One of the most insidious ways politicians expand government is by creating new programs to “solve” problems created by politicians. For example, government interference in health care increased health care costs, making it difficult or even impossible for many to...
Obamacare
Trump’s Budget: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Good Reduces spending by $48.4 billion, including $25.8 billion from eliminating programs. Increases the ability of Medicare Part D plans to negotiate for lower drug prices. Adopts a two-year penny plan to reduce no-defense discretionary spending by 2 percent per...
News Roundup 1/25/18
The Senate confirms Alex Azar as Health and Human Services Secretary. [Link] Sam Brownback confirmed as the at-large ambassador of religious freedom. [Link] Idaho looks to allow companies to offer health insurance plans that do not meet Obamacare regulations. [Link]...
How the GOP Tax Bill Bails Out Obamacare
The GOP Tax Bill has been passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, proving that Republicans are indeed capable of passing more than month-long spending extensions (if only just). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes several big changes to the US tax code--some...
Republican Tax Reform Plan: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Last month I did a preliminary libertarian analysis of the Republicans’ newest tax-reform plan. I concluded that their “Unified Framework For Fixing Our Broken Tax Code” left us with too many unanswered questions to render a verdict. Now the Republicans have issued...
Searching for a Doctor, Hair Stylist, and Auto Mechanic
In preparing for our move this coming January from our current home in metro Phoenix to our new home in metro Tucson, my wife Kim and I were recently in Tucson to find a new family doctor, a new hair stylist for her, and a new auto mechanic. These were stressful...
After Trump Order, Dems Outraged That Health Insurers May Suffer
Last week was strange. On Friday, President Trump issued a new executive order, and many Democrats and media outlets promptly denounced it. For instance, Yahoo! Finance ran with the subtle title, "Trump's Obamacare cut is timed for maximum destruction." Meanwhile, 20...
Donald Trump Begins His Inevitable Shift Towards the Dems
This week, President Trump made a deal with Democratic leadership to extend the formal debt ceiling limit by three months (though in practice, much longer). It remains to be seen whether enough rank-and-file members in both parties will go along in the House, but the...
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