28 | March | 2012

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Simpson-Bowles/LaTourette-Cooper is an affirmation of Obamacare with a nearly $2 trillion tax-hike kicker

James Pethokoukis | March 28, 2012, 7:59 pm

It’s ironic that on a day when Supreme Court arguments hinted at the possibility that the entirety of Obamacare might get the boot, some House Republican lawmakers want to pass a budget that embraces and enshrines the healthcare reform law—and … read more >

Economics

Protecting vulnerable consumers from the government moneylender

Alex J. Pollock | March 28, 2012, 3:00 pm

“Concerns are mounting that college students have taken on unsustainable levels of debt,” says the American Banker. Indeed. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, having pointed out that student debts now exceed $1 trillion, needs to get into action now to … read more >

Carpe Diem

North Dakota, Mining Industry Lead Growth for Personal Income Gains in 2011

Mark J. Perry | March 28, 2012, 1:33 pm

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released its “State Personal Income 2011” report today, and here are some highlights: 1. State personal income rose 5.1% in 2011 following a 3.7% increase in 2010, a -1.7% decrease in 2009 and a 3.9% … read more >

Economics, Entitlements

What will Republicans do if the Supreme Court kills Obamacare?

James Pethokoukis | March 28, 2012, 1:23 pm

Given the tone and substance of today’s arguments, it looks like there’s a decent chance the Supreme Court will not only toss Obamacare’s individual mandate (a 62% chance according to Intrade), but all of Obamacare as well. But then what? … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

The real Obama Doctrine revealed: Gimme space

Danielle Pletka | March 28, 2012, 10:59 am

I keep replaying the video in my mind of the leader of the free world running a game of three card monte with the Russian government against the American people—especially that godawful little gesture where Obama reaches toward Medvedev for an … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

Dodd-Frank and the expansion of crony capitalism

Nick Schulz | March 28, 2012, 10:59 am

Peter Wallison, Alex Pollock, and others around here have done lots of spade work analyzing the myriad problems with Dodd-Frank (see here, here, and here for example). In my interview with Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management, he highlights one … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

The model for drawing down U.S. forces in Afghanistan is Germany, not Iraq

Marc Thiessen | March 28, 2012, 9:29 am

The Washington Post reports this morning on pending drawdown of U.S. forces in Germany: BAUMHOLDER, Germany — For more than half a century, this garrison town in the rolling hills of southwest Germany has been a small version of America, … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion, Law and the Constitution

Scalia’s correct: The slippery slope towards compulsory exercise

Christopher J. Conover | March 28, 2012, 9:20 am

Justice Scalia made an interesting observation in yesterday’s proceedings: “everybody has to exercise, because there’s no doubt that lack of exercise cause—causes illness, and that causes healthcare costs to go up.” The government’s argument in support of the individual mandate … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion

The Rubio book wars

Marc Thiessen | March 28, 2012, 7:58 am

In the Washington Post this week, I report on the whispering campaign to derail the political ascent of Senator Marco Rubio. In an effort to fight back and reclaim control of his own narrative, I note, Rubio recently moved up … read more >

Society and Culture

The NSA’s new capabilities are a threat to our freedoms

Charles Murray | March 28, 2012, 7:58 am

James Bamford, whose track record on all things associated with the National Security Agency (NSA) is excellent, has a chilling article in Wired about the NSA’s newest facilities and capabilities. They are jaw-dropping. In effect, he is telling us that … read more >