What if They Gave a Health-Care Seminar and Nobody Came?
For immediate release (443 words) A friend was invited to what he described as a “quite important” academic seminar this week at an impressive Indianapolis address where some of the smartest minds in the nation were to gather to discuss health-care reform. Our friend declined. That decision disappointed many of his political and academic acquaintances. Read the full article…
On the Economics of Earmarking: A Case of Mixed Emotions
For release July 1 and thereafter (572 words) Congressman Mike Pence’s refusal to earmark federal transportation funds for specific projects related to Ball State University has been criticized, not surprisingly, by many in my university community. As a BSU faculty member and homeowner near campus, I certainly do appreciate the road improvements that have flowed Read the full article…
SPECIAL: High Speed Rail Is Just High-Speed Spending
For release June 22 and thereafter (661 words) Last week the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released criteria for applications from Indiana for spending its share of the $8 billion of stimulus money that Congress allocated to high-speed rail. Which raises a question: Would you pay $1,000 so that someone — probably not you — can Read the full article…
In the Capital City, Tension Over Use of the Public Square
For release June 24 and thereafter (700 words) Long before it was fashionable to advocate for parkland and civic space, Indiana’s founding fathers wrote the idea into our Constitution. The framers didn’t want future generations selling off prime public land: the Statehouse, Monument Circle or Military Park, in particular. So in Article 15, section Read the full article…
Dear Senator Boxer . . .
“If the title is so important to you that it trumps other polite forms of address, you are in politics for the wrong reasons . . .” Dear Senator Boxer . . .For immediate release (255 words)Andrea Neal could not believe Barbara Boxer’s arrogance when she demanded yesterday to be called “senator” during the testimony Read the full article…
The Inheritance Tax: Envy Institutionalized
For release June 17 and thereafter (635 words) The cartoon in the New Yorker shows a well-heeled couple on a busy city street sitting behind a sign. “Save the Hamptons,” it says. Cash-strapped Indiana legislators are in special session this week eyeing the most obvious sources of additional tax revenue. They should know, though, that Read the full article…
