Must-Reads for June 7
Northwest Herald: They know how to tax
The Illinois General Assembly hasn’t figured out how to get all its work done by the May 31 deadline. Its members haven’t figured out how to pay the state’s $8 billion backlog of late bills, or fix its failing pension systems. But the Legislature has figured out how to raise taxes.
National Review: Walker changes attitudes on public-employee unions
Even before the results came in, we knew one thing, and that is that the Democrats and the public-employee unions had already lost the battle of ideas over the issue that sparked the recall, Walker’s legislation to restrict the bargaining powers of public-employee unions.
Must-Reads for June 6
Forbes: Governor Walker's victory spells doom for public sector unions
Public sector unions have reached their high water mark. Let the cleanup begin as the red ink recedes.
St. Louis Today: 2 California cities' voters embrace pension cuts
Voters in two major California cities overwhelmingly approved cuts to retirement benefits for city workers in what supporters said was a mandate that may lead to similar ballot initiatives in other states and cities that are struggling with mounting pension obligations.
Daily Herald: How Illinois teachers got $900 million more in benefits
The teachers' pension program is the costliest public retirement program in the state, accounting for nearly half of all public employee retirement expenses in Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Pols continue gutless governing
If a suburban school board has the power to negotiate pension benefits for its teachers and staff, then the district ought to eat those costs and the members of its school board should be held accountable for any giveaways in the next election.
Must-Reads for June 5
The Washington Times: Buried by Obamacare bills
President Obama promised his health care reform law would save money and reduce costs. It wasn’t true then; it’s certainly not true now.
Chicago Tribune: Analysis - What the Wisconsin recall signals for November's elections
Looking for clues about November in today’s Wisconsin recall election? Here are a couple of key numbers that Republican and Democratic party strategists have acutely in mind.
Stateline: Troubled times at the state fair
Free-market think tanks in a number of states, such as the Mackinac Center in Michigan and the Illinois Policy Institute, have called for privatization of their states’ fairs, arguing that the fair is “not an essential function of government” and should be left to the private sector.
Must-Reads for June 4
The Wall Street Journal: The Wisconsin recall stakes
A single election rarely determines a democracy's fate, but some matter more than others. Tuesday's recall election of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is one that matters a great deal because it will test whether taxpayers have any hope of controlling the entitlement state and its dominant special interests.
The Wall Street Jouranl: California's casino budgeting
California's casino-like budget reflects its highly volatile revenue system. In good times it collects almost half its income taxes from the top 1% of the population, relying heavily on capital gains, taxed at ordinary income rates, and stock options. This exposes the state to dramatic revenue collapses during recessions and stock market declines.
