Author Archive for Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson

Budget Tightening in Pennsylvania—and Around the Nation
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Budget Tightening in Pennsylvania—and Around the Nation

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Pennsylvania’s new governor, Tom Corbett, has submitted his first annual budget to the state legislature. It includes proposals for spending cuts and no new taxes. In some ways, the budget is a model of what must be done nationwide. Gov. Corbett also claims that it cuts spending, but that depends on how the numbers are […]

A Tale of Two Union Disputes:
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A Tale of Two Union Disputes:

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 There are two high-profile labor disputes in the news these days. One involves Wisconsin’s public-school teachers; the other, the National Football League’s players. I mentioned this to a friend, who responded that the NFL dispute was more troublesome. The very idea of people making such high salaries possibly striking for more irked her. While I […]

Who Objects to Free Speech?
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Who Objects to Free Speech?

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Free speech has always been one of our most cherished rights. It has come under attack repeatedly by those who find it to be an inconvenient and unwanted obstacle to the attainment of their political goals. Sometimes, those in positions of power ignore the First Amendment and issue laws and regulations to silence their opponents. […]

The Debt-Ceiling Dance and the Annual Budget Ritual
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The Debt-Ceiling Dance and the Annual Budget Ritual

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Once again it’s time to talk about raising the statutory limit on the U.S. government’s debt—the so-called “debt ceiling.” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has estimated that Uncle Sam will reach the debt ceiling before Tax Day, possibly even before the end of March. Even earlier, on March 4 to be precise, the current appropriations resolution […]

Wisconsin Unions vs. Governor Walker: A Battle for the Soul of America
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Wisconsin Unions vs. Governor Walker: A Battle for the Soul of America

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It is hard to overstate what is at stake in the dramatic showdown between Wisconsin’s teachers and their Republican governor and legislature. The political and economic course of our country hinges on how the issue of public-sector unions is resolved, in Wisconsin and elsewhere. For the sake of our country’s political and economic future, Gov. […]