The National Center for Policy Analysis is on the cutting edge of public policy reform. We are educating policymakers, the media, and the general public about reforms that would give patients greater control over their health care, allow individuals to own their own retirement funds, use economic principles in constructing environmental policy, and make taxes fairer and simpler. Here are just a few recent developments:

Social Security reform. In the last few months, Prof. Thomas Saving, Dr. Estelle James, and I all testified in separate hearings before the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss Social Security reform. I also traveled with Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to make the White House’s case for reform and Prof. Saving visited several cities to meet with the media in advance of President Bush’s visits. Meanwhile, we continue to explain the benefits of reform at the local level with our Social Security outreach project, Team NCPA. We have trained more than 50 volunteers who are speaking to civic organizations, writing editorials and speaking on radio talk shows. Read more about our Social Security reform effort at www.teamncpa.org.

Healthcare. In May, we released Devon Herrick’s groundbreaking new study on consumer-driven healthcare. Empowered patients ask more questions, seek out information on the Internet, treat themselves whenever possible with drugstore products, and discuss and scrutinize their doctor’s recommendations. The message: when patients are empowered to make choices about their own healthcare, the result is more efficient and higher quality care.

Tax Reform. A new study I did with Prof. Laurence Kotlikoff uses state-of-the-art modeling to analyze the effects of a switch from an income tax to a consumption tax (either a flat tax, sales tax, or value-added tax). One especially interesting finding: if we eliminated all deductibles, exceptions, and exclusions, we could reform the personal and corporate income tax with an 11% flat tax. With expected efficiencies, we would need no more than the biblical tithe.

2005 Hatton W. Sumners Distinguished Lecture Series. Almost two thousand businesspeople, members of the media, and students have attended these luncheons. Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsCarole Keeton Strayhorn, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, Fox News managing editor Brit Hume and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison ( R- TX) have each headlined events this year. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris will speak on October 25 at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Looking ahead, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has agreed to speak in the Fall and legendary newsman Walter Cronkite will speak on March 2, 2006.

Find out more about all NCPA second-quarter activities in the attached report. We could not have done any of this without your help.

Warm regards,

John Goodman
President

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