EconomyCommentary
See How Cronyism Affects You—in Less Than 90 Seconds
What is “cronyism,” and why does it matter? Merriam-Webster defines it as “the unfair practice by a powerful person (such as a politician) of giving… Read More
EconomyNews
Favoritism and Cronyism Flourish in Mississippi
When a new megadeal with a corporation moving to Mississippi is announced, politicians hold a news conference, cut a cake, boast about the number of… Read More
EconomyNews
Study: Cronyism Increasingly Lucrative for Politicians and Businesses
Multibillion-dollar “economic development” deals are steadily shifting wealth from taxpayers to large corporations, state by state, according to a new study. Researchers from George Mason… Read More
Economy Commentary
Shine the Spotlight on the Left’s Corporate Cronyism Agenda
Though it was reported as news, the left’s 2014 blueprint isn’t novel – it is the same strategy they’ve employed with varying degrees of success… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Oops: The Export-Import Bank Is Actually Losing Taxpayer Money
Here’s what America is being told about the Export–Import Bank (Ex–Im), so beloved by the likes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Look Who’s Defending Washington Cronyism
Supporters of one of Washington’s prime examples of cronyism, the Export-Import Bank, are rolling out the dollars and surveys to make the case that the… Read More
EconomyNews
Hensarling’s ‘Choice’: Success Should Depend on Hard Work, Not Friends in Washington
Until conservatives undo a system that grants favors to well-connected business interests, they will lack the “moral authority” to reform a social welfare state that… Read More
EconomyCommentary
These Guys Use ‘Small Business’ to Get Their Way in Washington
Saying that something helps small businesses is a great way to gain public support for your cause. Except when it’s not true. Take, for example,… Read More
Sen. Mike Lee on Fighting for Equal Opportunity
“In this present crisis,” Ronald Reagan famously declared, “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” These words, though they inspired… Read More
Economy News
Congressman Calls Export-Import Bank ‘the Face of Cronyism’
What’s wrong with helping people in other countries buy American? Well, a lot if you’re loaning them U.S. taxpayer money to do it. As Congress… Read More
We Give Foreigners Taxpayer Money to Import Stuff from America. What?
Sen. Mike Lee will deliver a speech at The Heritage Foundation on Wednesday, April 30 at 12:30 ET to discuss how “conservative anti-cronyism reform is… Read More
Housing Finance: Fannie–Freddie 2.0
Josh Rosner, who in Reckless Endangerment (2011) exposed the cronyism of Fannie Mae and warned of a meltdown of the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) as far… Read More
Inequality Starts at the Top
President Obama has vowed to spend his remaining years battling against income inequality. He’s proposing, among other solutions, a national minimum wage. But Washington, D.C.,… Read More
New Jersey’s New Dealership Regulations Push Out Tesla, Prevent Competition
In a move that is blatantly anti-competitive and anti-consumer, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) enacted regulations that, beginning April 1, would prohibit non-franchised,… Read More
Happy Halloween: Candy-Crushing Cronyism
This Halloween, millions of Americans will, as every year, be handing out candy. But this year, the real trick could be finding treats made in… Read More
Political Football Commercials? Just Be Glad You’re Not in Argentina
The Obama Administration wanted to advertise Obamacare during NFL games this fall, but the NFL turned them down (although some individual teams have agreed to… Read More
Are These Senators Regretting Their Export-Import Bank Votes?
For some lawmakers, corporate welfare is okay, unless it hurts someone in their district. Four lawmakers from Minnesota and Michigan are up in arms over… Read More
Fueling Cronyism
No one knows how much ethanol Americans would use if the fuel didn’t receive preferential treatment. Would we use any at all? We do know… Read More
BrandUSA: Senate Immigration Bill Extends Wasteful, Flawed Program
On Thursday, the Senate will vote on S. 744, a highly flawed comprehensive immigration “reform” bill. As is often the case with comprehensive bills, S…. Read More
Cronyism: Companies like Amazon, Craigslist Use Government to Crush Competition
People line up to go to the Apple store, but can’t stand waiting in line at the DMV. That’s because consumers love good products and… Read More
Morning Bell: The Ugly Facts About the Internet Sales Tax
The Internet sales tax passed the Senate, but a growing chorus is pointing out that it would hurt many to help the tax man. The… Read More
How Do Nations Succeed? With Economic Freedom
It’s often easy to forget where we’ve been on the journey to where we’re going. In America, the foundation of our society and the source… Read More
Electric Cars and Crony Federalism
Competition is good—but only when it encourages a “race to the top.” That’s true in business and among the states as well. Competition can encourage… Read More
Economic Freedom Key to Unlocking a Prosperous Arab Future
In the latest issue of the journal Democracy, Michael Wahid Hanna identifies Seven Pillars of the Arab Future. First on his list: economic growth and… Read More
Unsweetening Cronyism
The law of supply and demand cannot be revoked. But it is being amended slightly, and we’re all paying the price. In this case, for… Read More
Making Death Cost Less
Some people bury themselves in their work. At Saint Joseph Abbey in southern Louisiana, burying is the work. Monks at Saint Joseph make inexpensive caskets—and… Read More
DOE Sitting on Taxpayer Dollars Due to Negative Publicity
Despite billions of dollars in unused loan authority remaining under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office, negative publicity surrounding the loan guarantee programs… Read More
Death of Chavez Could Resurrect Economic Freedom in Venezuela
Although Hugo Chavez just died last week in Caracas, economic freedom predeceased him in Venezuela by at least a decade. When Chavez took power in… Read More
Morning Bell: Fighting Government Cronyism with an Opportunity Agenda
Would you like a raise? For some workers, cronyism prevents receiving raises in pay. In early 2011, a Giant Eagle supermarket in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, wanted… Read More
Feds Investigate Stimulus-Backed Solar Companies With Political Ties
Three solar companies are under investigation for potentially inflating costs in order to draw down more money from a stimulus-funded loan program. All three boast… Read More
