Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
By One Measure, 95.5 Million Are Dependent on the Federal Government
How many people are dependent on the federal government? That’s a hard nut to crack. Counting people who rely on the government to sustain their lifestyles is more complicated than simply counting up the number of dependency program enrollees. If you did that, people on the rolls of more than one program at a time… -
opinion
Top Government Waste Examples From ‘The Farce Awakens’
To coincide with the release of the much-anticipated film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., has released a new waste book highlighting “100 examples of egregious, outrageous and unnecessary government spending” with a Star Wars theme. Wastebook: The Farce Awakens – has complied examples of wasteful government spending totaling over $100 billion. Here… -
opinion
Cartoon: An Omnibus Chistmas
Several Heritage Foundation researchers gave their reaction to the spending bill that was announced this week: Early Wednesday morning, the House Rules Committee posted text for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of the 2016 fiscal year (FY). This $1.1 trillion spending package, known as the omnibus, shows Washington at its worst. Lawmakers are being asked to… -
opinion
Have Human Rights Improved in Cuba? What a Dissident Thinks
It was one year ago this week that the Obama administration announced the United States would normalize relations with Cuba, saying the new policy would lay the foundation for democratic reform and human rights. But over the past year, violent beatings against pro-democracy activists have escalated, and the number of political dissidents being detained—over 7,000—is… -
news
‘Significant’ Step in Former Atlanta Fire Chief’s Case Alleging Unfair Termination Over Christian Views
A federal judge denied Wednesday the city of Atlanta’s attempt to throw out a wrongful termination case brought by former fire chief Kelvin Cochran. Cochran, who has served as a firefighter for 34 years, was fired after publishing and distributing a book that addressed issues of homosexuality, gay marriage, and premarital sex from a biblical… -
opinion
Congress Shockingly Fails to Address Alleged EPA Lawbreaking
Federal agencies are probably celebrating today. They just learned there’s pretty much nothing they can do, including allegedly breaking the law, that will earn the wrath of Congress. The Government Accountability Office, the federal government’s arbitrator on the use of appropriated funds, issued a legal opinion finding that the Environmental Protection Agency broke the law when… -
opinion
A $19-Billion Congressional Accounting Gimmick
A favorite budget gimmick of congressional appropriators has reared its ugly head once again in this week’s omnibus appropriations bill, which was released on Wednesday. Commonly referred to as CHIMPs, Changes in Mandatory Programs are changes to mandatory spending and entitlement programs that affect current-year budget authority. Reductions in mandatory program authority are treated as… -
opinion
How Our Refugee Vetting Process Works
With several high-profile terrorist attacks around the world including Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., many have raised serious concerns about how well individuals entering the U.S. are screened. In particular, a lot of focus has been paid to the refugee process. Americans are understandably worried that terrorists might use any and all opportunities to enter the… -
opinion
The Real “Star Wars”
Thirty-three years before there was “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” there was a real Stars Wars program that changed the course of history. Here’s the remarkable and true story. In March 1982, Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner and retired Lt. Gen. Daniel O. Graham, former director of the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, outlined the results… -
news
Jeff Sessions: Omnibus Spending Bill Explains Why ‘Voters Are in Open Rebellion’
In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., voiced his concern about the $1.1 trillion government spending bill that lawmakers will vote on this week. Sessions cited these issues as most problematic: fully funding President Barack Obama’s refugee resettlement program, sanctuary cities, and the resettlement of illegal alien youths and their… -
news
Support for Assault Weapons Ban Drops After San Bernardino
Americans’ support for an assault weapons ban is at its lowest point in more than two decades, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. More than half of Americans—53 percent—oppose the federal government’s prohibiting the sale of assault weapons, the poll found. In the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown,… -
news
Would Heavier Taxes on Junk Food Reduce Our Consumption as Well as Our Waists?
Taxing sugary foods and drinks likely would impose increased costs on consumers without significantly altering behavior, researchers argued this week. Donald Marron, director of economic policy initiatives at the Urban Institute, said that unlike the tight link between cigarette smoking and worsened health, the effects of eating and drinking habits are more difficult to pinpoint. “For… -
news
Salvation Army Works Overtime to Replace Stolen Gifts
The magic of Christmas will still be alive for thousands of needy children despite the theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of presents from a Salvation Army warehouse in Washington, D.C. Lewis Reckline, area commander for the Salvation Army National Capital Area, estimates it will cost $50,000 to replace stolen items from the Angel Tree… -
opinion
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Laws: When Anti-Discrimination Becomes Discrimination
After the June Supreme Court ruling mandating same-sex marriage in all 50 states, the left has proposed sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) “anti-discrimination” laws in many states as the next item on its wish list. For example, Pennsylvania is one of several states considering adopting a SOGI law, while Houston recently rejected one. As the… -
opinion
Why Congress Must Question US Counterterrorism Policies in Pakistan
The newly appointed U.S. State Department Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Olson will testify tomorrow before a hearing of the House Foreign Relations Committee on “The Future of U.S.-Pakistan Relations.” U.S. congressional members must question Olson about the failure of U.S. policy to bring Pakistan in line with U.S. counterterrorism objectives and what… -
opinion
You Could Go to Jail for Forgetting to Register Your Drone
This week, the Federal Aviation Administration announced the formation of a new drone registry. As of Dec. 21, failing to register a drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds—roughly the weight of two sticks of butter—can land you in jail for up to three years and subject you to $27,500 in civil penalties and $250,000… -
opinion
Bowe Bergdahl Goes to Trial. What Happens Next?
The Army has decided to send Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to a general court martial, where he will face two charges: desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. There are some important facts to keep in mind regarding Bergdahl’s case going forward, as well as some unique aspects of the military justice system. The Military Justice System… -
news
Football Coach Was Sidelined for Praying. Now He’s Fighting Back.
The high school football coach who was removed from his job for praying at the 50-yard line after games filed a federal complaint today with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, arguing the school discriminated against him based on his faith, The Daily Signal has learned. “I just don’t think it’s right, what the school district… -
news
House Reforms Bring a GOP Rabble-Rouser Back to Power
Rep. Tim Huelskamp is back in the saddle. Three years after being stripped of his committee seats for disobeying House leadership, the Kansas Republican has a seat on his party’s influential conference steering committee. An outsider now inside, Huelskamp’s appointment Thursday is just the latest shakeup rocking Congress as the House moves slowly back to… -
news
Poll Finds Terrorism Top Issue in US Following Deadly Attacks
Americans on edge following the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., view terrorism as the biggest issue facing the nation, according to a new Gallup poll. Nearly one in six Americans—16 percent—cited terrorism as the most pressing problem in the U.S., surging fivefold from 3 percent at the beginning of November, before the two deadly massacres….