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More reasons the Montana Supreme Court campaign finance holding was wrong
As promised, here are a few more comments on the Western Tradition case, in which the Montana Supreme Court quixotically ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court’s campaign finance holding in the much-abused Citizens United case just isn’t law in Montana. * The dissenters, Justice Nelson and Justice Baker, deserve credit for faithfully applying the holding Full Text
Why Obamacare’s Medicaid Mandates are Unconstitutional
Today Independence Institute research director Dave Kopel filed with the U.S. Supreme Court a “friend of the court” brief showing why Obamacare’s Medicaid mandates on the states are unconstitutional. The brief was written jointly by Dave and me. This is one of two amicus curiae briefs the Independence Institute will file in the Obamacare case. Full Text
Gallik Resigns
I imagine it was something along the lines of “For $57,000 a year, who needs this sh*t…” Full Text
Commissioner of Political Practices Accused of Wrongdoing
The Tribune had a very well written and researched article today about accusations leveled against the State’s Commissioner of Political Practices, Dave Gallik. His own staff is accusing him of a variety of misdeeds. When I read it, two things came to mind. First, his staff’s primary complaint seems to be that Gallik kept his Full Text
Told You So
According to the Tribune: Chances are slipping away for the city of Great Falls to hold onto $1.4 million in deposits it kept with First Interstate Bank in the city, officials said Wednesday. * * * City Commissioner Mary Jolley said she spoke against posting the deposits at the time, shortly before she was elected Full Text
Montana Supreme Court’s Anti-Corporate Contributions Case Open to Reversal
My prediction is that if the U.S. Supreme Court grants certiorari from the Montana Supreme Court’s holding that corporations may not support or oppose political candidates, the Montana holding will be rather quickly reversed. I am not without some sympathy for the Montana Supreme Court’s position in Western Tradition v. Attorney General. But the First Full Text
The Little-Known—but Seminal—York Town Convention of 1777
The U.S. Constitution authorizes a “convention for proposing amendments” to offer amendments for ratification (or rejection) by the states. The mechanism has never been used (all amendments have come from Congress), and many people have been curious about how it is supposed to work. But that’s because they are unaware of the long series of Full Text
A Guide to US Debt
2012: “Twenty twelve” or “Two thousand twelve?”
2012 — Should that be “twenty-twelve” or “two thousand twelve?” (or maybe “Twenty-Hundred Twelve”)? Which is better? Why? Full Text
Is Obama a closet Marxist?
In a recent comment, I said of President Obama, “But when you elect someone who, if not a closet Marxist certainly acts like one. . . ” One reader responded, “closet Marxist? really? based on what?” I suppose I could just say, in imitation of Nancy Pelosi, “Are you serious? Are you serious?” But unlike Full Text
Iowa: Conservatives 3, Moderates 1
The real story in Iowa is a 75-25 split: A quarter of the vote for an establishment candidate with a background as a moderate (although running as a conservative) and three-quarters split among conservatives. Or, if you prefer, 25% for the moderate, 13% for a moderate conservative running as a conservative (Gingrich), and 62% among Full Text
Economy
A Guide to US Debt
…the “fair share.”
To “regulate” Commerce means more than to “make it regular”
From time to time I punch holes in “progressive” myths about the Constitution and the American Founding. But conservatives and libertarians have their own myths as well. One is that congressional authority under the Commerce Clause (I-8-3) to “regulate Commerce among the several States” permits Congress only to facilitate trade among the States—i.e., that “to Full Article
A Festival Of Economic Arcana
Here’s a thought to ponder (for my two readers who actually enjoy economic theory) from Arnold Kling: I say again that a genuine liquidity trap (and Hetzel shares my narrow definition) is a unicorn–something we have never seen and never will see.The Fed was very successful at bailing out large financial institutions. It was a Full Article
Why the Stimulus Failed
Rethinking The Future
I just finished reading Launching The Innovation Renaissance: A New Path to Bring Smart Ideas to Market Fast, by GMU Econ Prof. Alex Tabarrok. I can’t say enough about this very short eBook and will try to give it a review later. Tabarrok looks at the broken institutions that have stifled American innovation in intellectual Full Article
Scott Sumner On Extended Unemployment Insurance
I think Sumner’s thoughts on UI are thoughtful and instructive: OK, here’s my complaint. I don’t like the way progressive bloggers talk about this issue, for all sorts of reasons (which have nothing to do with ideology–I’m not hostile to their policy views.) There’s a suggestion that anyone who talks about the disincentive effects of Full Article
A Great Primer On The EU Financial Disaster
Russ Roberts hosts Tyler Cowen on the disaster in waiting of the EU in this week’s EconTalk podcast. It runs about an hour and it’s worth every minute of it. Both Roberts and Cowen are, as usual, non-hyperbolic and outline the problems facing the greater EU with honesty and clarity. Full Article
There are ‘people of goodwill’ on both sides…
Krugman on Unemployment Insurance
Do long-term unemployment benefits serve as a disincentive to employment? Dr. Paul Krugman thinks so: By the way, Paul Krugman doesn’t agree with me now, but he did only a couple of years ago. On March 4, 2010, he wrote that it is “bizarre” to worry that unemployment benefits reduce people’s incentives to find jobs. Full Article
Local & State Government
More reasons the Montana Supreme Court campaign finance holding was wrong
As promised, here are a few more comments on the Western Tradition case, in which the Montana Supreme Court quixotically ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court’s campaign finance holding in the much-abused Citizens United case just isn’t law in Montana. * The dissenters, Justice Nelson and Justice Baker, deserve credit for faithfully applying the holding [Read More]
Law
More reasons the Montana Supreme Court campaign finance holding was wrong
As promised, here are a few more comments on the Western Tradition case, in which the Montana Supreme Court quixotically ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court’s campaign finance holding in the much-abused Citizens United case just isn’t law in Montana. * The dissenters, Justice Nelson and Justice Baker, deserve credit for faithfully applying the holding [Read More]
- Why Obamacare’s Medicaid Mandates are Unconstitutional
- Commissioner of Political Practices Accused of Wrongdoing
- Montana Supreme Court’s Anti-Corporate Contributions Case Open to Reversal
- The Little-Known—but Seminal—York Town Convention of 1777
- TV Clip on Current Interest in the Constitution — Fun Viewing (if you’re a wonk!)
Culture
The Little-Known—but Seminal—York Town Convention of 1777
The U.S. Constitution authorizes a “convention for proposing amendments” to offer amendments for ratification (or rejection) by the states. The mechanism has never been used (all amendments have come from Congress), and many people have been curious about how it is supposed to work. But that’s because they are unaware of the long series of [Read More]