Unions Set Michigan Students Aside to Protest Workplace Freedom
Thousands of kids in Michigan are missing school today. Can you guess why? It is December, so you might be tempted to think a snow day or some other inclement weather situation explains all the absences…. Sorry, try again. Maybe some sort of influenza or chicken pox epidemic, you might say?… Well, if you did, […]
Hate fuels Boulder fracking debate
“The function of the Human Relations Commission is to foster mutual respect and understanding and to create an atmosphere conducive to the promotion of amicable relations among all members of the city’s community.” Boulder Human Relations Office For a community with an “Office of Human Rights” and is home to a university with a multi-million […]
Moore v. Madigan, Key Points
Originally published on Volokh.com Judge Posner’s opinion for a 2-1 panel of the 7th Circuit. Illinois is the only state which forbids gun carrying in public as a matter of law. There is no provision for the issuance of licenses for concealed carry, or for open carry. Both are banned. There are some exceptions for particular […]
Security Problems
My ISP has repeatedly suspended my account claiming I have security problems. So I have to decide how to fix those problems and whether to switch to a more secure ISP. In the meantime, I won’t be posting to the … Continue reading
Can CEA Leaders Fight for Kids without Advocating Entitlement Reform?
All the big people are talking about these days seems to be the coming “fiscal cliff,” and some tough decisions leaders in Washington, D.C., have to make. For anyone who has common sense, a big part of the solution has to be for Congress to stop spending more money than it takes in. You know, […]
If mandatory insurance is a “tax”, then ObamaCare violates Constitute’s Uniformity Clause
By defining the mandate as a tax, one that will not be uniformly applied, the Supreme Court ran afoul of the Constitution. Continue reading
What’s Wrong With TIF
Many people see the problems with tax-increment financing and think that TIF laws need reform. But in fact, no reforms will work; tax-increment financing should simply be abolished. The Antiplanner attempted to explain why in Boise last week, and here is a summary what I said. (Click any of the charts for a larger view.) […]
Believe It! NPR Shows How K-12 Policy Can Lead to Sugary-Sweet Goodness
Stop nagging me! Yes, it’s true I haven’t added much to the blog this week. Too much time making my Christmas list for Santa… up to 30 pages so far. Now it’s Friday and I’m tired. But I couldn’t retire into the weekend without at least a nod to something education-related here.
National Public Radio did […]
Analyst Addresses What’s Needed to Make Extended Learning Time Work
Senior policy analyst Ben DeGrow commented recently in an American Family Radio News (One News Now) story to provide perspective on news that some Colorado schools were among the recipients of grant money to provide longer or more days to serve especially low-income students. DeGrow told reporter Bob Kellogg that more than just the amount […]
Why States Must Shun the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion
During the Obamacare case before the Supreme Court, the Independence Institute argued that the law’s provisions forcing the states to expand Medicaid were unconstitutional. Neither the Constitution nor case law, we pointed out, permits the federal government to use federal spending programs to coerce the states. Seven of the nine justices agreed with us, essentially […]
Colorado Medicaid expansion: lousy health care for the poor, big bill for taxpayers
Medicaid is notorious for underpaying doctors so enrollees have poor access to care and poor medical outcomes. Subsidized commercial insurance is a better, but not ideal, alternative. Fiscally, Medicaid expansion is bad news. Continue reading
State & Local Corporate Welfare
State and local governments spend $80 billion a year trying to attract businesses away from each other, reports the New York Times. This is a giant zero-sum game, the paper suggests, and in fact may even slow growth in some areas by increasing the tax burden. The Times even admits that it has received $24 […]
