Michelle Rhee and Students First Release Worthwhile, Ambitious Policy Agenda
Today is 1-11-11… 5 straight ones. I’m 5 years old, 5 years of number 1. Now that you’ve had a chance to let that not-too-eerie coincidence sink in, I only have time today to bring your attention to an important document. My edu-crush Michelle Rhee’s new super-fab education transformer group, Students First, has released its […]
Smart Grid City: Suddenly, the PUC Cares about Costs?
The PUC has finally ruled on Xcel’s cost-recovery for the Boulder Smart Grid City (SGC). Before we get to that, here’s a timeline of the SGC, for background: January 2008: Xcel announced it was looking for a city of 100,000 in its eight-state territory as a test bed for smart grid. March 2008: Xcel chooses […]
Best health care political pull can buy
“While Obamacare is suppressing genuine marketplace competition for medical services, it is also spurring a more sinister facsimile of competition – for political favors.” – Paul Hsieh, MD.
Caldara grades Ritter on energy policy
Independence Institute president Jon Caldara tells Energy Now that out-going Governor Bill Ritter gets an “F” for energy policy. Needless to say, that’s not the same grade Ritter would give himself. In the Governor’s interview with Energy Now, he touted his “fuel-switching” bill designed to kill the coal industry and the renewable energy mandate which forces […]
Save the States by Eliminating Urban Renewal
One of Jerry Brown’s first acts after taking office as California’s new/old governor was to propose to eliminate the state’s 425 urban redevelopment agencies. These agencies spend more than $5 billion a year on urban renewal subsidies that are largely unnecessary, and Brown hopes he can somehow tap into that money to help the state […]
A Quiet Legislative Session for K-12? Transformers Still Must Make Noise
Colorado’s upcoming legislative session starts in two days, and Ed News Colorado has posted its annual preview. Some lawmakers and interest groups may insist on a quiet session. No matter what, I’ll still be out here making noise for some meaningful K-12 policy changes that provide choice and accountability, changes that empower families. I hope more of my education transformer friends will join me.
Health insurance takeover alert: Insurers selling different products
The Denver Business Journal reports that last year’s health control bill has “sped up the pace” of Colorado health insurers’ offering products other than medical insurance. You might think the proponents of “reform” want a government takeover of the health insurance business.
Are We at the Bottom Yet?
According to economists at Moody’s, the housing market will bottom out in 2011–which means now may be the time to hunt for cheap homes and be ready to flip them when prices start going up. Unfortunately, the Antiplanner can’t afford the $250 required to listen to Moody’s webconference, so let’s look at some other data […]
Reading the Constitution: What it told us about Congress
[Rob Natelson is the author of The Original Constitution: What It Really Said and Meant – an objective explanation of the Constitution as understood by the Founders.] Unlike some both on the right and the left, I don’t think the reading of the Constitution in Congress was a purely symbolic or useless endeavor. It was […]
Devil's Advocate: Education Reform and Smart Spending
What reform strategies do policy makers need to pursue in order to spend our limited education dollars more effectively? Tune in to Devil’s Advocate to find out as host Jon Caldara is joined by former Colorado Commissioner of Education William Moloney and Independence Institute Education Policy Center director Pam Benigno for a discussion of where American education ranks internationally and how we can get back on track without spending more money.
Pueblo Chieftain Takes Note of Institute's Cost-Saving Tuition Tax Credit Proposal
One bold, cost-saving suggestion for Colorado K-12 made by the Education Policy Center’s Ben DeGrow at the January 6 Colorado Budget Summit (hosted by the Republican Study Committee of Colorado), drew attention from the media. Highlighting a series of recommendations from the Independence Institute’s new Citizens’ Budget report, Patrick Malone of the Pueblo Chieftain wrote: […]
HB 1365 Update: The Appeals Are in…and Everyone Objects to the PUC’s Decision
This week was the deadline to appeal the PUC’s decision on a HB 1365 implementation plan, and judging by the briefs, no one is satisfied that the PUC’s decision passes legal muster. Here’s a roundup of who argued what, along with links to the appeals: Xcel alleges that the PUC’s decision “fails to put into […]
