Commentary
Business & Economics
Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Business & Economics
Torts, taxes hinder Pennsylvania’s prosperity
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of occasional commentaries on how Pennsylvania can turn around its economic fortunes. Wrongheaded economic development policies and one of the nation’s worst labor climates are serious impediments to Pennsylvania’s prosperity. As if those obstacles were not enough, the commonwealth also has ...
Commentary
GOP ideas are ignored
OK, I’ll admit it. I’m a senior fast approaching Medicare eligibility and I’m worried. I’m worried about our nation’s future, and I’m worried that if President Obama’s proposed health care plan goes through, Medicare will be reduced by $500 billion. There will be 30 million citizens added to the health ...
California
Governor to Impose $Quarter-Billion Tax Hike on California
Renewable energy that is forced on the California market means higher energy costs for everyone. Renewables are simply more expensive—which is why their proponents have to argue for mandates (and not coincidently, the highest levels of direct subsidy.) Ironically, the mandates—excused as ‘helping drive costs down through mass markets’ have ...
Business & Economics
Global Unease About Obama Administration Heard at Two Conferences
As luck would have it, just as the Obama Administration was upending America’s global relationships for the last ten days, I was in Europe and attended two conferences on international politics. Together these conferences gave a good cross section of opinion about Mr. Obama and the U.S. in policy centers ...
Commentary
Cantor Misses an Opportunity on Health Reform
He missed the perfect opportunity to explain why this woman did not have to lose coverage. After all, she “did have a wonderful, high-paying job, owns her own home, and was a real, contributing member of society. She lost her job. Just a couple of weeks ago, she found out ...
Commentary
Proposed Fuel Standard Embraces Faulty Science, Economics
House Bill 5383, introduced last week by Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint, would establish a “low-carbon fuel standard,” requiring oil refineries and fuel blenders to reduce greenhouse gases by 10 percent over the next decade. Gonzales announced his legislation during a phone conference with representatives from The Ecology Center and Environment ...
Commentary
The LA Times Reports; You Decide
Someone, anyone, please tell me where these rigorous thinkers have been for the last few decades. Actually, they seem to recognize how silly their argument is when they point out several paragraphs below that “with [an individual mandate], the nation’s bill could be spread more broadly . . . ” ...
Commentary
Humana, Inc.’s Unconditional Surrender to Censorship
The activist, Dawn Teo, has unwittingly done a public service by posting an scanned electronic version of the document and envelope that Humana, Inc. mailed to its Medicare Advantage members. I write “unwittingly” because I don’t suppose that there’s a law preventing someone not associated with Humana, Inc., sending the ...
Business & Economics
The Best States For Business
The recession hit everywhere, but Virginia is booming compared with the rest of America. The carnage of the economic downturn is everywhere with bankruptcies, foreclosures and unemployment soaring nationwide. None of the 50 states are immune. Only two, Alaska and North Dakota, are expected to see employment gains this year. ...
Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Torts, taxes hinder Pennsylvania’s prosperity
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of occasional commentaries on how Pennsylvania can turn around its economic fortunes. Wrongheaded economic development policies and one of the nation’s worst labor climates are serious impediments to Pennsylvania’s prosperity. As if those obstacles were not enough, the commonwealth also has ...
GOP ideas are ignored
OK, I’ll admit it. I’m a senior fast approaching Medicare eligibility and I’m worried. I’m worried about our nation’s future, and I’m worried that if President Obama’s proposed health care plan goes through, Medicare will be reduced by $500 billion. There will be 30 million citizens added to the health ...
Governor to Impose $Quarter-Billion Tax Hike on California
Renewable energy that is forced on the California market means higher energy costs for everyone. Renewables are simply more expensive—which is why their proponents have to argue for mandates (and not coincidently, the highest levels of direct subsidy.) Ironically, the mandates—excused as ‘helping drive costs down through mass markets’ have ...
Global Unease About Obama Administration Heard at Two Conferences
As luck would have it, just as the Obama Administration was upending America’s global relationships for the last ten days, I was in Europe and attended two conferences on international politics. Together these conferences gave a good cross section of opinion about Mr. Obama and the U.S. in policy centers ...
Cantor Misses an Opportunity on Health Reform
He missed the perfect opportunity to explain why this woman did not have to lose coverage. After all, she “did have a wonderful, high-paying job, owns her own home, and was a real, contributing member of society. She lost her job. Just a couple of weeks ago, she found out ...
Proposed Fuel Standard Embraces Faulty Science, Economics
House Bill 5383, introduced last week by Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint, would establish a “low-carbon fuel standard,” requiring oil refineries and fuel blenders to reduce greenhouse gases by 10 percent over the next decade. Gonzales announced his legislation during a phone conference with representatives from The Ecology Center and Environment ...
The LA Times Reports; You Decide
Someone, anyone, please tell me where these rigorous thinkers have been for the last few decades. Actually, they seem to recognize how silly their argument is when they point out several paragraphs below that “with [an individual mandate], the nation’s bill could be spread more broadly . . . ” ...
Humana, Inc.’s Unconditional Surrender to Censorship
The activist, Dawn Teo, has unwittingly done a public service by posting an scanned electronic version of the document and envelope that Humana, Inc. mailed to its Medicare Advantage members. I write “unwittingly” because I don’t suppose that there’s a law preventing someone not associated with Humana, Inc., sending the ...
The Best States For Business
The recession hit everywhere, but Virginia is booming compared with the rest of America. The carnage of the economic downturn is everywhere with bankruptcies, foreclosures and unemployment soaring nationwide. None of the 50 states are immune. Only two, Alaska and North Dakota, are expected to see employment gains this year. ...
