Free trade

Tariffs, after all, are paid by Americans
30
Jun
By Bob Weeks

Tariffs, after all, are paid by Americans

Action taken in April by President Donald J. Trump confirms: The tariffs he imposed on China are paid by Americans. In April, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled "Executive Order on National Emergency Authority to Temporarily Extend Deadlines for Certain Estimated Payments." It is also known as Executive Order 13916. The order is opaque: "(b) The Secretary shall consider taking appropriate action under section 1318(a) of title 19, United States Code, to temporarily extend deadlines, for importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19, for the estimated payments described therein, other than those assessed pursuant to sections…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Congressman Ron Estes
04
May
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Congressman Ron Estes

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: United States Representative Ron Estes discusses trade, FAA reauthorization and his amendment, entitlement reform, and spending. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 195, broadcast May 5, 2018. Shownotes Representative Ron Estes Congressional Website Website: Ron Estes for Congress Washington Examiner: Rep. Ron Estes: Why some Democrats are rooting for the Chinese on trade H.R. 5489: Hope Act
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Kansas benefits from foreign trade
22
Nov
By Bob Weeks

Kansas benefits from foreign trade

The Kansas economy benefits greatly from foreign trade, and we should oppose restrictions on trade. Bryan Riley of Heritage Foundation has contributed an extensive analysis of the benefits foreign trade brings to Kansas. Riley is Jay Van Andel Senior Policy Analyst in Trade Policy at Center for Trade and Economics (CTE). Riley notes three ways that foreign trade benefits Kansas: Imports provide competitive products for Kansas consumers and manufacturers. Exports benefit Kansas farmers and aerospace workers. Foreign investment supports thousands of Kansas jobs. He recommends: "The state’s congressional delegation can best advance the interests of Kansans by opposing protectionist policies…
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Free trade is important, but may be in peril
09
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Free trade is important, but may be in peril

Robert E. Litan, a lawyer and economist and adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations spoke on “The Future of Trade Policy” before a luncheon at the Wichita Pachyderm Club August 5, 2016. Litan explained the importance of free trade and examined the trade policies of presidential candidates. View below, or click here to view at YouTube.
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Heritage Foundation’s Bryan Riley on free trade
26
Feb
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Heritage Foundation’s Bryan Riley on free trade

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Foreign trade is an important issue in this year’s presidential campaign. Heritage Foundation economist and Senior Policy Analyst Bryan Riley explains concepts that voters can use in making an informed decision. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 111, broadcast February 28, 2016. Shownotes Heritage Foundation website Heritage Foundation on Facebook Heritage Foundation on Twitter: @heritage Bryan Riley at Heritage Heritage Center for Trade and Economics (CTE) 2016 Index of Economic Freedom: Yet More Evidence of Free Trade’s Benefits Freedom to Trade: A Guide for Policymakers
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07
Jul
By Bob Weeks

The candlemakers’ petition

The arguments presented in the following essay by Frederic Bastiat, written in 1845, are still in use in city halls, county courthouses, school district boardrooms, state capitals, and probably most prominently and with the greatest harm, Washington. A PETITION From the Manufacturers of Candles, Tapers, Lanterns, Sticks, Street Lamps, Snuffers, and Extinguishers, and from Producers of Tallow, Oil, Resin, Alcohol, and Generally of Everything Connected with Lighting. To the Honourable Members of the Chamber of Deputies. Open letter to the French Parliament, originally published in 1845 Gentlemen: You are on the right track. You reject abstract theories and have little…
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12
Jul
By Bob Weeks

The candlemakers’ petition

The arguments presented in the following essay by Frederic Bastiat, written in 1845, are still in use in city halls, county courthouses, school district boardrooms, state capitals, and probably most prominently and with the greatest harm, Washington. A PETITION From the Manufacturers of Candles, Tapers, Lanterns, Sticks, Street Lamps, Snuffers, and Extinguishers, and from Producers of Tallow, Oil, Resin, Alcohol, and Generally of Everything Connected with Lighting. To the Honourable Members of the Chamber of Deputies. Open letter to the French Parliament, originally published in 1845 Gentlemen: You are on the right track. You reject abstract theories and have little…
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24
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Cost of an Obama tire job: $900,000

It's entirely predictable that trade sanctions are costly to the country that imposes them. Yet politicians can be persuaded to support them in the name of saving American jobs and getting "tough" with countries perceived to be a problem. We see this in the case of President Barack Obama and the tariffs, or taxes, on tires imported from China. Here's what The Peterson Institute for International Economics said in its report US Tire Tariffs: Saving Few Jobs at High Cost: However, our analysis shows that, even on very generous assumptions about the effectiveness of the tariffs, the initiative saved a…
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30
Mar
By Bob Weeks

In Kansas, no E-verify, please

The hope that if we can somehow stop illegal immigrants from obtaining jobs, then unemployed Americans can go back to work, is a false hope. For that and other reasons, I can't join with Kansas conservatives who support E-verify and other harsh anti-immigrant measures. The economic reality is that immigrants -- legal and not -- contribute to our nation's economy. Those who believe that illegal immigrants "steal" jobs from Americans treat immigrant labor as equal to native-born workers. But that's not the case: In many situations, if immigrant labor is not available, the jobs simply won't be done. As an…
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12
Dec
By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday December 12, 2011

Kansas budget. The Kansas Policy Institute has produced a study looking at the future of the Kansas state budget. A press release states: "It's no secret that KPERS and Medicaid costs have been growing, but many Kansans may be shocked to learn that those two items could soon consume nearly half of all Kansas State General Fund (SGF) revenue. In 1998, Medicaid and employee pension costs consumed 5.9% of SGF revenue and are budgeted at 24.2% of 2012 revenue. But, even if SGF revenue grows at a slightly-above-average annual rate of 3.5%, KPERS and Medicaid will account for somewhere between…
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