Free markets

04
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Pickens changes his mind, again

Energy investor T. Boone Pickens has changed his mind about government subsidy of energy markets -- again. Until recently Pickens has been promoting federal legislation titled H.R. 1380: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011, or NAT GAS act. The bill provides a variety of subsidies, implemented through tax credits, to producers and users of natural gas. The goal is to promote the use of natural gas for a transportation fuel, particularly for long-haul trucks. Now, according to reporting in Politico, Pickens said about the transition to natural gas "It's going to happen, and you don't have…
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04
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Minimum wage increase not a solution

Those who advocate for a higher minimum wage law appear to have the best interests of workers as their concern. But as is almost always the case when government intervenes into markets, the unintended consequences create more harm than good. In the case of the federal minimum wage, we need to remember that this law -- as well-intentioned as it may be -- is not the solution to unemployment or raising the standard of living of workers. The great appeal of a higher minimum wage mandated by an act of Congress is that it seems like a simple and harmless…
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30
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Crony Chronicles: I Want To Be A Crony

Cronyism? "It's like having a best friend who gives you other peoples' stuff," says the young girl to the approval of her friend. We in Wichita know just how this works, and when given a chance, voters reject it. The video is a project of Crony Chronicles, which has developed into a top-notch resource for information on this harmful disease.
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29
Aug
By Guest Author

Governor Romney is right: End the wind production tax credit

U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo, a Republican who represents the Kansas fourth district, contributes the following article on the harm of government involvement in energy markets, wind power specifically. Pompeo has written extensively on energy; see Pompeo on energy tax simplification, Era of energy subsidies is over, and Free market energy solutions don’t jeopardize national security. He has also introduced legislation to end all tax credits for energy, H.R. 3308: Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act. There's been a steady drumbeat from those seeking an extension of the wind production tax credit. For many reasons, including some that former Massachusetts Gov.…
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28
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Renewable Portfolio Standard costly for Kansas

A policy promoted by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback will result in higher electricity costs, fewer jobs, and less investment in Kansas. This is the conclusion of a new study by Kansas Policy Institute and Beacon Hill Institute. The policy is Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS, which mandates that a minimum amount of a state's electricity be produced by renewable sources. In Kansas, the primary renewable source of electricity is wind. In a press release accompanying the report, KPI said "Renewable energy is more expensive than conventional energy, so government mandates are necessary to ensure that more renewable energy is purchased.…
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