Featured

Zoltan Kesz on collectivism and racism in Hungary
13
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Zoltan Kesz on collectivism and racism in Hungary

Zoltan Kesz, founder of the Free Market Foundation in Hungary, speaks to a luncheon gathering at the Wichita, Kansas Pachyderm Club on February 21, 2014. For more about this topic, see In Hungary, the rise of nationalism and racism. View the video below, or click here to view at YouTube. Paul Soutar is the videographer.
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Rally for school choice in Kansas
12
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Rally for school choice in Kansas

A grassroots coalition of educators, advocates, parents, and Kansans came together to make the case for school choice in the Kansas State Capitol on 11 February 2014. This was the first capitol rally in Kansas' history focused on school choice. Participants included - Andrea Hillebert of Mater Dei Catholic School in Topeka - Becky Elder of The Northfield School for the Liberal Arts in Wichita - James Franko of Kansas Policy Institute - Jeff Glendening of Americans for Prosperity - Cristina Fischer of the Kansas Education Freedom Movement - Chiquita Coggs, co-founder of Holman Academy in Kansas City, KS -…
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Special interests defend wind subsidies at taxpayer cost
12
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Special interests defend wind subsidies at taxpayer cost

The spurious arguments made in support of the wind production tax credit shows just how difficult it is to replace cronyism with economic freedom. From October, 2012. We often see criticism of politicians for sensing "which way the wind blows," that is, shifting their policies to pander to the prevailing interests of important special interest groups. The associated negative connotation is that politicians do this without regard to whether these policies are wise and beneficial for everyone. So when a Member of Congress takes a position that is literally going against the wind in the home district and state, we…
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Energy subsidies for electricity production
12
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Energy subsidies for electricity production

When comparing federal subsidies for the production of electricity, it's important to look at the subsidy values in proportion to the amount of electricity generated. That's because the scales vary widely. For example, in 2010 for the United States, as can be seen in the accompanying table, coal accounted for the production of 1,851 billion kWh (or megawatt hours) of electricity production. That's 44.9 percent of all electricity produced. Solar power accounted for the production of 1,851 billion kWh, which is 0.025 percent of all electrical production. Solar power, however, received 8.2 percent of all federal subsidies, or about 328…
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Pompeo on Obama budget
09
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Pompeo on Obama budget

U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo appeared on Stossel and told the host that President Obama’s budget will leave the U.S. begging for money down the road. Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com
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Kansas school finance lawsuit reaction
08
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Kansas school finance lawsuit reaction

Following is news coverage and reaction to the Kansas school finance lawsuit Luke Gannon, et al v. State of Kansas. Press release from Kansas Supreme Court The court declared certain school funding laws fail to provide equity in public education as required by the Kansas Constitution and returned the case to Shawnee County District Court to enforce the court's holdings. The court further ordered the three-judge panel that presided over the trial of the case to reconsider whether school funding laws provide adequacy in public education -- as also required by the constitution. ... The court set a July 1,…
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We can predict the loser in the Kansas school lawsuit
06
Mar
By Bob Weeks

We can predict the loser in the Kansas school lawsuit

No matter which side wins the Kansas school finance lawsuit, we already know who loses: Kansas schoolchildren. The last time schools won a suit, the state lowered its standards for schools. Talking about school spending is easy, even though most Kansas public school spending advocates refuse to acknowledge the totality of spending. (Or if they acknowledge the total level, they may make excuses for the spending not being effective.) Advocating for more spending is easy. It's easy because the Kansas Constitution says the state must spend on schools. Parents want more spending, and so do teachers, public employee unions, and…
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Wichita seeks to add more tax to hotel bills
06
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Wichita seeks to add more tax to hotel bills

The city of Wichita wants hotel guests to make a "marketing investment" in Wichita by paying a "City Tourism Fee." This Tuesday the Wichita City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the formation of a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID). The main characteristic of the proposed TBID is that it will add 2.75 percent tax to most hotel rooms sold in the City of Wichita. The funds would go to Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau to be used to enhance that agency's marketing efforts. The tax is estimated to raise $2.5 million per year. What is the motivation…
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Special interests struggle to keep special tax treatment
05
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Special interests struggle to keep special tax treatment

When a legislature is willing to grant special tax treatment, it sets up a battle to keep -- or obtain -- that status. Once a special class acquires preferential treatment, others will seek it too. When preferential tax treatment is granted, that is, when government says someone doesn't have to pay taxes, it's usually the case that someone else has to pay. That's because governmental bodies usually don't reduce their spending in response to the tax breaks they give. Spending stays the same (or rises), but someone isn't paying their share. Therefore, others have to make up the missing tax…
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