Category: Uncategorized
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Nice Try, Cooch
By Peter Galuszka Surprise, surprise, surprise. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has tossed out a notorious challenge by Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli and arch-conservative Liberty University to Obamacare. In a surprise move, a three-judge panel at the appeals court ruled that the two plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case and…
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The Wonk Salon, September 7, 2011
Phew, Rest Easy, Teacher Evaluation Models Still Valid after Adjusting for Missing Data Rand Corporation Educational evaluation models for evaluating teachers on the basis of student performance still stand up after accounting for the fact that the data for some students is incomplete. NYC’s Elite Exam Schools: Little Long-Term Impact National Bureau of Economic Research…
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The Wonk Salon, September 6, 2011
Helping Foster Kids Find Jobs Center for an Urban Future Half the children aging out of NYC’s foster care system don’t have jobs. The city can do more to ensure that minor wards of the state don’t become adult wards of the state.
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The Wonk Salon, September 3, 2011
Poverty Not Incompatible with Saving Urban institute The conventional wisdom says that income-poor people can’t save. This study concludes that poverty is not incompatible with saving.
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The Wonk Salon, September 2, 2011
Analyzing the Analysis of Traffic Congestion Costs Victoria Transport Policy Institute Current methods for calculating the cost of traffic congestion and the benefits of congestion mitigation tend to exaggerate both costs and benefits. Promoting Digital Learning in Kentucky Bluegrass Policy Institute Operating Kentucky’s Barren Academy, an all-virtual program for kids at risk of dropping out,…
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The Wonk Salon, September 1, 2011
Big Labor vs. the Taxpayers – A New Index Competitive Enterprise Institute In a ranking of union power in the 50 states, Virginia comes out 11th “best,” as in, least hospitable to unions. Turns out, there’s no ban on Project Labor Agreements nor a requirement for a secret ballot in union elections. Coming Up: Consumer-Operated…
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Grumpy Old Men
By Peter Galuszka Here I was, sitting in a strip mall Panera, waiting for the next electric socket to open up. It was the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and I had been without electricity since 4:35 p.m. Saturday. I have a home office, so having no power can be deadly. Plenty of other people had…
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The Wonk Salon, August 30, 2011
Issues to Consider with Health Insurance Exchanges National Governors Association Time is running out to design state health insurance exchanges. Lawmakers should give particular attention to maintaining continuity of coverage between Medicaid, CHIP and the exchanges. How Maryland Is Working to Reduce Racial Disparities in Health Care Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Maryland has set…
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The Wonk Salon, August 29, 2011
Only 10 Years Old and Homeland Security Needs an Overhaul Heritage Foundation George H.W. Bush made 43 FEMA disaster declarations. Barack Obama has issued 144 in the first six months of 2011. America has over-federalized disaster response in a way that threatens the resiliency of the nation’s communities. Less Educated Workers Still Losing Jobs Urban…
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The Wonk Salon, August 26, 2011
How California Is Losing Its Edge in Film Production Milken Institute California is losing film production to other states, along with thousands of jobs? The solution? Tax breaks, lots of tax breaks. Experienced Principals Flee Low-Achievement Schools National Bureau of Economic Research Turnover of principals is higher in schools with low achieving students. Then the…
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The Wonk Salon, August 25, 2011
Effect of Medicaid Managed Care Varies by State National Bureau of Economic Research States have turned to managed care to help restrain Medicaid spending. In Virginia the percentage of Medicaid recipients enrolled in a managed care plan was zero in 1991 and 45% by 2003. States Can Force Employers to Use E-Verify Heritage Foundation A…
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Deal or No Deal?
Lisa Provence with The Hook in Charlottesville has done some nice follow-up reporting to my inquiries into what strings the Virginia Department of Transportation is attaching to its funding of the U.S. 29 Bypass. She quotes Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton as confirming what he had told me, that he sees the project as a “test…
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The Wonk Salon, August 23, 2011
TANF Caseloads Lag the Rise in Need for Assistance Urban Institute In Virginia, unemployment has doubled since 2007 but the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) caseloads has increased only 20%. Rise of the “Disconnected” Single Mother Urban Institute The number of “disconnected” single mothers — no job, no public assistance — has increased steadily…
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The Wonk Salon, August 22, 2011
Physician-Owned Hospitals Promote Health Care Competition Texas Public Policy Foundation Physician-owned hospitals promote consumer choice, innovation, quality of care and patient satisfaction. But a provision in Obamacare has foreclosed any future expansion in this sector. Texas Tax Experiment Gone Awry Tax Foundation Texas may be experiencing an economic miracle, but it’s not due to this…
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The Wonk Salon, August 21, 2011
No Verdict Yet on Patient-Centered Medical Homes Urban Institute Patient-centered medical homes are the hot new idea in health care reform. The idea has lots of potential but policy makers should await the results of numerous pilot projects before adopting the model wholesale. Pollution Still Impacts Infant Mortality National Bureau of Economic Research Although air…