U.S. Supreme Court Makes GOOD Decision for Education Tax Credits, Parental Choice
While vouchers were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark 2002 Zelman v Simmons-Harris decision, the April 4 ruling in Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn strikes a further blow in favor of educational freedom through programs that give tax credits for scholarship donations. This is very GOOD news!
Advice for Incoming PUC Chair
For 4 years, Public Utilities Commission Chair Ron Binz has been a key driver of the New Energy Economy. Under his watch, the PUC changed its mission, from advancing lowest cost electricity, to fighting climate change with expensive green energy. As was first reported here, Binz is leaving life as an environmentalist PUC Chair, for […]
State insurance exchanges will only allow ObamaCare’s roots to grow, make repeal more difficult
“Governors like [Georgia governor Nathan] Deal and [Louisiana governor Bobby] Jindal know that any exchange can only serve as fertilizer that will allow Obamacare’s roots to grow deeper into the soil – and making repeal more difficult.” – John Graham
Dead or Not, States Want High-Speed Rail Money
High-speed rail may be dead, but numerous states would be happy to get some of Florida’s $2.4 billion in rejected high-speed rail funds. Yesterday was the deadline for applications for this money, and some of the applicants include: California, of course, would like it all, even though that would still leave it $50 billion or […]
Many Interesting Angles to Watch as Douglas County Voucher Pilot Rolls Out
Maybe it’s a little hometown Colorado bias at work here, but in my mind Douglas County vouchers is the education story of the year. I hope you didn’t think the story was essentially over once the Board adopted the program a few weeks ago. Because it’s not.
Now that the official policy for the pilot […]
Renewable energy mandates unconstitutional?
We know they are costly but are renewable energy mandates such as Colorado’s 30 percent mandate unconstitutional as well? Yes according to the American Tradition Institute, which “filed a complaint in a U.S. district court that contends Colorado’s RES should be declared unconstitutional because they violate the Commerce Clause, which grants only Congress the authority to […]
Amendment for ObamaCare waiver stalls Colo. Health Insurance Exchange, SB 11-200
Reps. Amy Stephens and Shawn Mitchell stall the CO health insurance exchange bill (SB 11-200) with amendment that requires a waiver from ObamaCare mandates before exchange can be implemented.
Portland: Second-Most Miserable City?
The Wall Street Journal has published a “misery index” that ranks Portland as the nation’s second-most miserable city after Phoenix. Or, at least, the second-most miserable of the 20 cities included in the ranking. The newspaper’s index is supposed to be based on changes in unemployment, housing prices, and gas prices in the last year. […]
Senate Bill 11-200: The Colorado Health Benefit Exchange
Colo. SB 11-200 “proposes to create an unaccountable bureaucracy.” “The [Exchange] Board could … support legislation compelling exchange membership, payment of its fees/taxes on health insurance. … the bill allows the Exchange Board to create a monopoly insurance broker w/ unlimited taxing power. “
Falcon 49 School Bus Capitol Photo-Op: Serious About Tough Decisions Ahead?
There are plenty of gag April’s Fools news stories floating out there this morning (my wishful-thinking favorite so far is Edspresso’s “Obama Administration Flips on School Vouchers”). But confusing as it may be, this story is legit: The same Falcon District 49 I lauded for taking a step towards more productive spending, the same district […]
Independent Women’s Luncheon
Catherine Shopneck, Chairman of the Board and the women of the Independence Institute cordially invite you to attend Independent Women’s Luncheon with special guest former New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson Wednesday, June 1, 2011 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Denver Country Club $40 per person RSVP online
New Fire Plan: Burn More Money
In the late 1990s, the Forest Service spent about $300 million a year on fire and the Department of the Interior spent another $100 million a year. Then came the 2000 Cerro Grande fire, which burned a billion dollars worth of homes in Los Alamos, NM. After that, Congress opened up the checkbook and told […]
