John LaPlante

John R. LaPlante is the managing editor of both the StateHouseCall blog and the State Policy Blog. Mr. LaPlante has written on a range of public policy issues since 1998, including health care and education. His writing credits include the Detroit News, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Saint Paul Legal Ledger, and the Wichita Eagle. He holds an M.A. in political science from The Ohio State University.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Tax-Eating Chambers of Commerce 

Pro-taxpayer? Not quite.

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

One commonly held belief about politics is that business groups oppose the growth of government. The truth is quite the opposite, however.

The Oklahoma Council of Public recently published an article by Stephen Moore, who argues that "many chambers of commerce on the state" have become ... more »»

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Part-time Legislator, Full-Time Pension 

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

It's good to be king. It may even be good enough to be a part-time politician.

Kentucky's government is $12 billion behind where it should be in funding its pensions. Promises made outstrip current funding.

Jim Waters, director of policy and communications for the more »»

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Why Not Freedom? 

Filed As:  Health Care

Here's a blog you should be looking at in the health care debate: Cato-at-liberty. While the blog covers many different topics, you can look at just health care if you'd like.

It is a proponent of the Anti-Universal ... more »»

Monday, August 20, 2007

Bridge Failure and Political Failure 

Rush to raise taxes may be pointless

Filed As:  Budget and Tax, Events, Transportation

While officials are still looking for the last body presumed to be in the Mississippi River after the collapse of the I-35W bridge, talk in Minnesota is how much--or perhaps whether--the gas tax will be increased.

In a special column I wrote for the Minneapolis-based more »»

Friday, August 10, 2007

Taking the Voter Out of the Loop 

Should an unelected board set budgets?

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

No taxation without representation political patronage!

How's that for a rallying cry?

Earlier this year, advocates of the education establishment in Ohio proposed a constitutional amendment that would drastically change the way that schools are governed—and strip the General ... more »»

Friday, August 10, 2007

Socialism in One Industry 

Filed As:  Health Care

The hard left of the Democratic Party gathered recently at the YearlyKos convention in Chicago. A recent post on the subject at Powerlineblog points to the significance of health care policy: "Moreover, in the absence of any serious interest in promoting socialism (more »»

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

The UAW and Self-Inflicted Wounds 

$752 versus $10,000 per year

Filed As:  Health Care

The president of the United Auto Workers wants government to take over health care, saying that American companies cannot compete with Japanese companies who foist their insurance burdens off on the Japanese government.

Reasonable? Not quite. Start with the obvious problem of getting government into ... more »»

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Ask Less, Pay Less 

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

For various reasons, property taxes get the most public attention out of all taxes. Andrea Neal, an adjunct scholars with the Indiana Policy Review, has plenty of reason to pay attention. Her mortgage company estimated that the taxes on her property ... more »»

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Policy Podcasts 

Filed As:  General

Policy talk isn't just about the written word anymore. Several state-focused free-market organizations now offer podcasts.

I'll start with one I overlooked the first time, Buckeye Voices is produced by the Ohio-based more »»

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Will Blog for Health Insurance 

Filed As:  Health Care

The right-leaning blogosphere is filled with snark over a plan by lefty bloggers to form a union. Let me pile on.

USA Today tells the story: "In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to more »»

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