FreedomTalks

Arizona’s Supreme Court made an important ruling yesterday in rejecting Tempe’s special action in Tempe v. Valentine. The city of Tempe wished to condemn private land in order to build a shopping mall under the rouse of “public use.” There have been numerous cases across the country since the Kelo v New London ruling which stated “public use” equated to greater economic development. This dangerous ruling was commented on in dissent by Justice O’Connor when she said, “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”

Dr. Wayne Brough, FreedomWorks’ Vice President of Research and Chief Economist, appeared on CNBC’s On the Money yesterday, November 29th, 2005. Debating the need for telecom reform, Dr. Brough advocated for opening the industry up to competition, and the advantages this lends to consumers. With the boon of services now becoming available, cable television […]

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights or TABOR is a pretty straight-forward proposal being pushed through the State Legislature. It will ensure the government grows at a reasonable level by allowing growth at the rate of a population increase plus inflation. Currently state governments are spending exurbanite amounts, and kowtowing to special interests (or those groups […]

This article was originally posted on the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs website on 11/23/2005.
To see the entire article, visit http://www.ocpathink.org/blog.asp#843
Oklahoma Labor Union: See a TABOR Petitioner? Call Security!
Posted To OCPA Blog By Brandon Dutcher
Oklahoma’s organized left is now officially panic-stricken regarding the proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Oklahoma. One indication: an e-mail […]

Hello, Hello, Hello….
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

These are the opening lines to Pink Floyd’s 1979 rock classic “Comfortably Numb”, but can be referred to as the new theme song for Congress. During a term when spending has spiraled out of control and we are wasting $24 billion in highway pork this year, and where there was arm twisting and a 2 am House session to slow the growth of government from 7.6% to 7.3%. It is easy for us to ask our representatives, “Is there anybody in there?” Congressman have chosen to restrict themselves from standing up for their principles, and declined into a state of being “comfortably numb” That is the only explanation I can ascertain from the body’s inability to transfer funds from 2 superfluous Alaskan Bridges to help offset the reconstruction costs in the Gulf highway structure. This state of mind allows them the ability to be impervious to reason, and disillusioned from (hopefully) their true reason of going to Capital Hill, to serve their constituents.

GM announced yesterday it will lay off 30,000 workers. Before pressing the panic button, we should first examine the entire US auto industry. In a Wall Street Journal Editorial titled A Tale of Two Industries it contrasts the flight of Detroit’s Big Three, to the emergence of the foreign Big Three ( Honda, Nissan, […]

Columbus votes no on annexation
Chris Dailey
November 18, 2005
Opponents of a proposed annexation by Columbus were smiling Tuesday night.
Mayor Kathleen McMillian ended months of heated debate when she provided a tie-breaking vote Tuesday to defeat the annexation that would have added about 254 acres and 360 residents to the town.
Council members Richard Hall and Tommy Melton […]

China Daily is reporting that the Communist government has decided not to impose a death tax. The article also mentions that Hong Kong recently voted to get rid of its death tax early next year. This will surely strengthen Hong Kong’s status as the most economically free country in the world, as determined […]

After not being able to get enough votes to pass the modest spending restraint Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 last week, the Republican majority pushed it through last night with a narrow 217-215 margin. Joining 200 Democrats and one independent in voting against the bill were the following 14 Republicans:
Gerlach, J. (PA-06)
Johnson, N. (CT-05)
Johnson, […]

In the last few weeks there have multiple articles, evening news reports, and instances of political posturing in regard to the oil executives and their quarterly profits. The Washington Post ran an article saying, “Senate Democrats want a temporary windfall profits tax, and some consumer groups say the profits should go to build new […]