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The Indebted States of America
Maria Pappas, the treasurer of Cook County, Illinois, got tired of being asked why local taxes kept rising. Betting that the answer involved the debt that state and local governments were accumulating,...
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Four Pension Myths
Public awareness of state and local governments' pension struggles is now at an all-time high, thanks to increased media attention in recent years. Though generally a welcome development, there are...
View Article20 Myths About Public-Sector Pension Plans
State and municipal governments across the United States know that they are facing a looming financial crisis because of their pension obligations. Politically popular yet financially reckless...
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The Changing Politics of Public Sector Pensions
From the 1980s until the Great Recession, the politics of public-sector pensions in most states and cities were relatively stable -- and conducive to increasingly generous benefit schemes. Since 2008,...
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Reforming Public Pensions to Protect Public Services
Americans rely on local public services to make their cities cleaner, safer, and more efficient. But, overspending on pensions and healthcare for public workers and retirees crowds out funding for...
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Pension Issues Loom Large Over Tuesday’s Elections
This Tuesday, citizens of many big cities across the country will hit the polls to vote in mayoral and City Council elections. From Detroit, to New York City, to Pittsburgh, pension issues will affect...
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The Politics of Banking
This article appeared in National Review on April 18, 2014.If you have time to read only one book about the causes of the 2008 financial collapse, read this one. You will discover that the banking...
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Public employees unions help boost state debt crisis
Federal government debt of $18 trillion represents just a fraction of America's total debt. States hold an additional $5 trillion in liability, of which $4.4 trillion represents debt for pensions and...
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A Wake-Up Call for Public Pension Systems
Teaser: A new study from Moody’s Investors Service, the bond credit rating business, reports that the level of unfunded liabilities for the 25 largest state and local U.S. public pensions is now more...
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How Obama’s Immigration Plan Could Benefit Wal-Mart
Teaser: Additional legal immigrants will bolster GoBank. If this partial foray into banking works out, Wal-Mart may yet again attempt for a bank charter of its own. And to the dismay of the...
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Government’s Choke Hold on Law-Abiding Businesses
Teaser: A disturbing Department of Justice program allows unelected bureaucrats to target law-abiding individuals and industries. Entitled Operation Choke Point, it has been in operation since 2013...
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The Secret Growing Debt Problem—An Interview with Carl DeMaio
Teaser: Jared Meyer interviewed former San Diego City Council member Carl DeMaio on March 24 on the subject of what can be done to solve the growing problem of the state and local pension debt crisis....
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Put The Squeeze On Operation Choke Point
Teaser: A controversial (and secretive) government program known as Operation Choke Point is finally receiving the negative attention that it deserves. Operation Choke Point flies in the face of the...
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Young Americans Have Yet Another Debt Burden
Teaser: Look in the mirror. Along with everyone else in America, you owe $15,052 to cover the total unfunded pension liabilities of state governments. Both red and blue states face towering unfunded...
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Proposed Retirement Investment Regulations Could Backfire on Savers
Teaser: The Department of Labor has proposed new regulations concerning financial planning for retirees. While the intent of this regulation is to increase transparency for prospective investors, such...
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Future Work Still Needed after Budget’s Disability Fix
Teaser: Passage puts the program in better condition but it will rapidly grow worse unless legislators enact further Social Security reforms in short order.The bipartisan budget bill just passed by...
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