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opinion
Congress Fattens the Federal Estate and Squashes Rural Communities
There is an old joke that a patient seeing his family doctor says, “Doc, when I do this, it hurts.” The doctor replies, “Stop doing that.” Only if Congress could entertain such simple logic. In the recently released budget it includes $372 million for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds. Additional funding for PILT is… -
opinion
Omnibus Bill Doesn’t Make Nuclear Waste Management a Priority
The House gave no additional funds for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) work to finish the review of the Yucca Mountain license in its massive omnibus appropriations bill. While it did find room to spend taxpayer money to fight international poaching of rhinos, Congress did not see fit to ensure that adequate funding is available… -
opinion
After 12 Years of TRIA, It’s Time to Let the ‘Temporary’ Program Expire
In addition to the massive spending bill now before Congress, lawmakers are preparing to vote on a third renewal of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), originally adopted as a temporary subsidy in the aftermath of 9/11. Although the program may have had a justifiable purpose following the terrorist attacks, the insurance industry today is… -
opinion
7 Tips on How to Decipher the Omnibus Bill
There are plenty of reasons to shout and pout about what’s happening in Washington this week. The congressional elves who had all year to craft, debate and pass legislation to fund the government have failed to do so. Now it’s crunch time, and they are throwing everything into Santa’s bag all at once. It’s called… -
opinion
Is the Number of States with Right-to-Work Laws About to Grow?
Eighteen-year-old Saira Blair recently made history as the youngest person elected to the West Virginia legislature. She may make history again as a lawmaker by securing passage of a right-to-work law. Currently, 24 states have such laws making union dues voluntary. After the conservative sweep in November, a majority of states may be poised to put them on… -
news
Elijah’s Story: A Video That Will Change the Way You Look at Life
The Daily Signal presents the remarkable story of Elijah Leffingwell, whose parents chose a rare surgery to save his life. We visited a world-renowned Philadelphia hospital and small Wisconsin city to chronicle the science, miracles and love behind fetal surgery. >>> Read the Feature Story on Elijah: A Life Saved Before Birth Video produced in… -
news
Elijah’s Story: 46 Touching Photos That Prove Love and Science Work Miracles
Meet Elijah—a miracle boy. This is his mother, April. His sister, Ellianna. And his father, Jason. Together, with a lot of love, science and difficult choices—they're survivors. This is Elijah in September 2012. At just 25 weeks, Elijah was partially removed from his mother’s womb so surgeons at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia could remove… -
news
Elijah’s Story: A Life Saved Before Birth
DE PERE, Wis.—Eight weeks before he was born, Elijah Leffingwell met the outside world. On Sept. 21, 2012, at 25 weeks, Elijah was partially removed from his mother’s womb so surgeons could surgically remove a tumor the size of an orange from his left lung. Midway through the surgery, his heart stopped. The doctors massaged… -
news
Busting the Myth That Marijuana Doesn’t Kill, in 1 Minute
A former adviser on drug policy to three presidents—Clinton, Bush and Obama—says, despite popular fiction, marijuana does kill. “Saying marijuana has never contributed to death or never killed anyone is like saying tobacco hasn’t killed anyone,” Kevin Sabet, president of Project SAM, told The Daily Signal after speaking at a Heritage Foundation event today on marijuana… -
news
5 Things Jonathan Gruber Said on Capitol Hill While Apologizing for ‘Stupid’ Cracks
Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber took the hot seat before congressional investigators today to address notorious comments he made about the intelligence of the American people. The economist offered up an apology, among other things, for “trying to conjecture about the political process.” Gruber testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the transparency… -
opinion
The MCC Turns 10, but Will It Make It to 15?
Seeking to emerge from its institutional “childhood,” the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threw itself a big 10th birthday party in Washington last month. The milestone provides a good point to take stock of whether the MCC has remained faithful to the core of its original mandate: ensuring that developing countries take responsibility to reform themselves… -
opinion
When It Comes to Defunding Amnesty, Congress Needs to Act Now
In the debate surrounding President Barack Obama’s immigration amnesty plan, there is increasing attention over the fact that Obama initiated his amnesty without an executive order. However, this does not alter the appropriate congressional response. Congress needs to act as soon as possible to not only refuse to appropriate new money to fund the administration’s… -
news
Ferguson Faith Files: A Journalist’s Reflection
The Ferguson I experienced was a far cry from the images we see on TV and online. Among the charred remains of businesses destroyed during the Nov. 24 riots, joggers passed while families enjoyed a mild sunny morning. I will never forget the smells that emanated with each breeze. It was a burning smell, as if… -
news
An Inside Look at the National Christmas Tree Lighting
Each year, residents of Washington, D.C., enjoy an abundance of Christmas celebrations unique to the nation’s capital. From “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Kennedy Center to the enormous wreaths hung outside Union Station, Washington offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Christmas season. Since the tradition was begun by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923, the lighting… -
opinion
Chris Pratt Gave a Beautiful Speech About the Birth of His Son
"Guardians of the Galaxy" star Chris Pratt spoke at last Friday's March of Dimes Celebration of Babies — and things got emotional as he recounted the birth of his son, Jack. Jack, now 2, entered the world nine weeks before his due date weighing just 3 pounds, 12 ounces . A photo posted by anna faris… -
news
Legislation Lets States Cut Ties Between Common Core and Federal Grants
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has drafted legislation to prohibit the federal government from “mandating, incentivizing or coercing” states to adopt the national education standards known as Common Core, The Daily Signal has learned. The intent of Vitter’s bill is to enable states to more easily exit the national standards, which more and more parents and educators… -
opinion
What the Media Are Missing in Their Obsession with Kate Middleton’s Baby Bump
The media can’t stop cooing over Kate Middleton’s baby bump. “Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Bump Touch Down in New York City,” proclaimed a Daily Beast headline. NBC’s Today.com announced, “Americans are giving the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a warm reception for their first visit to the Big Apple, where the royal couple gave… -
opinion
Watch This 100-Year-Old Teacher Explain Why She Really Hates Common Core
Madeline Scotto, a math teacher in New York City, is no fan of Common Core. “They’re making it more complicated as far as I’m concerned,” she told Business Insider derisively. “I don’t think they waited long enough for this common core to produce something outstanding so that we could say, ‘I think we should do that,’”… -
news
Why Did He ‘Flip’ on Common Core? Gov. Bobby Jindal Explains
Why did Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal withdraw his support for Common Core national education standards and tests? In the hot seat yesterday on “Fox News Sunday,” Jindal — a potential 2016 presidential candidate — explained to host Chris Wallace what led him to change his position and whether the move was politically motivated. >>> How… -
opinion
How Net Neutrality Regulations Will Harm Internet Consumers
Last month, President Obama announced his support for unprecedented “network neutrality” regulation of the Internet under Title II of the Communications Act—a step that would reclassify broadband providers as “common carriers” like telegraph and old-style telephone services. Such heavy-handed regulation, he and other advocates say, is necessary to protect consumers and innovators from unconstrained Internet…
