Commentary
Business & Economics
Economies of Scale Don’t Apply to Government
SACRAMENTO – As government costs soar, and revenue remains low because of the poor economy, some politicians and academics are trotting out an old idea that promises to increase efficiency and save money. It’s called municipal consolidation. In their view, combining multiple cities or agencies into a smaller number of ...
Business & Economics
Election makes Laffer less gloomy
Arthur Laffer, one of the more prescient economists of our time and an adviser to President Ronald Reagan, has been a longtime proponent of keeping money in the hands of those who earn it because they are best able to spend in ways that stimulate the economy. In recent years ...
Commentary
Perspectives: A referendum on ObamaCare?
Voters recently delivered a stinging rebuke of President Obama’s big-government vision for the country. A primary reason for the Democrats’ defeat was Americans’ disgust with the new health reform law. A Rasmussen poll found that 58 percent of likely voters support the repeal of Obamacare. And a Wall Street Journal ...
Business & Economics
Tort Reform (Tort Law Tally)
Tort reform іѕ a well Ɩονеԁ call-tο-proceedings when іt comes tο healthcare legislation. In general tort reform in thе healthcare arena refers tο sinking lawsuits οr hυrtѕ related tο medical malpractice. Several states hаνе enacted tort reform. Nο one argues thаt frivolous lawsuits need tο bе eliminated; rаthеr thе debate ...
Commentary
Why Can’t Doctors Tell Patients How Much Meds Cost?
Although the health plans don’t pay doctors to help patients “shop for medicines,” I have learned that they do pay doctors to switch their prescriptions from branded to generic. Of course, this entire struggle between health plan and brand-name drugmaker is entirely invisible to the patient, and, therefore, likely results ...
Business & Economics
Art Laffer: Jerry Brown was California’s best governor
Jerry Brown had fantastic economic policy, Laffer said. “He did a great job implementing Proposition 13. He indexed personal income tax in the state; put in Gann spending limit under his tenure; and killed the estate tax. He was one of the best governors California ever had.” Of Brown’s presidential ...
Commentary
State’s new legislators should take cue from Florida on schools
California’s new education boss, Tom Torlakson, has his work cut out for him. He might start by explaining to parents why Florida, a demographically similar state, continues to outpace California in student achievement. On that score, the Golden State still sputters around the bottom of national rankings. California apologists of ...
Commentary
Who’s Qualified to Run New York City Schools? Pitfalls From a Lack of Knowledge
Lacking an official background in public education is different than a lack of knowledge of critical educational issues. An education leader can succeed without the former, but not the latter. As a business executive, Joel Klein brought useful management ideas to the job of chancellor. He knew that employees have ...
Commentary
U.S. Health Care and U.S. Productivity
Furthermore, we don’t hear Mark Zuckerberg complaining that Facebook’s health-care costs are preventing him from competing against foreign social-media businesses. Indeed, while all Americans complain about health costs, the argument that our health “system” reduces our competitiveness versus other countries with “universal” health care is actually quite weak. Indeed, the ...
Commentary
The government’s waning support of breast cancer?
Breast Cancer Awareness month, which wound down last month, appeared to get plenty of government support. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held a teleconference in recognition of national mammography day. She and Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, touted a new program to promote awareness. ...
Economies of Scale Don’t Apply to Government
SACRAMENTO – As government costs soar, and revenue remains low because of the poor economy, some politicians and academics are trotting out an old idea that promises to increase efficiency and save money. It’s called municipal consolidation. In their view, combining multiple cities or agencies into a smaller number of ...
Election makes Laffer less gloomy
Arthur Laffer, one of the more prescient economists of our time and an adviser to President Ronald Reagan, has been a longtime proponent of keeping money in the hands of those who earn it because they are best able to spend in ways that stimulate the economy. In recent years ...
Perspectives: A referendum on ObamaCare?
Voters recently delivered a stinging rebuke of President Obama’s big-government vision for the country. A primary reason for the Democrats’ defeat was Americans’ disgust with the new health reform law. A Rasmussen poll found that 58 percent of likely voters support the repeal of Obamacare. And a Wall Street Journal ...
Tort Reform (Tort Law Tally)
Tort reform іѕ a well Ɩονеԁ call-tο-proceedings when іt comes tο healthcare legislation. In general tort reform in thе healthcare arena refers tο sinking lawsuits οr hυrtѕ related tο medical malpractice. Several states hаνе enacted tort reform. Nο one argues thаt frivolous lawsuits need tο bе eliminated; rаthеr thе debate ...
Why Can’t Doctors Tell Patients How Much Meds Cost?
Although the health plans don’t pay doctors to help patients “shop for medicines,” I have learned that they do pay doctors to switch their prescriptions from branded to generic. Of course, this entire struggle between health plan and brand-name drugmaker is entirely invisible to the patient, and, therefore, likely results ...
Art Laffer: Jerry Brown was California’s best governor
Jerry Brown had fantastic economic policy, Laffer said. “He did a great job implementing Proposition 13. He indexed personal income tax in the state; put in Gann spending limit under his tenure; and killed the estate tax. He was one of the best governors California ever had.” Of Brown’s presidential ...
State’s new legislators should take cue from Florida on schools
California’s new education boss, Tom Torlakson, has his work cut out for him. He might start by explaining to parents why Florida, a demographically similar state, continues to outpace California in student achievement. On that score, the Golden State still sputters around the bottom of national rankings. California apologists of ...
Who’s Qualified to Run New York City Schools? Pitfalls From a Lack of Knowledge
Lacking an official background in public education is different than a lack of knowledge of critical educational issues. An education leader can succeed without the former, but not the latter. As a business executive, Joel Klein brought useful management ideas to the job of chancellor. He knew that employees have ...
U.S. Health Care and U.S. Productivity
Furthermore, we don’t hear Mark Zuckerberg complaining that Facebook’s health-care costs are preventing him from competing against foreign social-media businesses. Indeed, while all Americans complain about health costs, the argument that our health “system” reduces our competitiveness versus other countries with “universal” health care is actually quite weak. Indeed, the ...
The government’s waning support of breast cancer?
Breast Cancer Awareness month, which wound down last month, appeared to get plenty of government support. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held a teleconference in recognition of national mammography day. She and Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, touted a new program to promote awareness. ...
