By Andy Blom, Washington TES Editor
Oh Boy! Congress is back at work! Now we’ll see some action (kidding). Meanwhile free market policy people keep working on issues and ideas that affect America, and the world. Read on for this week’s news…
- Good News and Bad News in Trump’s Budget. At least he has one, unlike Congress. But Congress, and groups on the Left, Right and Center will have a lot to say about the President’s proposed budget. Perhaps it is most interesting in that it signals both the direction of the Trump 2020 campaign, and of a possible Trump second term. And it seeks to cut the size of government…but doesn’t begin to erase the deficit or balance the budget. So…much to study. Get started here with a thoughtful analysis from the Heritage Foundation at the Daily Signal.
- Good News from Labor. The Department of Labor, that is. Patrick Pizzella, the Deputy Secretary of Labor has catalogued President Trump’s DOL efforts to fight the administrative state and grow the economy. Targeting regulations whose good intentions never materialized, or whose burdens outweigh their supposed benefits, the DOL has taken 30 deregulatory actions in the last three years (with 0 regulatory actions) boosting the economy by over $11 Billion. And there’s more. Read the good news here.
- And Speaking of Labor, Meet Janus 3.0. The Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME ruled that nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions, the most significant court decision affecting collective bargaining rights in decades. Now comes Reisman v. AFUM, a case questioning the right to force state government workers to accept “representation” by labor unions even thought they are not members of the union. In short, do non-union workers have the right to do their own negotiating? Worker freedom is a growing and important issue and much depends on whether the Supreme Court decides to hear Professor Reisman’s case against the Associated Faculties of the University of Maine. This case would have nationwide ramifications for workers and unions. See Americans for Tax Reform’s argument for their Amicus Brief at https://www.atr.org/, to learn more.
- The Chinese Military will Crack Down on Hong Kong…When? As protests continue in Hong Kong, and local elections snub Mainland China, the question is on everyone’s mind: When will China act in force? Researchers at the Mercatus Center have used an innovative approach to anticipate the Chinese government’s plans — they pick their signals from the government’s own propaganda. It’s fascinating and a little scary. Start with the summary at the Mercatus Center.
- Policies Have Consequences 101: Sanders Wants Rent Control. One of Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders’ more under the radar policy plans calls for National Rent Control. The plan would establish a national cap on rent increases to 1.5 times the rate of inflation or 3 percent, whichever is higher. It would also establish a massive, hugely expensive and ineffective government bureaucracy, infringe on property eights, create huge administrative and legal problems and…if all past evidence is any indication…lead landlords to convert their property to condos or tenancies in common. Oh, it also seems to increase racial discrimination. Socialist Swedish economist Assa Lindbeck said, “…rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently know to destroy a city – except for bombing.” Isabelle Morales of Americans for Tax Reform has the whole story here.
Upcoming Events:
- JAY A. PARKER RECEPTION AND LECTURE. Hon. Janice Rogers Brown, Former. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Tuesday, February 25, 12:30 PM Reception/ 1:30 PM Lecture. The Heritage Foundation’s Lehrman Auditorium, 214 Massachusetts Ave., NE. RSVP: www/heritage.org/events.
- PENNSYLVANIA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. Congressman Jason Chaffetz. March 27-28. Radisson Penn Harris, Camp Hill, PA. Info and register at PALeadershipConference.org.
- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE. The Heartland Institute. May 7-8. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV. Info and register at heartland.org.
- LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FUNDRAISING, Mon. – Fri, July 20-24, Munich Germany. Info at LeadershipInstitute.org/ISF.
Andresen Blom is a Washington based policy and political analyst and author who has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, and Politico.
