Fed

A short history of higher taxes

There is always a lot of rhetoric on Tax Day. Later I will comment on some of today’s rhetoric. In this post I will instead focus on some basic facts that are not earth-shattering, but provide some important historic context for the current tax and spending debate.

Are banks hoarding taxpayer investments?

We’re getting questions about whether banks that receive taxpayer funds from the Treasury are “hoarding” that cash, rather than using it to support lending.

Earmark reform (State of the Union follow-up)

Here’s what the President said last night in the State of the Union about earmarks:

The people’s trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks — special interest projects that are often snuck in at the…

Subsidizing Manhattan farmers

Here’s an excerpt from Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns’ remarks to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation in Nashville on August 9th.

Now you’re looking at that map and you’re saying to yourself, Mike, you’re the Secretary of Agriculture, and you’re…

Third party liability

We gave our policy views recently to the Solicitor General (who represents the Administration in front of the Supreme Court) on a case called Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific-Atlanta. The core policy issue at stake is one of third party liability, and it’s an important element…