Federal Worker Pay Blasts Off – Cato-at-Liberty Newly released data show that federal employee wages and benefits continue a rapid ascent above and beyond private sector pay levels. The data was released last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (See tables 6.2, 6.3, 6.5, and 6.6)… Nuclear Cheese from Wisconsin – NEI Nuclear Notes Well, cheese, yes, and delicious cheese at that, perhaps created with help from electricity generated by the Dominion-owned Kewaunee nuclear plant, but we mean the endorsement of nuclear energy coming from Governor Jim Doyle… FCC’s … More

Dumb Ballot Idea – The Club For Growth A proposal has been submitted to California’s attorney general for consideration on the 2010 ballot (at the earliest) that would apply a death tax of 55% on all wealth over $20 million… Just What are the UK’s Carbon Emissions? – Adam Smith Institute A slightly odd (and definitely geeky) thing to do but I’m going to praise some environmental research that has just been published. Yes, even something from the Stockholm Environment Institute. (Summary here, full report here.) … (Why) Is #dontGo … More

Are the Uninsured Free-Riding? – Cato-at-Liberty Should government require people to purchase health insurance? My answer is no. Here are three reasons… So, How Fared The Rebate Idea? – RedState I was against the idea of tax rebates from the time they were discussed as a way to stimulate the economy. If you don’t believe me, feel free to read this. As I wrote, “if we really want to stimulate the economy… Tire Inflation Could Not Save More Oil Than Offshore Drilling Could Produce – The Weekly Standard Barack Obama … More

Los Angeles Wants to do What? – Michelle Malkin The missing word in this story is “illegal.” But only the deaf, dumb, and blind can’t see that L.A.’s latest proposed expansion of illegal alien sanctuary–which would mandate that retailers set aside space for illegal alien… Bin Laden’s Driver Convicted – Little Green Footballs Osama bin Laden’s driver has been acquitted of conspiracy charges, but convicted of providing material support to terrorism…  The End of “Monuments to Me” – FreedomTalks Despite the earmarks thrown in a recent MilCon bill, there was … More

Obama Now Backs Tapping Into Oil Reserve – Washington Times LANSING, Mich. | Sen. Barack Obama put his effort to pursue energy voters into overdrive on Monday, flipping positions to call for releasing oil from the government’s… Tom Fitton: ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Can Be Lethal to Your Health – Examiner.com WASHINGTON (Map, News) – Judicial Watch filed a California Public Records request last week with the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department to obtain arrest… McCain, Obama, and Clean Coal – Cato-at-Liberty After you’ve watched federal policymaking for a number of years, you … More

Why No Real Debate on Global Warming? – Vallejo Times Herald The dumb things cooking in congress and state legislatures should force a national debate on the question of global warming. The media, however, seem more than willing to give Al Gore a platform – which tends to discourage most folks from jumping in… 10,000 Bills in Congress, and the Annual Spending Process Ignored – Technology Liberation Front Before leaving for its August recess last week, Congress saw the introduction of its 10,000th bill. Meanwhile, not a single one of … More

The Obama Health Plan – John Goodman’s Health Policy Barack Obama rarely gives a speech these days without mentioning “universal coverage.” Yet, in contrast to Hillary Clinton, Obama has no mandates (other than for children). Instead, he would rely on incentives…. (tags: Health Care) The Washington Post: A Tale of Two Comments – HUMAN EVENTS The Washington Post had two awful statements from Presidential campaign surrogates to work with last week. How it dealt with each of them is highly illustrative… (tags: Media) Alaska’s ‘Frustrated’ Governor on Nonsensical Policy – … More

Washington, D.C. Government Attacks Cheap Buses, Environment – OpenMarket.org Washington, D.C. recently tried to put cheap private buses out of business, by preventing them from picking up passengers anywhere but the inconvenient, forbidding location of L’Enfant Plaza… (tags: Regulation,) More on Randy Vanderhoof and Privacy – Technology Liberation Front More than a year ago, I posted here about a quote Randy Vanderhoof of the Smart Card Alliance had given to Federal Computer Week… (tags: Regulation) Bankruptcy of Government-Monopoly is Fiscal and Moral – Pacific research Institute California’s Most Vulnerable Citizens … More

How the Next President Can Return America to Prosperity – U.S. News and World Report Don’t look for President Obama or President McCain to save you, America. The tumbling housing market and rising gas prices will continue to plague the U.S. economy in 2009—and there is nothing either of those guys can do about it. Unless they do… (tags: Economy) U.S. Congress = OPEC? – Carpe Diem Energy: What do the Democratic-led Congress and OPEC have in common? Both sit on vast amounts of oil, and are content to leave … More