Commentary
Business & Economics
Despite Budget Action, Much Work Remains to Solve State’s Pension Crisis
Anyone worried about an earthquake plunging California into the sea should be more concerned about what is really sinking the state: the cost of public-employee pensions. In the just-enacted 2017-18 state budget, about $8 billion of the state government’s $183 billion spending package will go to the California Public Employees’ Retirement ...
Kerry Jackson
July 7, 2017
Commentary
Declaring Independence From Obamacare
Republican senators are hashing out their health reform bill over the July 4 recess. When they return on July 10, let’s hope they’ve written a bill that looks less like Obamacare Lite and more like a genuine market-based alternative to repeal and replace the failing health law. Anyone who believes ...
Sally C. Pipes
July 4, 2017
California
Is The Horror Story Of Single-payer Health Care Coming Soon To A Theater Near You?
Hollywood loves a sequel. This summer, studios are releasing a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean, a third edition of the Despicable Me franchise, and yet another Spiderman. But warmed-over ideas are not the sole province of the film industry. Progressive lawmakers are launching a reboot of their own — Single-Payer ...
Sally C. Pipes
July 2, 2017
Business & Economics
Is California Losing Its Edge On Innovation?
By some measures, the competition among the states to attract business and new residents has never been more robust. With easier and less expensive travel options, increasingly ubiquitous high-speed broadband and more flexible work conditions, companies can locate their operations anywhere. The future of good jobs and robust careers will ...
Bartlett Cleland
June 30, 2017
California
Ignoring Single-Payer’s Siren Song
Government-run, single-payer health care is apparently back in vogue. The California state Senate recently green-lit a bill that would abolish private insurance and force all residents — including those currently on Medicare and the state’s version of Medicaid, Medi-Cal — into a new government-run plan. The bill has been put ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 30, 2017
Business & Economics
Empower The Private Sector To Close The Infrastructure Funding Gap
If you believe the civil engineers, then on top of current planned expenditures, the U.S. needs an additional $5.2 trillion in investment into the nation’s roads, water systems, electric grids, ports & waterways, and airports between now and 2040. While such investments may be imperative, the ability of the government ...
Wayne Winegarden
June 29, 2017
California
Single-Payer Health Care Is Dead — For Now. Californians Shouldn’t Let It Come Back
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, has shelved Senate Bill 562. The bill aims to create a government-run, single-payer health care system in California. But, as Rendon noted, “This action does not mean SB562 is dead.” The California Legislature is still in the first half of a two-year session. The Senate ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 29, 2017
Commentary
Time Is Running Out To Enact A True Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote on his healthcare bill after realizing it couldn’t pass in its current form. Thank goodness. The bill leaves many of the Affordable Care Act’s core components in place—including a system of state and federal insurance exchanges that are on the ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 29, 2017
Commentary
Republicans Shouldn’t Wince At That CBO Score
Senate Republicans just delayed a vote on their health care bill. The decision came less than a day after the Congressional Budget Office officially “scored” the bill and found that 22 million people would lose coverage if the legislation passes. There are plenty of reasons to object to the Senate ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 27, 2017
Commentary
GOP Health Reform Is Hardly Sweeping
Listen to the critics of the GOP’s healthcare reform effort, and you might think Republicans are intent on personally cancelling the insurance policies of 300 million Americans. Earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., referred to the Senate’s Obamacare replacement, which became public June 22, as “a bill that’s going ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 26, 2017
Despite Budget Action, Much Work Remains to Solve State’s Pension Crisis
Anyone worried about an earthquake plunging California into the sea should be more concerned about what is really sinking the state: the cost of public-employee pensions. In the just-enacted 2017-18 state budget, about $8 billion of the state government’s $183 billion spending package will go to the California Public Employees’ Retirement ...
Declaring Independence From Obamacare
Republican senators are hashing out their health reform bill over the July 4 recess. When they return on July 10, let’s hope they’ve written a bill that looks less like Obamacare Lite and more like a genuine market-based alternative to repeal and replace the failing health law. Anyone who believes ...
Is The Horror Story Of Single-payer Health Care Coming Soon To A Theater Near You?
Hollywood loves a sequel. This summer, studios are releasing a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean, a third edition of the Despicable Me franchise, and yet another Spiderman. But warmed-over ideas are not the sole province of the film industry. Progressive lawmakers are launching a reboot of their own — Single-Payer ...
Is California Losing Its Edge On Innovation?
By some measures, the competition among the states to attract business and new residents has never been more robust. With easier and less expensive travel options, increasingly ubiquitous high-speed broadband and more flexible work conditions, companies can locate their operations anywhere. The future of good jobs and robust careers will ...
Ignoring Single-Payer’s Siren Song
Government-run, single-payer health care is apparently back in vogue. The California state Senate recently green-lit a bill that would abolish private insurance and force all residents — including those currently on Medicare and the state’s version of Medicaid, Medi-Cal — into a new government-run plan. The bill has been put ...
Empower The Private Sector To Close The Infrastructure Funding Gap
If you believe the civil engineers, then on top of current planned expenditures, the U.S. needs an additional $5.2 trillion in investment into the nation’s roads, water systems, electric grids, ports & waterways, and airports between now and 2040. While such investments may be imperative, the ability of the government ...
Single-Payer Health Care Is Dead — For Now. Californians Shouldn’t Let It Come Back
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, has shelved Senate Bill 562. The bill aims to create a government-run, single-payer health care system in California. But, as Rendon noted, “This action does not mean SB562 is dead.” The California Legislature is still in the first half of a two-year session. The Senate ...
Time Is Running Out To Enact A True Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote on his healthcare bill after realizing it couldn’t pass in its current form. Thank goodness. The bill leaves many of the Affordable Care Act’s core components in place—including a system of state and federal insurance exchanges that are on the ...
Republicans Shouldn’t Wince At That CBO Score
Senate Republicans just delayed a vote on their health care bill. The decision came less than a day after the Congressional Budget Office officially “scored” the bill and found that 22 million people would lose coverage if the legislation passes. There are plenty of reasons to object to the Senate ...
GOP Health Reform Is Hardly Sweeping
Listen to the critics of the GOP’s healthcare reform effort, and you might think Republicans are intent on personally cancelling the insurance policies of 300 million Americans. Earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., referred to the Senate’s Obamacare replacement, which became public June 22, as “a bill that’s going ...