The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a report that lists per pupil spending by each state for fiscal year 2015. Take New York for example: the state spent over $21,000…
Minnesotans see much to be proud of in their economy and rightly so. But this should not lead to complacency. Prosperity isn't a given and we need to be watchful…
Our report showing that Twin Cities traffic congestion is no accident but the result of state policy continues to drive media coverage. Pat Kessler picked up the controversy on WCCO-TV,…
As price of labor went up, people bought less of it — as standard economic theory predicts. This op-ed appeared June 29, 2017 in the Star Tribune. The Minneapolis City…
Seattle's council commissioned research into the effects of its minimum wage increases. When it didn't like the results, it commissioned some more
The chairman of the controversial Metropolitan Council plans to step down at the end of July. Adam Duininck’s surprise announcement comes as the nation’s largest unelected regional government agency faces…
With individual health insurance markets melting down across the country, both the House and Senate health care bills include funding to states to help stabilize their insurance markets. This funding…
The Star Tribune peddles 'alternative facts' about Twin Cities transit
Steven Hayward has written about how liberals enjoy hiking cigarette and alcohol taxes so less is consumed but somehow totally fail to understand economic basics like supply and demand and…
This op-ed originally appeared June 24, 2017 in the St. Cloud Times. In addition to giving thanks that only the shooter was killed June 14 in Alexandria, Virginia, I suggest a…
The housecleaning continues at U.S. Bank Stadium in the aftermath of revelations of political perks handed out by DFL insiders. It’s a big house to clean, but here’s a scorecard…
Higher wages will only come from higher productivity. Trying to raise wages by dictating prices is like trying to slow your car by pressing down on the speedometer’s needle.
Minnesota routinely receives national recognition for leading the way among the states on environmental issues. But today the Wall Street Journal singled out the state for being at the forefront…
The A-Mill Artists Lofts, located along the Mississippi River, are a special “affordable housing” project of the Metropolitan Council, City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, et. al. The project is subsidized…
Minnesota is a wonderful state with many advantages. But prosperity isn't a given. Rather than patting ourselves on the back over this or that bit of data, we need to…
Property rights activists are slamming a U.S. Supreme Court case involving land along the St. Croix River near the Twin Cities that strengthens the hand of government environmental regulators nationwide.…
People often say “If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get one”. Fine. If you don't want a job at $9.50 per hour, don’t get one.
“Hate crimes” can now be directly reported via telephone in Minneapolis. Using its pre-existing, taxpayer-funded 3-1-1 service, the city launched a hotline for residents to report “harassing behaviors motivated by…
Minneapolis just became one of the first 100 cities in the world to hire a chief resilience officer. The new employee, former DFL legislator Rep. Kate Knuth, says it will…
Governor Mark Dayton prejudged the Jeronimo Yanez case hours after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, at a time when virtually nothing was known about the facts. He said: Would…
Minneapolis’ small business owners are vital to the economy and will struggle with this proposed ordinance. All politicians like Council Member Bender can offer them are empty clichés. Since when…
In the grand scheme of things – and even in much smaller schemes – two decades are not much more than a blip. So, I don’t want to read too…
Higher minimum wages hurt the very unskilled workers they are intended to help. They also hurt small businesses rather than big ones. Minneapolis City Council's discussion of the $15 per…
The effort to overturn the Obama administration’s last-minute ban on mining in northern Minnesota just reached a new level. The chairs of two key congressional subcommittees got a first hand…