Economy
The city code corps and public trust in government
Texas was tied for 13th place with Alaska, with 64 percent of Texans trusting in their state government.
April 18, 2016
Economy
What’s really driving California’s minimum wage hike?
Hiking the minimum wage in the center of the high-tech universe will inevitably accelerate the drive to convert low-skill service jobs to robots. After all, machines don't call in sick, get stuck in California's notorious traffic, get injured and go on workers' comp, sue their employers or strike.
April 11, 2016
Economy
The minimum wage makes no sense – let’s do it anyway!
But, as with most government actions, there will be unintended consequences — the government drive for 'balance' will, as Friedrich Hayek warned, lead to more imbalance, which will invariably lead to cries for greater government intervention.
April 7, 2016
Economy
California’s unions demand $15-an-hour minimum wage; it will destroy a third of the state
Since new teachers’ pay is tied to double the minimum wage, a 50 percent increase in the minimum wage will trigger demands for proportional wage increases on up the pay scale. California teachers earn an average of $71,396, not including generous retirement benefits.
April 4, 2016
Energy & Environment
Power grab: How the EPA’s Clean Power Plan aims to nationalize the electric grid
Increased costs for electricity will have a ripple effect on manufacturing jobs as well as the standard of living of working Americans who will pay more for their electricity.
March 30, 2016
Energy & Environment
First, the EPA came for the Navajo; next, they’re coming for everyone
Many Americans will pay 30 percent or more for their electricity and barely notice the difference, but for millions more, such as the members of the Navajo Nation, the Clean Power Plan will have farther-reaching effects, destroying jobs and harming families.
March 29, 2016
Energy & Environment
The EPA’s all pain, no gain plan to nationalize the electric grid
The EPA’s Clean Power Plan has been delayed by the U.S. Supreme Court. But, if the courts allow it to proceed, it will result in higher electricity costs, lost jobs, and a lower standard of living.
March 23, 2016
Energy & Environment
Obama’s Clean Power Plan will destroy Navajo Nation jobs
The industry is responsible for more than 2,500 of the highest-paying jobs in the Navajo Nation. These revenues represent the Navajo Nation’s ability to act as a sovereign nation.
March 14, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Occupational licensing, zoning, Uber and opportunity
Texas requires licensing for 33 percent of these occupations, but charges slightly more in average fees, $304, and quite a bit less in mandatory training, 326 days.
February 10, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Funding bad decisions: Urban rail and federal money
Short of ending federal funding for hundreds of programs, Congress needs to resist the urge to micromanage distant states, counties and cities and shift to block grants with few strings attached.
February 9, 2016
Taxes & Spending
How Crony corporatism & big government conspire to pad your wireless bill
Using utility bill surcharges to fund government programs is a surreptitious way to tax, especially when elected representatives set up an autopilot system so they can avoid accountability at the ballot box.
January 29, 2016
Economy
Texas vs. The Beltway: What economic model works best?
It isn’t at all sustainable to assume that each new worker in the private sector could support one new government employee, much less three or four as is the case in Virginia and Maryland.
December 21, 2015