Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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news
Judges Set Clock Ticking for IRS to Explain, Recover Missing Emails
The IRS has less than 30 days to detail under oath and in writing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of former official Lois Lerner’s emails and to summarize options to recover the messages, a federal judge ruled. Judicial Watch, a non-partisan watchdog group, has sought the documents from the Internal Revenue Service since last year… -
opinion
States That Adopt This Policy Have Much Better Economies
Right-to-work is back in the spotlight, thanks to the recent Supreme Court decision in Harris v. Quinn. The court ruled that Illinois home care workers cannot be compelled to pay union dues to the Service Employees International Union if those workers are not union members. This was a limited victory for worker rights against coercive… -
news
EPA Regs Likely to Kill 68-Year-Old Louisiana Peach Orchard
RUSTON, La. — Peach orchards at Mitcham Farms, near the north Louisiana city of Ruston, have survived winter freezes, droughts and dangerous hail storms. But they evidently will not survive the Environmental Protection Agency and its regulations. The family-owned business, established in 1946 and featured in tourism magazines, is Louisiana’s largest peach orchard,according to its… -
news
California Mayor Says There’s No End in Sight to Border Crisis, Concerned for ‘Safety of All’
As busloads of illegal immigrants arrive in the Southern California city of Murrieta, Mayor Alan Long spoke to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly about the brewing border crisis. Long expressed his concern for the “safety of all”—locals and migrants alike—and the “inhumane” conditions for the illegal immigrants. -
opinion
Richard Scaife: The Man of Great Accomplishment
Much has been written about Richard M. Scaife since his death on July 4. It isn’t surprising. Dick was a man of high ideals and great accomplishment. You’ll find his name prominently displayed when you walk in the front door of The Heritage Foundation, and with good reason. Dick was an early supporter of Heritage,… -
opinion
EPA Regulators Gone Wild
Following the revelation that the Environmental Protection Agency plans to garnish wages without a court order to collect non-tax debts (i.e. misused grant funds, unrepaid loans or “fines, penalties or fees assessed by federal agencies”), the EPA has sought to defend its proposed rules. The agency cites The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA)… -
news
Why Is Chase Bank Asking Invasive, Personal Questions of Employees? Santorum Responds
“It’s shocking, frankly,” Rick Santorum said today of accusations that JPMorgan Chase asked employees about their sexual orientation and whether they consider themselves “allies” of the LGBT community. “You would think that would be some violation,” Santorum told The Daily Signal in an interview after he spoke at The Heritage Foundation for the annual leadership summit of… -
opinion
Keystone XL Pipeline Decision Delayed—Again
The Washington Post reports that Nebraska’s supreme court will not hear oral arguments on the Keystone XL pipeline’s route through the state until early September, making a decision from President Obama before the November elections “highly unlikely,” according to an Obama Administration official. The original application for the pipeline was submitted in September 2008. This… -
news
Santorum Rejects GOP ‘Libertarian Strain,’ Supports Ex-Im
Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum sharply criticized efforts to abolish the Export-Import Bank on Friday, arguing that doing so would be “tying the hands of our manufacturers.” When asked about reauthorization of the institution at a summit hosted by Eagle Forum, Santorum said, “I think it’s a mistake for us to be out there… -
opinion
Fed Vice Chair Off the Mark
New Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer made headlines yesterday for suggesting that regulators should not arbitrarily start breaking up large banks, and that’s encouraging news. In a speech to the National Bureau of Economic Research, Fischer pointed out that breaking up banks would be incredibly complex and possibly futile. But Fischer’s speech includes many… -
opinion
IMF Advice Misses the Mark on U.S. Labor Market
A recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) consultation to the U.S. emphasized “raising productivity growth and labor force participation” as the first of five goals necessary to strengthen America’s economic recovery and improve its long-term outlook. Despite a correct diagnosis to plagued economic and labor market recovery, the IMF offers the wrong solutions. It’s true that… -
opinion
#BringBackOurGirls Isn’t Trending Anymore. But the Girls Still Aren’t All Free.
While the #BringBackOurGirls campaign brought international media attention to the plight of more than 250 schoolgirls kidnapped by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, very little progress has yet been made on saving them over the past three months. Nigeria’s National Council of State is now claiming that they will deliver “some good news” very soon,… -
opinion
Union Uses ‘Strong Armed Tactic’ to Bully Its Way into Tennessee Auto Plant
The United Auto Workers is threatening this week to form a “voluntary” union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. But earlier this year the workers at the VW plant rejected the union at the ballot box. Although the union says that participation would be voluntary, the real agenda here is clear and dangerous: to undo… -
news
Volkswagen Allows Union at Tennessee Plant Despite Rejection by Autoworkers
The United Auto Workers will move forward with plans to form a local union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. UAW’s announcement comes months after the union failed to gain enough support to unionize employees at the VW plant. In February, UAW lost a representation election at the VW Chattanooga plant by 86 votes…. -
news
Congressman Gets Tour of Relocation Facility for Border Crossers … With Conditions
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. More than a week after he was denied access to a federal facility housing illegal immigrants from Central America, an Oklahoma congressman finally will get to enter the building in the state he represents. On Saturday, Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., will go to the Fort Sill… -
news
Sessions: Border Crisis ‘A Direct Failure of Presidential Leadership’
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said President Obama would rather play politics than follow the law to remedy the humanitarian crisis festering at the southern border. “This is a direct failure of presidential leadership,” Sessions said Thursday at the Eagle Forum’s annual leadership conference. “I’ve never seen anything like this steadfast refusal to follow the law.” Session… -
opinion
That Study Showing Kids With Same-Sex Parents Fare Better? Yeah, the Media Left a Few Details Out.
There’s been no shortage of media coverage of a new study that purportedly shows that children raised by same-sex partners fare better than other children. “Children of same-sex couples are happier and healthier than peers, research shows,” was the headline of a Washington Post story. “Largest-ever study of same-sex couples’ kids finds they’re better off… -
news
Red Card! Government Workers Caught Watching World Cup While on the Clock
Millions of soccer fans around the world have tuned in to watch the World Cup—including some California state workers who tuned out to catch games on taxpayer time. An undercover CBS investigation caught government workers watching multiple games rather than working. -
news
Deceased Louisiana Citizens Collect Food Stamps
The state of Louisiana has been feeding the hungry … even from beyond the grave. An April audit discovered that the state has paid more than a million dollars in food stamps to feed the deceased. -
news
New Leader, Bolder Direction for American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council has tapped Lisa B. Nelson to serve as chief executive officer of the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization of state legislators. Nelson, a former Visa Inc. executive and aide to Newt Gingrich, comes to ALEC from McLean, Va.-based Ulysses Consulting, where she served as managing partner, providing counsel to nonprofits and…