- In The Tank (ep204) – Climate “Contrarians” Blacklisted? Red Flag Laws - August 16, 2019
- In The Tank (ep203) – Bernie Sanders on Joe Rogan Podcast: A Response - August 9, 2019
- In The Tank (ep202) – Craziest Proposals From Democratic Candidates - August 2, 2019
If you don’t visit Somewhat Reasonable and the Heartlander digital magazine every day, you’re missing out on some of the best news and commentary on liberty and free markets you can find. But worry not, freedom lovers! The Heartland Weekly Email is here for you every Friday with a highlight show. Subscribe to the email today, and read this week’s edition below.
Left Exposed: Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a left-wing advocacy organization that spreads unscientific alarmism about environment and energy topics. It is currently bragging about being a major architect and proponent of using the federal RICO Act against executives at fossil fuel companies and nonprofit think tanks, such as The Heartland Institute. Heartland’s Emily Zanotti and Ron Arnold document the organization’s history, funding, and controversies with a new profile posted at LeftExposed.org. READ MORE
New Book! Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming
This week, Heartland released it’s newest book on global warming. Titled Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming, the book takes on and demolishes the most pernicious myth in the global warming debate: that “97% of scientists” believe mankind is the cause of a global warming catastrophe. Scientists Craig Idso, Fred Singer, and Robert Carter critique the sources of this myth and present a summary of the physical science that makes it plain beyond any doubt that there is no global warming crisis. Go to the Heartland Store now and order a copy, or become a Heartland donor and get a free copy! READ MORE
Heartland Denounces President Obama’s Executive Order on Guns
President Barack Obama’s recent executive orders on gun control, announced at a tearful press conference earlier this week, won’t reduce gun violence or diminish the real threat of terrorism, but they will continue this president’s pattern of grandstanding, using fear to advance a left-liberal agenda, and violating the Constitution. As Research Fellow Steve Stanek notes, “nationally, the murder rate is less than half what it was in the early 1990s.” Sorry, Mr. President, we aren’t falling for it. READ MORE
The Future of Social Security
Peter Ferrara, National Affairs
Heartland has produced a colorful and easy-to-read guide on how to fix Social Security so benefits promised to today’s seniors are secure and tomorrow’s seniors will have better opportunities to save for their retirements. The future of Social Security will be among the top issues in the 2016 presidential election, as government actuaries predict the Social Security trust funds will run out of money to pay promised benefits by 2029 and Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to take benefits away from seniors. Heartland Senior Fellow Peter Ferrara, who has been writing about Social Security since the 1980s, says there’s a better way. READ MORE
Featured Podcast: Corruption in Chicago Public Schools
Lennie Jarratt, The Heartland Institute’s project manager for education, and Heartland Policy Analyst Tim Benson join host Donald Kendal to discuss a report released this week by the Inspector General of the Chicago Board of Education. The report showed a disturbing pattern of corruption, ranging from record tampering to drug-related criminal activity. This corrupt regime keeps demanding more and more funding while denying parents access to better schools through vouchers and other school choice programs used with great success in other cities. LISTEN TO MORE
Greenland Wants Out of Paris Climate Accord
H. Sterling Burnett, The Heartlander
Even before the ink dried on the climate agreement developed in Paris at the United Nations’ COP-21 summit, Greenland is angling to protect its energy sector by opting out of its commitments under the accord. Greenland’s unique transportation needs, which require the use of small planes, its natural cloudiness, and extended periods of low-light conditions make reductions in carbon emissions especially difficult in the Danish country. READ MORE
Compact for a Balanced Budget
Nick Dranias, The Heartland Institute
Heartland’s new Center for Constitutional Reform has released a new booklet by constitutional scholar Nick Dranias titled “Compact for a Balanced Budget.” Copies of the booklet will be sent along with copies of Budget & Tax News to all national and state elected officials, subscribers, and Heartland donors who ask to receive that monthly publication. The federal debt is fast approaching $20 trillion, a staggering amount that no one would have thought was sustainable just a few years ago. President Obama shares the blame with Congress for the massive surge in spending that caused this fiscal crisis, and neither party has any incentive to solve it. Constitutional reform, in the form of a balanced budget amendment, is our only hope. Dranias succinctly and persuasively explains how it can be done quickly and without raising the threat of a “run-away convention.” READ MORE
West Virginia Education Chief Announces Repeal of Common Core
Bruce Edward Walker, The Heartlander
The West Virginia state superintendent of schools announced on November 13 his plan to repeal Common Core K–12 math and English standards and replace them with College and Career Ready (CCR) standards developed specifically for the state. “I am proud of the work that has occurred throughout the last several months, because this effort was generated from the bottom up, with input from our educators and community members,” state Superintendent Michael Martirano told School Reform News. READ MORE
Bonus Podcast: Florida Solar Power Amendment Is Not Free Market
James Taylor, The Heartland Institute’s vice president of external relations and a senior fellow for environment issues, joins Environment & Climate News Managing Editor H. Sterling Burnett to discuss the proposed solar power amendment in Florida. Despite what solar advocates claim, the move is not “anti-monopoly” or “free market,” but an effort to carve out special privileges and benefits for the solar power industry, to be paid for by ratepayers and taxpayers. READ MORE
For Many, New Year’s Resolution Is to End Obamacare
Justin Haskins, Consumer Power Report
High on the list of many American’s New Year’s resolutions is hope that they will be able to afford to pay for health insurance in 2016 and beyond. The failed Obamacare debacle will cause average health insurance premiums to rise by more than 20 percent in 2016. Millions of people have already lost their insurance and are scrambling to find new policies. The CEO of UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest health insurance provider, announced his company would be leaving the Obamacare exchanges, which could be the beginning of the long-predicted Obamacare death spiral. READ MORE
Taxpayers, States Win When There’s Tax Code Competition
Jesse Hathaway, The Hill
Many state governments facing budget crises are still trying outdated and failed policy ideas, such as higher taxes and increased government spending, hoping they’ll somehow work this time. Instead, they should copy tried-and-true ideas for successfully attracting residents and fostering an economic environment in which people can prosper. Jesse Hathaway, editor of Budget & Tax News, offers a summary of the Tax Foundation’s new State Business Tax Climate Index report, a state-by-state, apples-to-apples comparison of tax systems. READ MORE
