Opinion
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Backlash Brewing Against Prevailing Wage Expansion
Opinion -As the share of the construction workforce that is unionized continues to decline, state laws requiring payment of prevailing wages on public works and other government-funded construction projects are becoming more controversial. -
Brazen Contempt from Union Firefighters? Or Attitude We Should Emulate?
Opinion -What do you see when you look at the Boston Firefighters Union? Do you see brazen greed and naked contempt for the taxpayer? That's what I used to see, too. But maybe we've been too hard on the firefighters. -
FCC Considers Multi-Million Ad Campaign
Opinion -The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may spend $2 million in taxpayer funds on advertising related to the congressionally mandated switch from analog to digital television broadcasting. -
States Are Lobbied to Intervene in Cable Programming Decisions
Opinion -Several state legislatures are being asked to consider adopting legislation proposed by the NFL Network that would compel vertically integrated cable operators to submit carriage disputes with independent programmers to commercial arbitration if the -
30,000 Scientists Sign Petition on Global Warming
Opinion -The claim that the debate about the severity and cause of global warming is "settled science" has taken a beating with the release of the names of 31,072 American scientists who reject the assertion that global warming has reached a crisis stage and is -
A Must-Read Book on Global Warming
Opinion -The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud by Lawrence Solomon Richard Vigilante Books, 2008 240 pages, $27. -
New Study Sparks Debate on Medical Travel
Opinion -While some estimates of medical tourism have been quite high, suggesting in some cases that millions of people travel for medical purposes, a study released by consulting firm McKinsey & Company finds the number to be much lower, just 60,000 to 85,000 -
Governor Tries to Replace Taxes Thrown out by Va. Supreme Court
Opinion -Barely three months after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and fees intended to fund transportation, Gov. Tim Kaine (D) launched a campaign to raise taxes and fees to replace the ones ruled unconstitutional. -
North Carolina Seeks to Hike the State’s Beer, Tobacco Taxes
Opinion -North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley (D) managed to offend both the mentally ill and beer drinkers when he unveiled his budget for Fiscal Year 2009. -
Wisconsin Congressman Proposes New ‘Roadmap’ on Entitlements
Opinion -In response to a Congressional Budget Office report projecting ruinous increases in spending and taxes to maintain promises in the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs, Rep. -
Better for Politicians than Consumers
Opinion -Tax holidays rarely confer the full value of the tax cut to consumers, says Jonathan Williams, an economist and director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a nonpartisan organization whose membership -
Report Card Exposes Big Labor’s Hold on State Governments across the Country
Opinion -As the presidential campaign builds, one thing has become apparent--the political Left in this country is aligned with Big Labor in a big way. -
Connecticut Residents Tune in to Debate about School Funding and Taxes
Opinion -More than 1 million households across Connecticut state tuned in to a lively debate over why public school costs keep rising and what can be done to stop the increases, making it clear they're very concerned about property tax increases. -
Ga. Consumers Get More Control over Health Insurance, Care
Opinion -Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) has signed into law a pair of measures intended to make High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) more affordable and available in the state's insurance market. -
Former Illinois Governor, Cubs Owner Try to Swing State Ballpark Buyout
Opinion -Last December, real estate mogul Sam Zell closed one of the biggest deals of his life--a buyout of the Tribune Company, owner of some of the nation's largest newspapers and broadcast stations. -
Residents of Newly Incorporated Village Want Out
Opinion -In April 2007, the area now known as Campton Hills, Illinois voted to incorporate as a village with the goals of preserving the area's rural character and "no new taxes. -
Experts Reject Notion that Global Warming Is Causing More Floods
Opinion -The National Wildlife Federation released today (7/1/2008) a statement claiming global warming is to blame for the current and recent flooding along the northern Mississippi River. -
Study: Massachusetts Business Taxes Should Be Lowered and Simplified
Opinion -Massachusetts could boost its economy and increase investment by taxing all business entities similarly and adopting unitary reporting, single-sales-factor apportionment, and other reforms, according to the Beacon Hill Institute (BHI) at Suffolk -
Tax Rebellion Stirs Talk of Secession in Cook County, Illinois
Opinion -A brewing tax rebellion in suburban Cook County, Illinois, which includes the city of Chicago, has local officials and some state lawmakers talking of forming a new county. -
Md. Millionaires Hit by Tax Bracket for Wealthy
Opinion -Maryland has become the nation's first state to impose a tax bracket specifically for filers who earn more than $1 million a year. Supporters say the move will bring in more revenue, while opponents say it will do the opposite. -
Double Taxation of Hospital Services Pushes Patient Bills Up
Opinion -As medical costs continue to rise, an under-appreciated factor is states' double taxation of hospital services. -
Illinois Governor’s $1 Million Grant Under Investigation
Opinion -With some lawmakers talking impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), state auditors are asking exactly how a $1 million grant for a church ended up going to a private school operator with a felony aggravated battery conviction on her record. -
New Orleans Will Shutter its Muni Wi-Fi
Opinion -New Orleans has lost its municipal wi-fi system as its primary provider, Earthlink, decided to exit the sector altogether. The city government chose not to take over the system, which ceased operations effective May 18. -
Law Enforcement Use of Cell Info Raises New Privacy Concerns
Opinion -With cell phones currently more common than traditional landlines, law enforcement now often relies on data provided by wireless companies to help solve crimes.
