Inflation
Agriculture
What Secretary Yellen and Chairman Powell’s Congressional Testimony Mean
There’s a great parable relayed in the movie Charlie Wilson’s War between Rep. Charles Wilson and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, played by Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It’s about a Zen master and a boy. The Zen master repeats the phrase, “we’ll see,” while others in the fable quickly ...
Blog
Winners and Losers – February 12
Tim Anaya, Senior Director of Communications and PRI’s Sacramento Office Winner: Sacramento Diners – Fans of the Sacramento restaurant Biba, which closed last spring amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and following the death of Biba Caggiano, its legendary chef and proprietor, cheered this week’s news that its former executive chef and ...
Blog
President Biden’s Stimulus Will Harm The Economy Long-term With No Short-term Benefits
The argument for an economic stimulus seems persuasive. The economy contracted 3.5 percent in 2020, which is the largest annual decline in the national economy since 1946. The latest employment numbers, which were a disappointment to many, seem to further confirm the urgent need for Congress to immediately pass a ...
Commentary
Biden’s ill-advised Obamacare rescue mission
President Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan that includes billions in new subsidies for health insurance purchased on Obamacare’s exchanges. That may be good news for people who get coverage through those marketplaces. But is it really the best use of taxpayer resources, given that many of those ...
Blog
Support, Not Stimulus or Political Favoritism
Governor Newsom has announced his stimulus plans for the state economy, the “Equitable Recovery for California’s Business and Jobs” plan. While increased support to those who are harmed is necessary, neither California nor the U.S. require an economic stimulus, as traditionally defined. To see why, consider the state and national ...
Drug Pricing
NEW BRIEF: Tearing Down Drug ‘Rebate Walls’ Would Save Patients, Improve Health Care Outcomes
Tearing down drug “rebate walls” that increase patient costs and block access to cheaper and often more effective medications would increase competition, lower out-of-pocket costs, and improve health outcomes, finds a new brief released today by the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute. Click ...
Charter Schools
LA, Oakland receive “F” for funding disparity between regular public schools and charters
It is well known that regular public schools receive more funding than public charter schools, but a just-released study finds that this gap becomes massive when all sources of revenues are included, and this yawning chasm can be seen especially in Oakland and Los Angeles. The University of Arkansas study, entitled ...
Drug Pricing
NEW BRIEF: Mandating that Drug Rebates Benefit Consumers Will Help Patients with High Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
A new brief released today by the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the Pacific Research Institute found that reforms mandating drug rebates benefit patients rather than payers would lower overall health care costs and help patients with expensive out-of-pocket drug costs. Click here to download the brief “Ironically, ...
Blog
The Facts About Prop 21, The Rent Control Initiative
Unlike many California ballot measures, the title of Proposition 21 is clear and upfront. There’s no intent to deceive with misleading language. It’s not “an argument designed to influence the voter,” and isn’t likely to prejudice the electorate. The “Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property” ...
Blog
What We’re Watching – August 28
Ben Smithwick – Helping Citizens Understand a World without Fossil Fuels Ronald Stein, co-author of the new book Just GREEN Electricity – Helping Citizens Understand a World without Fossil Fuels, discusses the dangers of overreliance on renewable energy. Click here to watch the video Tim Anaya – Making Biosimilars and ...
What Secretary Yellen and Chairman Powell’s Congressional Testimony Mean
There’s a great parable relayed in the movie Charlie Wilson’s War between Rep. Charles Wilson and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, played by Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It’s about a Zen master and a boy. The Zen master repeats the phrase, “we’ll see,” while others in the fable quickly ...
Winners and Losers – February 12
Tim Anaya, Senior Director of Communications and PRI’s Sacramento Office Winner: Sacramento Diners – Fans of the Sacramento restaurant Biba, which closed last spring amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and following the death of Biba Caggiano, its legendary chef and proprietor, cheered this week’s news that its former executive chef and ...
President Biden’s Stimulus Will Harm The Economy Long-term With No Short-term Benefits
The argument for an economic stimulus seems persuasive. The economy contracted 3.5 percent in 2020, which is the largest annual decline in the national economy since 1946. The latest employment numbers, which were a disappointment to many, seem to further confirm the urgent need for Congress to immediately pass a ...
Biden’s ill-advised Obamacare rescue mission
President Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan that includes billions in new subsidies for health insurance purchased on Obamacare’s exchanges. That may be good news for people who get coverage through those marketplaces. But is it really the best use of taxpayer resources, given that many of those ...
Support, Not Stimulus or Political Favoritism
Governor Newsom has announced his stimulus plans for the state economy, the “Equitable Recovery for California’s Business and Jobs” plan. While increased support to those who are harmed is necessary, neither California nor the U.S. require an economic stimulus, as traditionally defined. To see why, consider the state and national ...
NEW BRIEF: Tearing Down Drug ‘Rebate Walls’ Would Save Patients, Improve Health Care Outcomes
Tearing down drug “rebate walls” that increase patient costs and block access to cheaper and often more effective medications would increase competition, lower out-of-pocket costs, and improve health outcomes, finds a new brief released today by the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute. Click ...
LA, Oakland receive “F” for funding disparity between regular public schools and charters
It is well known that regular public schools receive more funding than public charter schools, but a just-released study finds that this gap becomes massive when all sources of revenues are included, and this yawning chasm can be seen especially in Oakland and Los Angeles. The University of Arkansas study, entitled ...
NEW BRIEF: Mandating that Drug Rebates Benefit Consumers Will Help Patients with High Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
A new brief released today by the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the Pacific Research Institute found that reforms mandating drug rebates benefit patients rather than payers would lower overall health care costs and help patients with expensive out-of-pocket drug costs. Click here to download the brief “Ironically, ...
The Facts About Prop 21, The Rent Control Initiative
Unlike many California ballot measures, the title of Proposition 21 is clear and upfront. There’s no intent to deceive with misleading language. It’s not “an argument designed to influence the voter,” and isn’t likely to prejudice the electorate. The “Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property” ...
What We’re Watching – August 28
Ben Smithwick – Helping Citizens Understand a World without Fossil Fuels Ronald Stein, co-author of the new book Just GREEN Electricity – Helping Citizens Understand a World without Fossil Fuels, discusses the dangers of overreliance on renewable energy. Click here to watch the video Tim Anaya – Making Biosimilars and ...
