February 2010 Volume 17 Number 2
- Newberry Bill Advances Scholarships for Parental Choice
- February 01, 2010
- By Patrick B. McGuigan
In an attempt to expand the choices available for parents of elementary and secondary students, state Sen. Dan Newberry (R-Tulsa) this month introduced the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act. Read More >
- What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen
- February 01, 2010
- By Frederic Bastiat
In the economic sphere an act, a habit, an institution, a law produces not only one effect, but a series of effects. Of these effects, the first alone is immediate; it appears simultaneously with its cause; it is seen. The other effects emerge only subsequently; they are not seen; we are fortunate if we foresee them. Read More >
- How Many Oklahomans Does It Take to Fund One Government Job?
- February 01, 2010
- By J. Scott Moody and Wendy P. Warcholik
It takes 17 Oklahomans in the private sector to fund one Oklahoma state government job. Read More >
- Historical Bullies Intimidate Teacher
- February 01, 2010
- By Ben House
Have you ever had the experience of being afraid to walk down a certain street because a bully there intimidated you? I have long since outgrown that fear, but I am still intimidated. Read More >
- Study Points Up Higher-Ed Shortcomings
- February 01, 2010
- What students are actually learning in America's colleges may astonish you.
On February 10, the nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) will release its fourth annual report assessing how well America's colleges and universities are preparing graduates for lives of informed and responsible citizenship. Read More >
- CompSource Sale a Good Start to Workers' Comp Reform?
- February 01, 2010
- By Patrick B. McGuigan
Approximately one third of workers' compensation insurance policies in the Oklahoma market are written by CompSource, best described as a public-private hybrid. It is neither a government agency nor a private company, but a bit of both. If you're confused by that, join the club. Read More >
- State Analyst Echoes Tax Foundation Critique of Film Production Incentives
- February 01, 2010
- By Patrick B. McGuigan
[Editor's note: This article appeared January 16, 2010 on CapitolBeatOK.com.]
A new study from the Tax Foundation questions the effectiveness of incentives provided to encourage motion picture filming and/or production around the country. A total of 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico offer significant movie production incentives, the foundation says, but limits on such programs could be coming. Read More >
- Why 1017 Failed
- February 01, 2010
By Tom Daxon
House Bill 1017 was a well-intentioned and noble policy initiative whose goal was to create an outstanding school system and resultant prosperity. It didn't happen. As former state finance director Tom Daxon reminds us, good intentions aren't enough.
Read More >
- Governors Propose Constitutional Spending Caps
- February 01, 2010
- On December 28, 2009, Amy Merrick of The Wall Street Journal reported ("Pawlenty Pushes Caps on Spending") that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty "is calling for strict spending limits as states and the federal government confront enormous deficits. ... Mr. Pawlenty has proposed an amendment to the Minnesota constitution that would limit spending during any two-year budget period to the amount of revenue collected during the previous budget cycle. ... Mr. Pawlenty's state proposal has some similarities to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment passed in Colorado in 1992. That amendment limited state spending growth to inflation plus population increases. Excess revenue was returned to taxpayers via rebate checks." Read More >
- Oklahoma Can't Afford Not to Have School Choice
- February 01, 2010
- By Adam B. Schaeffer
In his State of the Union address last month, President Obama proposed spending another $4 billion annually on K-12 public education. He did not mention that state, local, and federal governments already spend well over twice what they did in 1980, or that there has been no discernible improvement in student achievement during that period. Read More >
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