Keeping America on Track: Why Washington Should Reject New Railroad Regulation

Recently, two new commissioners were sworn in to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) tasked with regulating America’s railroads. While the filling of these vacancies may not have received much attention, the decisions rendered by this commission could play a major role in strengthening — or de-railing — President Trump’s successful efforts to roll back regulations. One proposal that sits before the board, widely referred to as the “Forced Switching Rule,” would undo decades of economic progress by re-regulating American railroads. In the 2019 Economic Report of the President, the administration explains how its light-touch approach to regulations has saved over

New Mexico Gov. Enacts Bold Reforms to Strengthen Nation’s Top Economy

This week, Bloomberg News reported that New Mexico has the “top performing state economy since Trump took office.” On the heels of that announcement, the good news kept on rolling for New Mexico residents when Governor Susana Martinez unveiled what are potentially the boldest series of occupational licensing reforms ever undertaken in the United States. Governor Martinez’s new executive order is a serious course correction for New Mexico’s economy. The state has among the nation’s most arduous licensing requirements, and these unnecessary regulations stifle entrepreneurship while doing little to promote public health. Here are some of the highlights from Governor Martinez’s plan:

Here’s Why Obama Can’t Take Credit for Trump’s Economic Boom

It’s pretty cringeworthy watching Barack Obama attempt to claim credit for economic growth under President Trump. Granted, one can understand why Obama feels compelled to argue this case — if President Trump sticks to pro-growth policies, Obama’s administration will stand out in history for just how remarkably dreadful his economic agenda was. I don’t think Obama wants to be remembered as the post-2000’s Jimmy Carter, so he’s getting an early start on rewriting his own history. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with “Obama-Economy-Delusion-Disorder” (OEDD), I offer this prescription of two red pills: 1) If the economy

Goodbye, Red Tape! New Mexico Gov. Joins Movement to Legalize Work

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez recently announced a new initiative that should give workers in “The Land of Enchantment” much to celebrate — reforming the state’s onerous occupational licensing requirements. Governor Martinez’s focus on this issue during her final months in office is the icing on the cake to her successful two-term governorship, and the positive impact of her policy changes will be felt long after she leaves office. In policy circles, we frequently throw around terms like “regressive tax” to describe a penalty that disproportionately falls on the poor or middle class. On that note, occupational licensing requirements are

Independence Day? Firework Laws Limit Liberty in Some States

Today, Americans across the nation will continue a tradition that was first sparked in 1777: lighting fireworks. In the earliest days of aerial explosions memorializing our nation’s birth, firework explosions were short, and lacked the variety of colors found at modern day shows. As European courts competed with each other for the best pyrotechnic displays, fireworks made their way to the thirteen colonies, and by 1776, some founding fathers considered them a necessary element of celebratory fanfare for America’s birthday. “I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival,” John

The Trump Economy Is Surging — And Americans Are Reaping the Benefits

Newly released poll data should give pause to those who doubted Trump’s tax cut and regulatory reform agenda. It’s now official: the Trump economy is doing so well that the mainstream media is forced to acknowledge it. From CNBC: For the first time since President Donald Trump took office, the CNBC All-America Economic Survey shows more than half the public approving his handling of the economy, and it appears to be having some impact on his overall job approval rating. The president’s economic approval rating surged 6 points to 51 percent with just 36 percent of the public disapproving, a

Uber Unfairness: Why Laws Punishing Ride Sharing Are Terrible Policy

This article is part of a series focusing on Lens of Liberty, a project of the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation. In her Liberty Minute titled “Can I Give You a Lift,” Helen Krieble exposes yet another instance of government regulating an area in which it has no business: Many cities have highway lanes dedicated to carpools — a simple way to reduce auto emissions and save gas. In Virginia, two sharp entrepreneurs using their own cars figured out that people would pay them to show up every morning to pick up riders. Lobbyists for the big taxi companies saw it as

Giving Patients a “Right to Try” Is the Right Move

This article is part of a series focusing on Lens of Liberty, a project of the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation. Government regulation is often imposed in the name of consumer protection. All too often, however, it backfires and ends up hurting the very consumer it intended to protect. In her Liberty Minute titled “Freedom Without Borders,” Helen Krieble discusses one instance of a regulation hurting the consumer: A charitable group called Remote Area Medical was set up in Tennessee to provide free healthcare to poor patients across the country. They found out the state had an old law prohibiting out-of-state doctors

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