartland Institute Reacts to Fast and Furious Hearing
Opinion -Attorney General Eric Holder today testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the “Fast and Furious” program that allowed American guns to “walk” into the hands of Mexican drug gangs. -
Income Inequality Explained by Household Demographics
Opinion -The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protest has returned national attention to the topic of income inequality. Most of the discussion on income inequality focuses on the relative differences over time between low-income and high-income U.S. -
Poorly Designed Medicare Auctions Could Disrupt Device Marketplace
Opinion -Auctions for contracts to sell durable medical equipment under Medicare may have design flaws that will lead to prices too low for market stability, some consumer advocates warn. -
Income Down, Tax Rate Up for Top 1 Percent of Earners
Opinion -The income earned by the top 1 percent of Americans has declined for the second year in a row while their average tax rate has increased, according to a new Tax Foundation study. -
Oklahoma Officials Request FCC ‘Call-Termination’ Investigation
Opinion -In response to complaints in Oklahoma and other states from both telephone customers and service providers regarding problems with completion of telephone calls, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has requested the Federal Communications Commission -
Facebook ‘Supercookies’ Spur Privacy Concerns
Opinion -Members of Congress are calling for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Facebook after the social network giant admitted to watching Web pages its members visit even after those members have logged out from the site. -
Cash No Longer King in Louisiana
Opinion -Cold, hard U.S. cash is as worthless as Confederate money in some stores in Louisiana as the result of a new law. Under a bill that became law in 2011, those who buy and sell secondhand merchandise may not use cash in the retail transactions. -
Heartland Institute Reacts to Tuesday’s Obamacare Ruling in DC Circuit Court
Opinion -The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Tuesday ruled 2–1 that it is constitutional for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – also known as Obamacare – to force Americans to purchase health insurance. -
Recycling Facility Racking Up EPA Fines
Opinion -A large recycling facility that bills itself as a “world leader” in protecting the environment has amassed more than $962,000 in fines during the past five years for violating the Clean Air Act, National Public Radio reports. -
Ethanol Stance Presents a Test of Character
Opinion -The Republican presidential candidates are undergoing a test of character this week as the Iowa press and special interest groups are dialing up the pressure regarding ethanol subsidies and mandates. -
‘Obscene’ Pension Abuses Spark Reform Push in Illinois
Opinion -Government pension abuses in Illinois have prompted some lawmakers to try to advance legislation to stop labor leaders from cashing in on taxpayers. -
Agribusiness Plants Seeds for Even Bigger Crop Insurance Boondoggle
Opinion -Major agricultural interests are pushing for a new form of subsidized crop insurance to be implemented on top of the existing Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Subsidies to the FCIC already cost taxpayers $8 billion annually. Politico reported Nov.
