TIFs: Mr. Daniels, Meet Mr. Brown
Well, he’s back. Jerry Brown, after a stint as mayor of the City of Oakland, is once again governor of California. This time, however, the ultra-liberal governor has something to teach Indiana. For this is a different Jerry Brown; now he’s attempting to cut $1.7 billion from the state budget to correct a deficit that Read the full article…
Vouchers not so Free-Market
“The law of unintended consequences, often cited but rarely defined, is that actions of people and especially of government always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended.” — the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. Before lawmakers put finishing touches on any private-school voucher bill, they should consider the law of unintended consequences. Opponents of vouchers worry Read the full article…
Does the ISTA Have a Case?
There is an intense argument under way in the letters columns of Indiana newspapers between the head of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) and a GOP state senator. One side thinks the other side’s estimate of the cost of teacher unionization is too high. The two sides, though, are not equally credible. The position Read the full article…
The GOP’s Redistricting Choice
Considering the Democratic histrionics that have stymied the 2011 legislature, you could hardly blame Republicans if they used the reapportionment process to stick it to the opposition. For the public’s sake, let’s hope they don’t. There are only two things that lawmakers absolutely must accomplish before adjourning for the year. One is to pass a Read the full article…
Economists Make Everyone Mad
A family has come on hard times. Both mom and dad are unemployed. Although the mortgage is paid-up (for now) and there is enough food in the pantry to last to the end of the month, two service disconnections are scheduled for today. The first is for a cable television bill of $88 and the Read the full article…
Are Voters Ready for Mitch’s ‘Tough Love’?
For release March 16 and thereafter (670 words) When Sen. Richard G. Lugar declared his candidacy for president on April 19, 1995, he offered an ambitious domestic policy goal: balancing the federal budget in seven years. Central to his vision was a plan to replace the national income tax with a retail sales tax and Read the full article…
