Opinion
-
Billions in Tobacco Taxes to Fuel Expansion of Federal Health Program
Opinion -The big question over reauthorization of the federal government's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appears to be this: $35 billion, $50 billion, or something in between? On August 1, the U.S. -
Tax Hike on Cigars, Other Tobacco Products Proposed
Opinion -Cigar makers and distributors were stunned to learn legislation to fund an expansion of the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) included a potential 20,000 percent increase in the tax on cigars. That is not a misprint. -
Excise Taxes Impose Growing Burden on the Poor
Opinion -See if this rule makes sense to you: If you want to help poor children, do not raise taxes on poor families. -
State of the Unions: Big Labor’s Decline Explained
Opinion -Is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the 1935 law designed to protect and invigorate the labor movement, responsible for the past 50 years of the movement's decline? Michael Wachter, the William B. -
Competing Health Reform Plans Battle it Out on Campaign Trail
Opinion -In early September, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said he wants to make preventive care mandatory in his proposed universal health insurance system. -
Fall Showdown Looms for U.S. Farm Bill
Opinion -The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are at odds over the outlines of a comprehensive farm bill, and an extension of the five-year-old law currently in effect may be necessary. -
Negotiation Documents Are Public Record, Judge Rules
Opinion -A Washington state judge has ruled that documents exchanged between the state and public employee unions during contract negotiations are public records and can be disclosed to taxpayers. -
Debate Over Public-Private Highway Partnerships Takes a New Turn
Opinion -The latest chapter in the continuing debate about the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) has featured uncharacteristically blunt congressional criticism and equally pointed rejoinders from the states. -
Floridians Rebel Against Governor’s Global Warming Proposals
Opinion -Greenhouse gas restrictions proposed by Florida Gov. -
Salmon Farming Controversy Goes to Ninth Circuit
Opinion -In a fight against a court decision that many have characterized as unnecessary regulation of fishermen, business people, and private property owners, Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) attorneys on August 2 filed a notice of appeal for Trout Unlimited v. -
Arizona Charter Schools Fight for Autonomy
Opinion -Five Arizona charter schools must abide by all state standards for now, a Maricopa County Court judge ruled August 7. -
Civic Group Finds Illinois Charter Schools Don’t Drain Resources
Opinion -In July, the Chicago-based, nonpartisan Civic Federation released a comprehensive study showing Illinois charter schools do not place undue financial burdens on their host school districts and do not hamper districts' ability to manage finances. -
Hispanics Want Candidates to Focus on Education: Poll
Opinion -If 2008 presidential hopefuls want a piece of the Latino voting pie, they must concentrate on their educational agendas and focus on the future of America's public education system, according to the results of a national poll released July 23. -
Michigan Economy Declines as Legislature Fiddles
Opinion -The depth of the economic crisis in Michigan is greater than ever, and there is little evidence of a turnaround any time soon. Consider the following data from May and June of this year: Michigan had the highest unemployment rate in the nation, at 7. -
Washington State Government Workers Get Record Raises
Opinion -The current collective bargaining agreements between Washington state and its employee unions give state employees the largest raises some have ever seen. The minimum increase union-represented employees will receive is 12. -
House Leadership Breaks Rules to Pass Subsidies for Illegal Aliens in Farm Bill
Opinion -The politics behind the farm bill came into full view August 2, when the electronic scoreboard in the House showed a vote of 215-213 and the word FINAL in favor of a motion to deny illegal aliens benefits in the agriculture bill. -
Climate Science Supports Realism, Not Alarmism
Opinion -This is the third in a three-part series exploring how industry, and society at large, should respond to predicted climate change. No thinking person should feel compelled to believe climate science is settled. It is not. -
Real Scientists vs. Media Darlings
Opinion -This article is one in a continuing series excerpted from the book Smoke or Steam? A Guide to Environmental, Regulatory, and Food Safety Concerns, by Samuel Aldrich, adapted and serialized by Jay Lehr. -
Home Solar Power Fails Due to Practical Difficulties
Opinion -This article is the second in a series outlining the technological and economic obstacles to the widespread use of solar power. -
School Choice Book a Quick, Compelling Read
Opinion -School Choice: The Findings By Herb Walberg Washington, DC: Cato Institute Press, 2007 110 pages, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-933955-04-5, $9. -
Absence of Choice Helps Explain Parental Dissatisfaction
Opinion -A poll released July 31 by the Strong American Schools' "ED in '08" campaign found the vast majority of voting-age Americans are deeply worried about U.S. public schools. -
Carriers Sue Iowa Telcos over ‘Traffic-Pumping’
Opinion -AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Qwest Communications International have filed lawsuits against 14 Iowa telecommunications companies--10 rural local exchange carriers (LECs) and four other service providers--over alleged "traffic-pumping schemes" aimed at -
Congress May Act to Define Graduation Rate
Opinion -Because accurate measures of dropout and graduation rates are so important for accountability purposes, and because states and local school districts have done such a deplorable job in reporting them, Congress is poised to take serious action. Rep. -
Congress Reignites Asbestos Scare with Ban on Aggregates
Opinion -Depending on your perspective, hearing that something is "the next asbestos" fills you with either great joy or great trepidation.