CNN reports that cities across the nation are cracking down on abandoned shopping carts. They are fining retailers and imposing storage fees for carts the municipality collects. Some are also fining individuals who remove carts from store property, but most are putting responsibility for the great shopping cart theft on retailers. City officials argue that…
On January 9, the unesteemed Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee introduced the “Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023.” Among the provisions of the bill, an individual can be convicted of a hate crime if he publishes material on social media or elsewhere that, as determined by a reasonable person, motivate actions by a person predisposed to…
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a supporter of school choice, has suggested that rural school districts be “bracketed out” of any school choice program. While such a policy might win some support from rural legislators, “bracketing out” is unprincipled. Patrick has said that school choice is a part of parental freedom, stating that “parents deserve…
In 2015, Hennepin County, Minnesota, seized a condominium for $15,000 in unpaid property taxes. A year later, the condominium was sold for $40,000. The county kept all of the money in an act that many call home equity theft. The condo owner sued and the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled for…
Iowa Gov. Kimberly Reynolds has proposed a number of education reforms that promise more choices for parents and students. She proposes giving families the state’s share of per-student spending if they opt out of government schools. The money could be used for private schools, tutoring textbooks, and more. After coming close to passing a school…
From Britain comes an interesting, though implicit, admission that Leftists do not value the producers. Vicky Spratt, the “housing correspondent” for i (an online newspaper published by the Daily Mail), calls for a housing strike. She argues that strikes force all of us–those in power and those who take the train or use the NHS…
Early in the pandemic, Los Angeles (along with many other cities around the country) enacted an eviction moratorium. That moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month, nearly three years after it was first imposed on landlords. The Los Angeles Times opines that the city should continue existing “tenant protections” and add…
Many opponents of school choice argue that government schools are the lifeblood of many rural communities. School choice will be harmful to those communities as students leave the government school system. However, if we look at reality—what has actually happened—we get a much different picture. Florida has had a school choice program for twenty years….
The Daily Caller reports that the Ector County (Texas) Independent School District’s (ECISD) Board of Trustees has vowed to “oppose the development of voucher programs or any action similar in name or nature.” This declaration comes less than two months after 91 percent of voters in the county approved a proposition that supports parents’ “right…
On January 1, in response to rapidly rising housing costs, it became illegal for most foreigners to purchase a home in Canada. Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s website proclaimed that “homes are for people, not investors.” According to Trudeau, investors are nothing more than greedy individuals who put profits before people. Not surprisingly, nothing…
Gambling and vouchers promise to be two hotly debated topics in the 2023 session of the Texas legislature. Legislators have filed several bills to expand gambling in the state, as well as bills to create a voucher program. Texas Baptists are opposing both efforts. Interestingly, they claim that education vouchers violate religious liberty and the…
Santa Ana recently became the first city in Orange County, California to enact rent control. The city plans to create a registry of all rental properties in the city. Landlords are required to register their properties with the city and pay an annual fee. Apparently, Santa Ana public officials have been drinking the Kool-Aid of…