Opinion
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Study Finds Controversial Jock Taxes Spreading
Opinion -A July 9 report from the Tax Foundation notes more and more state governments are using controversial "jock taxes" to extend state income taxes to residents of other states. -
Beyond Precaution
Opinion -A 53-year-old man recently sued the estate of deceased diet guru Dr. Robert Atkins. His grievance? He has coronary artery disease. -
Dirigo Not the Cure to Maine’s Health Insurance Problems
Opinion -When a child touches a hot stove, he discovers it hurts and learns not to do it again. Unfortunately, Maine's legislators and insurance regulators don't learn so quickly. -
Utah Citizens, Others Reject Initiatives to Expand State and Federal Lands
Opinion -A proposed initiative that would force the State of Utah to spend $150 million to purchase an unspecified amount of land from private citizens and remove it from individual use was thwarted on July 6 when supporters failed to gather enough signatures to -
Hybrid Vehicles Proving Costly in Miami-Dade County
Opinion -Florida's Miami-Dade County, which in 2003 spent more than a million dollars to purchase gasoline-electric hybrid pickup trucks, is now learning that greater fuel efficiency does not necessarily save money. -
Wisconsin Barely Passes Lukewarm Taxpayer Bill of Rights Out of Committee
Opinion -The room was full of shocked expressions at the July 27 hearing of the Wisconsin State Senate. Why? Because I was testifying against their proposed state Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). -
California Union and Legislators Receive Fleece Award
Opinion -The Business and Economic Studies program of the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) announced in August that it has given its California Golden Fleece Award to the California legislature for its treatment of the California Union of Safety Employees (CAUSE). -
Anti-Fast Food Crusade Replaying Anti-Smoking Strategy
Opinion -For Your Own Good: The Anti-Smoking Crusade and the Tyranny of Public Health by Jacob Sullum ($25. -
Bush to Support Lifetime Savings Accounts
Opinion -President George W. Bush is expected to push for new tax-free savings accounts during the upcoming presidential race by promoting a bill by a fellow Texas Republican, Representative Sam Johnson. Under the Lifetime Savings Accounts Act of 2004, H.R. -
Colorado, Other States to Reap Windfall from Natural Resources
Opinion -While much of the nation expresses exasperation at climbing oil prices, Colorado is leading a group of states in the American heartland that are taking advantage of higher prices to reap a financial windfall. -
Colorado School Districts Collect PAC Funds for Teacher Unions
Opinion -What if your health insurance provider took a fee out of your paycheck every month to pay for its political agenda, which you might not support? -
Competition: Gone Today, Here Tomorrow
Opinion -In what might have been the shortest market exit and re-entry on record, AT&T issued a news release June 23 saying a D.C. Circuit Court ruling forced it to “stop competing” in seven states. -
Consumer ‘Advocates’ Set Sights on Wireless
Opinion -With AT&T retreating from the wireline resale market in favor of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), consumer advocacy groups are now setting their crosshairs on the proposed merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. -
Corruption in Public Schools Costs Taxpayers, Impedes Reform
Opinion -Ongoing news reports from across the country indicate incidents of corruption and mismanagement in the public schools occur frequently, often on a massive scale. -
DaimlerChrysler, Ford to Invest $100 Million in Fuel Cell Company
Opinion -DaimlerChrysler and Ford have agreed to invest $100 million in Ballard Power Systems, the world's leading manufacturer of fuel cells for vehicles. -
Federal Transportation Screeners Raise Conflict of Interest Issue
Opinion -July articles in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Daily News identified passenger complaints about "stolen or damaged items from checked baggage as the number one air traveler complaint" about security and noted that Transportation Security -
Fiscal Conservative Wins GOP Senate Nod in Oklahoma
Opinion -Former U.S. Representative Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) was a runaway winner in the July 27 Oklahoma Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of incumbent Don Nickles (R). -
Florida Drops Gas Tax for Month of August
Opinion -The state of Florida decided to give its taxpayers a couple of breaks during the month of August. For 31 days, the state cut its sales tax on gasoline, to the delight of local drivers. The sales tax on some other items was lowered as well in late July. -
Free to Choose
Opinion -Like every other parent, Marie Sanchez wants the best for her children. What makes her unusual is being a public school teacher and an unabashed advocate of parental choice. -
Hastert Book Says GOP Plans to Abolish IRS
Opinion -U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) wrote in a new book that congressional Republicans plan to push for elimination of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if President Bush is elected to a second term. -
House Renews DC Voucher Funding
Opinion -The U.S. House of Representatives on July 20 renewed funding for President Bush's school voucher program for public school students in the District of Columbia. -
Human Rights vs. Animal Rights
Opinion -Putting Humans First: Why We Are Nature's Favorites by Tibor R. Machan ($19.95 cloth, 144 pages, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004; ISBN: 074253345X) It is unfortunate that writers too often believe they get paid by the word. -
Illinois Finally Has a Budget
Opinion -On July 24, the Illinois legislature completed the state's budget for fiscal year 2005, which began July 1. The new budget raises taxes on businesses for the second year in a row, but several of the state's leading business groups feared much worse. -
In Indiana, Billboards Tell Parents, ‘You Can Choose’
Opinion -In a public awareness effort to help families in Marion County, Indiana learn how they can help their children access quality educational options, the Indianapolis-based Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation (GEO) in July unveiled its second
