Commentaries
Aug 5, 2009
In recent weeks the American Medical Association (AMA) stepped out and enthusiastically endorsed the health-reform bill proposed by House Democrats. This sparked a nationwide flurry of criticism from health-care providers, who made it known that the AMA does not speak for them and that the bills in Congress fall far short of solving America's health care issues.
Jul 9, 2009
Prior to the July 4th holiday, David Morris penned a defense of the public sector in response to my commentary on health care reform. With Independence Day on our minds, he contended that “at the birth of the American republic, the word ‘private’ had a sinister connotation.”
Jul 6, 2009
Conservatives across Minnesota and the nation have been applauding Gov. Tim Pawlenty's decision to balance the state's 2010-11 budget by unilaterally unallotting $2.7 billion, with some enthusiasts describing it as a "real butt-kicking" of all those dastardly liberals in St. Paul.
Jun 23, 2009
If Republicans and moderate Democrats in Congress aren't careful, the only health care reform issue they'll influence this summer will be whether or not the government sets up a Medicare-style public plan to compete with private plans.
Jun 10, 2009
David Himmelstein, Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren, and Steffie Woolhandler released another controversial medical bankruptcy study. Utilizing nearly the same problematic methodology from their 2001 study, the authors conclude “62.1 percent of bankruptcies in 2007 were medical.”
Jun 2, 2009
Statement from Dr. Charles Krauthammer
about his American Experiment Annual Dinner Remarks
A number of people have asked about the availability of an audio recording or transcript of Charles Krauthammer’s brilliant remarks at American Experiment’s 2009 Annual Dinner on June 1. We’re sorry, but Dr. Krauthammer has informed us that he does not disseminate comments made at private events. He also has advised us that a summary of his speech on the Internet is “neither accurate nor authoritative.” His full statement follows. The Center regrets any disappointment or confusion.
May 11, 2009
A close reading of the omnibus energy bills in the Minnesota House and the Senate reveals that a welcome, albeit slight, policy shift may be underway in the Senate. After years of pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy at all costs, some lawmakers are finally becoming alert to the importance of keeping energy affordable.
Apr 30, 2009
Trust me, we'll get to Minnesota taxes in a moment. Amazingly, three alumni of Far Rockaway High School in Queens won Nobel Prizes over the course of 11 years: Richard Feynman in physics in 1965; Burton Richter, also in physics, in 1976; and Baruch Samuel Blumberg, in medicine, once again in 1976. There may be another nonselective public high school someplace that has produced as many Nobel laureates, but maybe not.
Apr 30, 2009
This legislative session offers a unique opportunity to set Minnesota on a more sustainable fiscal path. Long-term budget trends and a $4.6 billion deficit send a clear message: Business as usual cannot continue.
Apr 1, 2009
The late Ron Clark, my old editor on the St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial page, always resisted the temptation of responding in print to a letter writer or someone else who took exception to a piece he or someone else on the editorial board had written. He saw it as bad form for the paper, in essence, to pull rank in order to get in last words.