Let’s say you decide tomorrow that you want to attend the inauguration the week after next. And let’s assume that, like most Americans, you do not have any political ‘in’ with the new administration or any of the congressional offices handing tickets out to donors and supporters. What are your options? So far as I can tell, you’ve got three. If your elected representatives have any not yet allocated, you could get on their lists—but it’s a longshot. Second, you may still be able to buy a set of four …
Responding to the sticker shock of the Congressional Budget Office’s projected record $1.2 trillion budget deficit, President-elect Barack Obama said: We will — we are working currently on our budget plans. We are beginning consultations with members of Congress around how we expect to approach the deficit. We expect that discussion around entitlements will be a part, a central part, of those plans. And I would expect that by February, in line with the announcement of at least a rough budget outline, that we will have more to say about …
18 countries ranging from large European Union members, including Germany to small ex-Soviet Moldova, have been affected by Russian quasi-governmental gas giant Gazprom’s cut in natural gas supplies to Ukraine. Gazprom has become synonymous with energy intimidation and has specifically targeted former Soviet states such as Ukraine as it seeks to carve out a Russian-dominated sphere of influence in its near abroad. Heritage Senior Policy Analyst Sally McNamara looks at steps Europe must take to prevent future incidents: Although Russia has, until now, tended to be a reliable energy supplier …
Doesn’t Harry Reid know that Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest? A day for NFL playoffs. Apparently not, since he’s calling for a special Sunday vote on an omnibus lands bill that removes public land that would be available for recreational, commercial, and private ownership use by designating such land as wilderness areas, heritage areas, conservation areas and wild and scenic rivers. Furthermore, the bill places restrictions on existing federal property. It gets worse; the bill restricts energy exploration and is loaded with wasteful earmarks. Over 3 …
One failure of news coverage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act—which would open the courts to claims of pay discrimination dating back years or decades—is that it has completely ignored a thoughtful alternative proposed by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Hutchison’s Title VII Fairness Act (just reintroduced as S. 166), rather than allowing any claim—no matter how old, no matter if the plaintiff delayed filing just to gain an upper hand—would start the limitations period running only when an employee reasonably suspects, or should reasonably suspect, that he or …
Everyone has been so excited about the Obama children’s first week in school in the District. As a parent I am happy that the President-elect and Mrs. Obama have found an incredible school, the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Northwest D.C., that meets their children’s educational needs. Of course, I am even more excited that it brings to the forefront a parent’s right to choose a quality school for their children. In all of my years working with District parents, I have found that their first thought turns to whether …
If the Senate Democrat/Citigroup plan to allow bankruptcy judges to rewrite mortgage contracts becomes law, there is no doubt that many homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages will be helped in the short term. But there is never any such thing as a free lunch. What benefits these homeowners in the short term, only hurts other homeowners trying to sell their homes, and all home buyers trying to afford one. A mortgage cram down law would: Add the government as a silent third party to all private contracts …
Today may well turn out to be a major turning point in the history of the labor movement, and not because Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA) will face questions at her Secretary of Labor confirmation hearings in the Senate. No, the bigger story is the voice vote conference call Service Employees International Union president Andy Stern has scheduled for 2 pm today. If things go the way Stern plans, the SEIU board will approve the forced break up of the third largest SEIU affiliate in the country, SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West …
The Center for American Progress’ Matthew Yglesias asserts that “George W. Bush was a terrible president” and that since “the end of his administration coincides with everything being in a sorry state” that “it would be appropriate to respond with new and different policies.” We’ll let history judge how terrible a President George Bush is/was, but Matt is right about one thing: our country does need new and different policies. Problem is the Obama temporary tax cut/permanent new spending stimulus plan is Bushism on steroids. Heritage predicted back in January …
Indian Prime Minister Singh upped the ante with Pakistan on Tuesday when he hinted that official elements within Pakistan “must have been involved” in the November 26 – 29 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Up until Tuesday, New Delhi had carefully avoided blaming Pakistan directly for the attacks even as it demanded Islamabad take action against the Pakistan-based terrorist group responsible for the atrocities, the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LET). Singh’s new accusations demonstrate in part New Delhi’s mounting frustration over Islamabad’s refusal to even admit the attackers were Pakistani, despite overwhelming evidence pointing …
