Effective Colorado Online K-12 Education? Change Policies Without More Regulation
Colorado’s education story of the month — the state of public online schools — merits a response. The discouraging news raised by Ed News Colorado’s three-part investigative series cannot be completely brushed aside, but a Denver Post op-ed by the Education Policy Center’s Pam Benigno provides needed context and a focus on genuine, equitable policy solutions that benefit students and support families’ ability to choose among excellent education options. The last thing online schools and students need is more onerous regulation.
Private health exchange to compete with politically-run government exchanges
Bloom health offers a “nationwide private insurance exchange and defined contribution solution for employers” that offers “an alternative to the state insurance exchanges” Continue reading
Proposition 103: What is the Cost to Colorado Taxpayers?
Proposition 103 is an initiative that will increase Colorado tax rates and require the state to spend the money on government schools. Prop 103 increases the personal income tax, the corporate income tax, and the statewide sales and use tax for the years 2012 through 2016.
The Fiscal Impact Statement prepared by Colorado’s Legislative Council Staff estimates the cost of the tax increase at $2.9 billion. However, the cost for Colorado taxpayers will be significantly greater than staff estimates. Legislative Council uses static analysis, measuring only the direct impact of the higher taxes on state revenue. They ignore the negative impact the tax increase will have on economic growth and jobs in Colorado.
Attacks on the Modern Tea Party Resemble Abuse British Tories Hurled at American Patriots
“Criminals!” “Frenzy!” Does this sound like the abuse that apologists for Big Government fling at the modern Tea Party? It should. Tea Party activists have been the victims of some incredible verbal smears—especially considering that (unlike leftist demonstrators) they have been almost uniformly peaceful and law-abiding. But modern Tea Partiers can point with pride to […]
Donor States? Recipient States?
Ron Utt of the Heritage Foundation uses 2009 data to show that more than half the states send more gas taxes to the Treasury than they get back in federal transportation dollars. But the GAO uses 2005 through 2009 data to argue that, in fact, all the states have gotten back more than their residents […]
Overcoming Denver School Board Race Voucher “Myth-Information”
A couple days ago I shared with you my amusement at a Denver Post headline and story that injected the rumor of “vouchers” into the board race for Colorado’s largest school district: Jefferson County. What about the state’s second-largest district? Well, the big story over at Ed News Colorado right now is “Vouchers a tricky […]
The Entitlement State Is Morally Bankrupt
“The problem with the entitlement state is not simply that it is bankrupting this country–the problem is that it is morally bankrupt.” Continue reading
Jerry Brown Scores Again
The Antiplanner applauds California Governor Jerry Brown–who proposed and ultimately persuaded the legislature to kill urban redevelopment agencies–for vetoing a bicycle bill last week. The bill would have required motorists to slow down to 15 mph if they were passing a bicycle and unable to give the cyclist at least three feet of room. Proponents […]
Wyoming School Makes Me See Myself as “Sr. Online Communication Specialist”
Hey, wait a minute! Doesn’t America have an unemployment problem? Do we need a bunch of kids glutting the job market? I have to ask because Michelle Luce, writing for Education Debate at Online Schools, brought my attention to a Fox News story about a Wyoming school giving jobs to elementary students:
“My son Kaleb is […]
Promises that ObamaCare has broken and will Break
Large insurance premium increases is “the latest ObamaCare prediction that has failed to materialize.” If the history of state and federal health care reforms is any guide, it won’t be the last. Continue reading
Back in the Air Again
The Antiplanner is flying to Denver today for three presentations. First, I’ll speak about the futility of government planning to a group called Hear Us Now in Thornton. The event will take place tonight at 6:00 pm at that bastion of free-markets (they don’t take TIF money), Gander Mountain, 9923 Grant, Thornton (accessible from Thornton […]
Bogey Man School Board Story in Colorado’s Largest District Lifts Hopes
Hey, guess what everybody? I heard that some people running for office right now want not only to bring bogey men into little kids’ bedrooms like mine, but also to feed them (with whatever bogey men eat) and…. It’s just a rumor, you say? Well, someone should write a story about it anyway. Call the […]
