John LaPlante
Friday, July 18, 2008The Education Spa DepartmentBy John LaPlanteFiled As: Education (k-12)The further away a public employee gets from the classroom, the greater the opportunity for wasted tax dollars. In Illinois, some regional offices of education have been found to offer employees inflated compensation for mileage as well as spa treatments. Check out the more »»
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Thursday, July 17, 2008Legislators Ducking a Vote on Pay RaiseBy John LaPlanteFiled As: Budget and TaxWriting on the blog of the Illinois Policy Institute, Kate Campaigne point yet another example of budgetary shenanigans in Illinois: Senator leaders refuse to convene that chamber. ... more »»
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Thursday, July 17, 2008I'm a Rebel: I Teach My Child Long DivisionFiled As: Education (k-12)The "math war" isn't dead, says USA Today, with its headline "Parents teaching 'old math' on the sly." Of course, if they ... more »»
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Thursday, July 17, 2008The Volunteer Fire DepartmentBy John LaPlanteFiled As: GeneralSummer is the time for fires, which means extra work for fire departments. In many locations, there's a lot more to the fire department than fighting fires--they're often the first "first responders." But the volunteeer fire department is a mainstay in many communities, still. ... more »»
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Thursday, July 17, 2008"I'm Proud to Have Killed Off People's Livelihoods"Filed As: Health CareIt may seem strange to oppose a smoking ban on a site dedicated to health care policy, but I'm going to try. The case for smoking bans may seem a slam-dunk. Smoking is bad for human health, though not all who smoke develop cancer or other diseases, and some people develop lung cancer and so ... more »»
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008The Troubled TurnpikeShould a corrupt agency be able to toll I-80? By John LaPlanteFiled As: TransportationPennsylvania, like most states, could benefit from a cash infusion to improve its roads. Two leading contenders involve toll roads. There's already the Pennsylvania turnpike. One option is to sell the turnpike--currently overseen by political operatives and rife with nepotism--to a ... more »»
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008The Nanny State Continues: No Trans Fats for YouBy John LaPlanteFiled As: Health CareWhatever happened to "keep your hands off my body?" I know that's from the abortion debate, but it's certainly something that would be useful to remember as governments play chef. The latest comes via the San Francisco Chronicle: "California is poised ... more »»
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008Do We Need School Districts?Three other reforms in report on education By John LaPlanteFiled As: Education (k-12)You know the story: Spending on schools soars, achievement is stagnant, and the education establishment calls for ... more money. So what other options are there? The Goldwater Institute offers four bold steps that ... more »»
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008You Will Drink Stinky Water ... and Enjoy ItOn the warpath against bottled water By John LaPlanteFiled As: EnvironmentI remember hearing, a few years ago, complaints from health officials and others that Americans were drinking too many carbonated beverages (pop, soda or coke, depending on your linguistic preference). "Water is better for you." Of course. It's ... more »»
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008Government CrowdoutGM to retirees: Turn to government By John LaPlanteFiled As: Health CareOne problem with government-run health care plans is that they tend to displace private-sector action. The latest example is General Motors, which is dropping health care coverage for salaried retirees. The ... more »»
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