The past week has seen a great deal of talk of a “trigger” compromise to the “public option.” Essentially this would delay the implementation of the government run plan to an unspecified date, subverting the legislative process and offering moderate members of Congress a temporary shield from owning the government bureacracy they are creating. But don’t take our word for it. Here is Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaking bluntly in today’s Politico: Pelosi also warned insurance companies to accept a public option without a trigger, arguing that a public plan …
When news broke that self-proclaimed communist and former Obama adminstration Green Jobs Czar Van Jones signed a 9/11 truther petition in 2004, we wrote: Green Jobs Czar is the perfect job for a 9/11 truther. Just as Popular Mechanics has debunked all of the crazy 9/11 truther claims, research both here in the U.S., and abroad, has repeatedly demonstrated that subsidizing high cost renewable energies destroys more jobs than it creates. Then, this weekend on Meet the Press, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman defended Jones, calling the internet “an open …
Earlier today, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a letter that Politico describes as an endorsement of “Obama-style health reform.” Adding that the White House is sure to use this letter to “undermine the GOP response.” Based on that description, the AMA must have really come out strong in favor of Obamacare, right? Wrong. The Open Letter to the President from AMA President J. James Rohack MD reminds us of the long-running sitcom Seinfeld, because it is a letter about nothing. It offers no specifics, offers no endorsement and mostly offers …
From The Economist: “RICH countries should compensate Africa for all their belching chimneys and exhausts. In a rare fit of African unity, it was decided at a recent flurry of leaders’ meetings that the United States, the European Union, Japan and others should pay the continent the tidy sum of $67 billion a year, though it was unclear for how long. Ethiopia’s prime minister, Meles Zenawi, is likely to lead a delegation of 53 countries (all of Africa minus Morocco) to the climate-change summit in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, in December, …
A widely propagated myth contends that raising top tax rates doesn’t hurt small businesses because only a small percentage of them pay rates at that level. But the number of businesses that pay top rates is economically meaningless. By this more accurate measure it is obvious that raising top income tax rates would have an enormous negative impact on the most successful small businesses and the many workers they employ. According the Treasury Department and as shown in the chart below, 8 percent of small businesses pay the highest two …
In yet another victory for corporatism over the free market and the American taxpayer, the Senate is expected to pass the Tourism Promotion Act of 2009 later today. The bill, a top priority of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), would create a new government-run entity to promote international travel funded by a $10 per person tax on visitors coming to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Washington Post had an eye opening profile of the lobbying behind the bill last year: The explosion in the size …
MOSCOW – The upcoming October 11th Moscow city council elections go beyond routine local politics. They are turning into a primary of sorts for the balance of political forces nationwide. Moscow, the Russian Federation’s largest constituent territory and seat of the federal government, has also has accumulated about 85% of the nation’s financial capital and is clearly the object of the Kremlin’s close attention. The Kremlin is interested in securing the maximum loyalty of the local authorities and the city’s socio-political environment stability. Registration of candidates for the Moscow city …
Senator Baucus’ latest attempt to reach a bi-partisan agreement still misses the mark. While there may be a few elements that may be worth discussing, the vast majority of the proposal continues to take the discussion over reform in the wrong direction. Many of the same fundamental problems plague this proposal as the other proposals in Congress. Centralizes power in Washington and adds new layers of federal bureaucracy. The entire bill is based on creating new federal authority over the regulation and delivery of health care. This not only pre-empts …
Israel Ortega, Senior Media Services Associate and Spanish newspaper columnist, discusses why Obamacare shortchanges Hispanics in this country and is a wrong headed approach to effectively provide health insurance for those who need it. True health reform will put the individual – and not the government – behind the steering wheel. Israel Ortega, columnista y asociado de prensa para la Fundación Heritage habla acerca en como el plan del Presidente no le conviene a la comunidad hispana. Una verdadera reforma nos pondría detrás del volante para decidir por si mismos …
It is no secret that many countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa are hotbeds for terrorism. Scotland’s release and transfer of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi to Libya is a most recent reminder that terrorism originating in Africa is not a new phenomenon. However, the most recent arrest of Malam Abdulrasheed Abubakar, a 23 year-old Nigerian man who trained in Afghanistan for the Boko Haram (translated: Western Education is Sacrilege) militant sect is a disturbing reminder of just how far Islamic extremism has expanded in nations like Nigeria. Recruited by Boko …
