Despite billions of dollars in unused loan authority remaining under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office, negative publicity surrounding the loan guarantee programs (which offer taxpayer dollars to government-approved companies) has tampered with applications, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. More than $51 billion in …
This week, President Obama travels to the Middle East, including his first visit to Israel since becoming commander in chief. The trip comes at a challenging time of declining U.S. leadership abroad and waning economic freedom and prosperity at home, a regrettable combination that the President’s own policies have created. …
Congressman Paul Ryan’s (R–WI) budget outline calls for federal employees to contribute more to their pensions, but the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is none too happy about it. In noting that total federal employee compensation is currently excessive, Ryan is on solid empirical ground. But instead of trying …
Federal funding for high-speed rail would end under the House fiscal year 2014 budget introduced by Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R–WI). Costly high-speed rail and other intercity rail projects are not federal priorities, especially in this era of trillion-dollar budget deficits. They should not be exempt from budget cuts. …
On Friday afternoon—the traditional time to issue unpopular statements—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signaled the conditional commitment of the U.S. to the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The conditions were as important as the commitment: According to Kerry, the U.S. wants a “strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty” that …
Remember that repetitive presidential promise to “cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year”? As 2014 and full implementation of Obamacare get closer, it is crystal clear that won’t be the case. Obamacare’s most onerous insurance regulations will directly cause insurance premiums to skyrocket, …
Thomas Monaghan, founder and former owner of Domino’s Pizza, will not be forced to comply with Obamacare’s anti-conscience mandate while his lawsuit against the coercive rule proceeds. Domino Farms, Monaghan’s current property management company in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was awarded a preliminary injunction against the mandate this week by a …
Today, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that the United States will shore up its missile defense system. Yet again, the Obama Administration is proving critics of its missile defense program correct. The U.S. will deploy additional 14 Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors in Alaska, deploy additional radar in Japan, …
Senator Rob Portman (R–OH) announced this morning that he now supports the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples. He was clear, however, that the Supreme Court should not impose this redefinition. Americans and their elected officials have constitutional authority to make marriage policy. When Americans hear the case for …
