It’s Friday!
What’s happening at the Foundation
– Mark your calendar: Saturday, Nov. 13, is the Georgia Legislative Policy Briefing, a daylong event featuring national and statewide experts on the top issues facing the state’s elected officials. Don’t miss a day of dynamic speakers and innovative ideas, sponsored by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation and the Conservative Policy Leadership Institute. Reserve your spot now to get the early registration discount. Keynote speakers include former West Virginia Governor Bob Wise on, “The Power of Digital Learning for Georgia and the Country” and the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore on, “How to Make Georgia the Most Economically Competitive State in the Nation.”
– It’s good, it’s fresh, it’s free! Have you joined the Foundation’s new Forum yet? To connect with a community of Georgians discussing the issues of greatest concern with the Foundation’s experts, register at http://forum.georgiapolicy.org/.
Quotable
– “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” – Kierkegaard
– “Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” – Benjamin Franklin
– “President Obama said he plans on training 10,000 new math and science teachers. How about teaching math to that economic team of his?” – Jay Leno
Education
– Higher education, higher prices: Tuition has been increasing at American universities faster than inflation for the past 30 years, according to the National Center for Policy Analysis. Between 1999 and 2009, the portion of average tuition and fees at a four-year public university financed by federal loans rose from less than 60 percent to about 75 percent. Institutional spending per full-time equivalent student for student services rose more than 36 percent at private research universities from 1998 to 2008; spending on instruction increased only 22.4 percent. At public research universities, student services spending increased 20.1 percent and instructional spending rose just 10.1 percent.
Economy
– What’s in your neighborhood? Fueled by the dismal economy and high unemployment, more Americans – friends and families – are doubling up, according to Census data out this week. From 2005 to 2009, family households added about 3.8 million extended family members, from adult siblings and in-laws to cousins and nephews. Extended family members now make up 8.2 percent of family households, up from 6.9 percent in 2005. Source: USA Today
Taxes and Spending
– “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” This famous quote on government’s view of the economy from Ronald Reagan is certainly appropriate today. “One out of every three dollars earned in the U.S. goes to pay for or comply with federal laws and regulations, and new policies enacted in 2010 for health care and financial services will increase this burden,” according to economists at Lafayette College. They calculate the combined federal burden of regulation and taxes is a remarkable $37,962 per household in the United States. Source: Wall Street Journal
Transportation
– Lessons for Georgia: Private commuter buses are making inroads in the San Francisco area, and researchers say public transit authorities should consider cooperating with them. “Transit agencies can’t provide every type of service out there, especially with the current budget crisis,” explains researcher Krute Singa, who this year published a 45-page report, “Privately-Provided Commuter Bus Services.” She adds: “At the same time, these commuter bus services are successful, and transit agencies should be open to what they offer, and maybe promote or incorporate some of these same services or use them as a model. These employers are using the best technology for the buses, and they’re really listening to what their employees need.” Read more in the Berkeley Transportation Letter.
Agenda 2011
– For facts, principles, innovative ideas and background on the issues, read our candidate briefing books on Taxes and Transportation.
– Visit www.gppf.org to read the Foundation’s latest commentary, “Transportation Policy shouldn’t Pay for Toll Road Faux Pas,” by Benita M. Dodd.
Have a great weekend.
Kelly McCutchen
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