Commentary
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 ...
John R. Graham
September 23, 2009
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. ...
Kurt Badenhausen
September 23, 2009
Business & Economics
Ending estate tax will create and save jobs
Like many other small-business owners, my first office was the kitchen table. When we started the family business in 1979, we had a modest goal: to earn enough money to pay the bills and put our kids through college. Little did we know that RFI Enterprises, a security systems company, ...
Larry Reece
September 23, 2009
Business & Economics
UC Giveaway Disrespects Students, Taxpayers
Last week University of California students protested a proposed 32 percent hike in fees, which follows a 9.3 percent increase approved in May. The hikes should call attention to a recent UC giveaway of $4 million, under pressure from Sacramento politicians, to a propaganda mill that should not be on ...
K. Lloyd Billingsley
September 23, 2009
Commentary
Expand High-Risk Insurance Pools To Handle Pre-Existing Conditions
With his public option stalled on the tracks, a centerpiece of President Obama’s health care agenda is emerging. This new one would require insurers to cover those who have pre-existing conditions — while making them charge prices that ignore those conditions. This would immediately inflate the prices of everyone else’s ...
Jeffrey H. Anderson
September 23, 2009
Commentary
Baucus Believes Politicians Alone Should Control Health-Reform Debate
Boy, did they get that wrong! In fact, the reason health insurers dole out cash to Senator Baucus and scramble for a seat at his table is that he’s forbidden them from discussing health reform in any other venue. Humana, Inc. learned this when they mailed a one-page document on ...
John R. Graham
September 22, 2009
Business & Economics
What Is a Tax?
What is relevant in the broader context is that this president has revealed himself to be quite comfortable denying that which our lying eyes can see clearly. And so the implicit-but-heavy energy taxes to be imposed by a carbon-regulation regime would not be “taxes.” Nor would banking regulations ostensibly aimed ...
Benjamin Zycher
September 21, 2009
Business & Economics
Federal Medical Malpractice Law Would Hinder Reform
The nation’s doctors are rightly concerned about the need for medical malpractice reform, but their clamor this week for passage of a federal reform law raises troubling legal questions and likely would do little to stem malpractice case filings. There is no question malpractice reform is needed. The Pacific Research ...
Maureen Martin
September 21, 2009
Business & Economics
Greenhut leaving the O.C. Register
I know what every government worker in Orange County is doing right now, this evening of Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009: Getting plastered on expensive booze, paid by their massive tax-funded salaries. They’ll be so hung over tomorrow don’t even try to do work with them. They’re celebrating because the scourge ...
John Seiler
September 20, 2009
Business & Economics
I’m heading to Sacramento, but don’t celebrate yet.
The Orange County Register, September 19, 2009 Many readers, especially those who receive large public pensions, will no doubt be thrilled to hear the news. This is the penultimate column I’m writing for the Register as a staff member. I’m heading to the belly of the beast, Sacramento, to start ...
Steven Greenhut
September 19, 2009
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. ...
Ending estate tax will create and save jobs
Like many other small-business owners, my first office was the kitchen table. When we started the family business in 1979, we had a modest goal: to earn enough money to pay the bills and put our kids through college. Little did we know that RFI Enterprises, a security systems company, ...
UC Giveaway Disrespects Students, Taxpayers
Last week University of California students protested a proposed 32 percent hike in fees, which follows a 9.3 percent increase approved in May. The hikes should call attention to a recent UC giveaway of $4 million, under pressure from Sacramento politicians, to a propaganda mill that should not be on ...
Expand High-Risk Insurance Pools To Handle Pre-Existing Conditions
With his public option stalled on the tracks, a centerpiece of President Obama’s health care agenda is emerging. This new one would require insurers to cover those who have pre-existing conditions — while making them charge prices that ignore those conditions. This would immediately inflate the prices of everyone else’s ...
Baucus Believes Politicians Alone Should Control Health-Reform Debate
Boy, did they get that wrong! In fact, the reason health insurers dole out cash to Senator Baucus and scramble for a seat at his table is that he’s forbidden them from discussing health reform in any other venue. Humana, Inc. learned this when they mailed a one-page document on ...
What Is a Tax?
What is relevant in the broader context is that this president has revealed himself to be quite comfortable denying that which our lying eyes can see clearly. And so the implicit-but-heavy energy taxes to be imposed by a carbon-regulation regime would not be “taxes.” Nor would banking regulations ostensibly aimed ...
Federal Medical Malpractice Law Would Hinder Reform
The nation’s doctors are rightly concerned about the need for medical malpractice reform, but their clamor this week for passage of a federal reform law raises troubling legal questions and likely would do little to stem malpractice case filings. There is no question malpractice reform is needed. The Pacific Research ...
Greenhut leaving the O.C. Register
I know what every government worker in Orange County is doing right now, this evening of Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009: Getting plastered on expensive booze, paid by their massive tax-funded salaries. They’ll be so hung over tomorrow don’t even try to do work with them. They’re celebrating because the scourge ...
I’m heading to Sacramento, but don’t celebrate yet.
The Orange County Register, September 19, 2009 Many readers, especially those who receive large public pensions, will no doubt be thrilled to hear the news. This is the penultimate column I’m writing for the Register as a staff member. I’m heading to the belly of the beast, Sacramento, to start ...