• Capitol Hill Testimony/ Briefings/ Events

• Sumners Lecture Series

• On the Speaker’s Circuit

• NCPA Publications

• NCPA on Television

• NCPA on Radio

• NCPA on the Internet

• NCPA in the Print Media

• NCPA President Dr. John Goodman served as moderator of a National Association for Business Economics teleconference featuring Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) on May 17. The teleconference was sponsored by the NABE’s Health Economics Roundtable.

• Goodman testified before the House Ways & Means Committee on May 19 on the topic of “Retirement Policy Challenges and Opportunities for Our Aging Society.”

• Jason Furman of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities debated Social Security reform with Goodman in Dallas on June 10 at the Fairmont Hotel. Furman is a former Chief Economist at the World Bank, economic advisor to President Clinton and director of economic policy for the Kerry-Edwards campaign. The event was co-sponsored by the Dallas Democratic Forum.

• Former World Bank economist and senior consultant to the NCPA on Social Security, Estelle James, testified before the House Ways & Means Committee on June 16. She focused on her recent NCPA study, “Reforming Social Security: Lessons from 30 Countries” – http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st277/. You can read Dr. James’s testimony at http://www.ncpa.org/prs/tst/2005/20050616tst.html.

• Goodman accompanied Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt on a public tour of several U.S. cities to discuss Social Security reform. Dr. Goodman spoke in Philadelphia and led a panel discussion in Chicago. The tour also may visit Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas, and perhaps Kansas City.

• NCPA Senior Economist Barry Asmus this week revisited Romania. Dr. Asmus has advised political and banking officials on the country’s economy and has lectured students there.

• NCPA Senior Fellow William Conerly’s brief analysis about unemployment insurance in Chile is required reading for MIT’s graduate-level economics course in public finance.

• Fox News Managing Editor and Chief Washington Correspondent Brit Hume headlined the latest edition of the NCPA/Hatton W. Sumners Distinguished Lecture Series on April 19.

• Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) was featured speaker for the June 3 luncheon in the NCPA/Hatton W. Sumners Distinguished Lecture Series. Notice of Sen. Hutchison’s appearance also appeared in the May 30 edition of the Dallas Morning News.

• NCPA President Dr. John Goodman addressed the board of directors of the National Association for Manufacturers on April 1 about Social Security Reform.

• Goodman also addressed the Association of Private Enterprise Education about “HSAs: Can They Rescue the U.S. Healthcare System” in Orlando on April 4.

• Goodman addressed Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s 2005 Health Care Leadership Series about “Charting a Path for Our Healthcare System” on April 15 in North Haven, Conn.

• NCPA Senior Policy Analyst Matt Moore spoke to the Greater Dallas Pachyderm Club on April 26 about the need for Social Security reform. Moore spoke on the same topic at the Advent Lutheran Men’s Club on May 7 and the Brentwood Republican Women on May 9, both in Dallas.

• Goodman told the 2005 Consumer-Directed Health Conference and Expo in Chicago on May 5 and 6 that patients are increasingly obtaining higher quality and lower costs by managing their own health care.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Thomas R. Saving spoke at the May 13 meeting of the Fed Friday economic outlook and risk management forum. For more information, please visit www.fedfriday.com.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Bruce Bartlett addressed the National Council of State Legislatures symposium on federal tax reform in Washington, D.C. on May 18.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick addressed the annual meeting of the medical staff of Presbyterian Hospital about consumer-directed health care on May 18.

• Saving spoke about Social Security reform to media outlets in Rochester and Buffalo, New York last week in preparation for President Bush’s visit to the area. Dr. Saving spoke to media in Milwaukee prior to the President’s visit there on May 19.

• Goodman addressed the Mid America Medical Affiliates on June 1 about the future of HSAs.

• Saving addressed the National Press Foundation and the National Academy of Social Insurance about private retirement accounts as a way to reform Social Security at the University of Texas at Austin on June 10.

• Goodman addressed the Dallas Association of Health Underwriters on June 15 about the increasing popularity of Health Savings Accounts.

• Goodman told legislators at the National Council of State Legislators Forum for State Health Policy Leadership in Washington, D.C. on June 16 that states can never stop rising Medicaid costs unless they get control of the program.

• Saving also addressed the Manhattan Institute’s Health Policy conference about Health Savings Accounts and consumer-driven health care on June 22.

• NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett spoke about the environmental impact of agricultural subsidies at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s conference, “European Agricultural Subsidies: A New Approach,” on June 25.

• NCPA Senior Economist Barry Asmus speaks during April, May, June, and July about the effects of global events on the U.S. economy in San Antonio, Tempe and Nashville. He speaks about his book, The Best Is Yet to Come, in Las Vegas, Lexington (KY), Destin (FL) and Scottsdale.

• Facts, not myths, should be considered when appraising the role of nuclear power in the nation’s energy mix, according to a new brief analysis written by NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett and NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar Larry Foulke. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba508/

• Personal retirement accounts are one way to reform Social Security but not the only way, according to a brief analysis written by NCPA Senior Fellow and Public Trustee of Social Security and Medicare Thomas R. Saving. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba509

• This year’s annual report by the Trustees of Social Security and Medicare forecasts that Social Security will go broke one year earlier than predicted last year. NCPA Senior Policy Analyst Matt Moore summarizes their findings in a recent brief analysis. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba510/

• The future of nuclear energy is bright, especially in light of growing demand for electricity and environmental concerns about other sources of energy, according to a new brief analysis written by NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett and Larry Foulke, immediate past president of the American Nuclear Society. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba511/

• In designing personal retirement accounts in the U.S. we should avoid giving too much choice and too little of a safety net, according to a new brief analysis written by Estelle James, consulting economist to the NCPA on Social Security. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba512/

• The cost of Social Security reform is high and increases every year we don’t address the problem, according to a new brief analysis written by NCPA Senior Fellow Andrew Rettenmaier. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba513/

• When it comes to Social Security reform, what’s good for Galveston County, Texas is good for America, according to a new NCPA brief analysis. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba514/

• States need more flexibility and responsibility to curb the cost spiral in the Medicaid program, according to a new brief analysis written by NCPA President John C. Goodman and Senior Fellow Devon Herrick. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba515/

• People have more to fear from the next Ice Age than from any warming over the next few centuries, according to a brief analysis written by NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett and NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar Dennis Avery, who also is director of global food issues at the Hudson Institute. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba516/

• Warmer temperatures will benefit agricultural production and human health, according to a brief analysis written by NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar Dennis Avery. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba517/

• Unemployment insurance encourages lay-offs and does not provide a financial safety net for workers. A better solution is personal employment accounts, according to a new study written by NCPA Senior Fellow William Conerly. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st274/

• Patients are increasingly bypassing doctors and managing their own health care, according to a new study written by NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st276/

• NCPA Board Chairman Pete du Pont told CNBC’s Kudlow & Company on April 14 that money collected in the name of Social Security should be invested in Social Security through personal retirement accounts and not spent on other programs.

• Gov. du Pont told Fox News Live on April 29 that President Bush’s plan provides taxpayers more ownership and control of their retirement.

• NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett told the McCuistion nationally syndicated public affairs program (PBS-TV) that clean air is a major priority.

• NCPA Distinguished Leader and President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus discussed “From Communism to Freedom – What America Can Learn from the Czech Republic,” on the May 8 edition of McCuistion (PBS). NCPA President John C. Goodman also appeared on the program.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Bruce Bartlett appeared on CNBC on May 25 to discuss tax reform and particularly the relative merits of a flat tax.

• Burnett told the May 30 edition of McCuistion (PBS) that America’s energy policy for the 21 st century should focus on consumers. His remarks also appeared in the Gulf of Mexico Newsletter.

• Gov. du Pont told the Fox News Channel on June 6 that comparing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to a gulag is a political issue.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick told WFAA-TV (Dallas-Ft. Worth) on June 7 that patients can save hundreds of dollars on prescription drugs just by becoming smarter shoppers. His comments also appeared on KVUE-TV ( Austin) and TXCN Cable News Network.

• Herrick also told World News Tonight (ABC-TV) on June 18 that patient self-management is becoming more and more popular with both patients and some doctors. The interview was based on Dr. Herrick’s new study, “Consumer-driven Health Care: The Changing Role of the Patient” -- http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st276/. His comments also appeared on the Fox News Channel, KDFW-TV (Dallas-Ft. Worth), WFLD-TV (Chicago), WHAS-TV (Louisville), WDAF-TV (Kansas City), WGHP-TV (Greensboro), WITI-TV (Milwaukee), KTXL-TV (Sacramento), KLRT-TV (Little Rock), KDVR-TV (Denver), WTTG-TV (Washington, D.C.), WBRC-TV (Birmingham), XETV-TV (San Diego), KTBS-TV (Shreveport) and KFOX-TV (El Paso), and in the Washington Times.

• Gov. du Pont told the Fox News Channel on June 20 that any U.S. exit strategy in Iraq should wait for the country and its government to stabilize.

• Burnett told KDFW-TV (Dallas-Ft. Worth) on June 30 that the energy bill passed in the Senate will not lower gasoline prices and is not consumer-friendly.

• Burnett participated in the discussion, Energy in the 21 st Century, on the July 3 edition of McCuistion (PBS-TV).

• NCPA President John Goodman appeared on Bloomberg TV news over the Memorial Day weekend discussing the nightmare in our future if no reforms are made to elderly entitlement programs.

• On April 27, Team NCPA Oklahoma Advisory Council Member Michael Carnuccio told KNID-AM, KCRC-FM and KXLS-FM ( Oklahoma City) that Social Security reform is important for younger workers.

• Team NCPA Oklahoma State Leader Terry Neese told WKY-AM and KIOK-AM ( Oklahoma City) on April 29 that President Bush’s news conference about Social Security reform should prompt Congress to adopt personal retirement accounts.

• Senior Fellow Devon Herrick told WGN-AM ( Chicago) on May 4 that consumer-driven health care is changing the role of the patient. His remarks also appeared in the Pittsburg (KS) Morning Sun.

• Herrick also told the Terry Lowry Show on May 4 that health care costs are rising because consumers pay few of their medical bills directly.

• Senior Policy Analyst Matt Moore told WIOD-AM ( Miami) on May 5 that President Bush’s plan to reform Social Security should include personal retirement accounts.

• Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett told KFIZ-AM ( Fond du Lac, WI) on May 31 that wind power may not deliver the environmental benefits it promises.

• Team NCPA Iowa Advisory Council member and State Senator Jeff Angelo told KSIB-AM Radio (Creston) on June 20 that Social Security reform is urgent.

• Team NCPA Project Manager Sean Tuffnell told WRVA-AM (Richmond) on June 23 that bills proposed by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) are important because of the provision for progressive price indexing.

• Herrick discussed this year’s index, Economic Freedom of North America: 2005 Annual Report, on KXYZ-AM ( Houston) on July 1. His comments also appeared in the Portland (OR) Press Gazette.

• NCPA President Dr. John Goodman told Voice America that single-payer health insurance has not delivered on the promise of a right to health care. http://www.health.voiceamerica.com/

• In a special commentary for KERA-FM (Dallas-Ft. Worth), Burnett said that an odd coalition is supporting the revival in the nuclear energy industry.

• Jenifer Sarver, director of the Archer Center at the University of Texas, was Woman in the Economy for the month of April. http://www.womenintheeconomy.org

• Elvira Reyna, Texas State Representative, was Woman in the Economy for the month of May. http://www.womenintheeconomy.org

• Health Activist and Philanthropist Glenda Kane was Woman in the Economy for the month of June. http://www.womenintheeconomy.org

• NCPA Board Chairman Pete du Pont said in his syndicated column for OpinionJournal.com that the Democrats’ current love of filibuster is an odd affair indeed. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110006610

• Gov. du Pont said in his syndicated column for OpinionJournal.com a spoon full of sugar may kill the economic opportunity of free trade between the United States and six nations in Central America and undermine the fundamental concept of international trade.. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110006733

• Gov. du Pont said in his syndicated column for OpinionJournal.com that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call for a referendum to control state spending and improve standards for the state’s teachers is a bold and visionary move and deserves voter support. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/ Gov. du Pont’s remarks also appeared in the San Jose Mercury News.

• Team NCPA, the NCPA’s all-volunteer educational initiative for Social Security reform, has a new, revised Web site – http://www.teamnpca.org/. The site continues to provide the latest information in the public policy debate about reform and retains the NCPA’s unique Social Security calculator.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Bruce Bartlett told the April 6 edition of The New York Times that tax reform is urgent. His remarks also appeared on CNBC’s Kudlow & Company.

• Bartlett told the April 10 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Wal-Mart is besting other retailers because of the perception of lower prices, not through predatory practices.

• NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick told the San Antonio Express-News on April 11 that consumer-directed health insurance gives patients more choice and control over their own health care.

• Drs. Michael Glueck and Robert Cihak wrote in the April 14 edition of News Max that the NCPA book, Lives at Risk, exposes the dangerous delusions about national health insurance that corrode our medical services. The book was co-authored by NCPA President John C. Goodman and Senior Fellows Gerald Musgrave and Devon Herrick.

• Herrick told the April 14 edition of ATM & Debit News that e-debit cards that withdraw funds directly from flexible spending accounts make it easier for consumers to shop for medical goods and services.

• The NCPA’s analysis of the success of Social Security reform in Galveston County, Texas appeared in the April 17 edition of Investor’s Business Daily.

• NCPA Senior Fellow William Conerly told the Associated Press on April 19 that a move by some American companies to brand fair-trade products isn’t likely to impress American consumers.
• Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett told Texas Public Policy News on April 20 that renewable energy sources, though subsidized, are still more expensive than conventional fuels, and they are unreliable.

• NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar David Legates told the April 22 edition of Science that the basic connection between human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and observed climate changes has not been established.
• Burnett told the April 24 edition of the Los Angeles Times that discussion about a national energy bill has focused on ANWR, but there is potentially more oil offshore.

• Burnett told the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 24 that nuclear “waste” can be recycled successfully.

• Bartlett told American Health Line on April 27 that tax reform is inevitable and desirable.

• NCPA Senior Policy Analyst Matt Moore told the April 28 edition of the Detroit News that today’s retirees, near retirees and low-income workers will see no change in promised benefits under progressive price indexing.

• Team NCPA Iowa State Leader Mike Whalen debated Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) regarding Social Security reform in the Sioux City (IA) Journal on April 28.

• Burnett told the Austin (TX) Business Journal on April 29 that renewable energy sources, though subsidized, are still more expensive than conventional fuels, and they are unreliable.

• The May 1 edition of the Daily Oklahoman ( Oklahoma City) reported on a rally and march by college students from across Oklahoma in support of Social Security reform. The march, organized by Team NCPA, went from the University of Central Oklahoma to the Oklahoma City offices of AARP. The march and rally also was covered by KFOR-TV, KWTV-TV, KOCO-TV, KTOK-AM, KOKC-AM and Metro Networks (all Oklahoma City).

• Moore told the Dallas Morning News on May 1 that low-income retirees benefit from the retirement plan that Galveston County, Texas uses instead of Social Security.

• Burnett told Congressional Quarterly Weekly on May 2 that President Bush isn’t likely to push the Senate to pass the “Law of the Sea” treaty.

• Herrick told the May 3 edition of CQ Health Beat News that the number of uninsured is overstated. His remarks also appeared on United Press International.

• Team NCPA Arizona Advisory Council Member Rich Shields’ comments about Galveston’s program appeared in the May 3 edition of the East Valley (AZ) Journal.

• Burnett told the South Bend (IN) Tribune and Provo (UT) Herald on May 3 that the Bush Administration was right to reject the Kyoto climate change treaty in favor of more economically sound climate policies.

• Senior Consultant to the NCPA Dr. Estelle James’s testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services that personal retirement accounts should be part of Social Security reform appeared in the May 5 edition of Congressional Quarterly. 

• Burnett told the Washington Times on May 11 that GE’s decision to reduce greenhouse gases was made for business reasons, not environmental ones. His remarks also appeared on UPI and the World Peace Herald.

• Moore told the May 14 edition of the Chicago Tribune that levying Social Security taxes on all income brackets won’t solve the program’s financial woes.

• Burnett told the Calgary Herald on May 15 that the Bush Administration was right to reject the Kyoto climate change treaty in favor of more economically sound climate policies. His remarks also appeared in the South Bend (IN) Tribune, Pueblo(CO) Chieftan and Provo (UT) Herald.

• NCPA President John C. Goodman told the May 16 edition of the Dallas Morning News that Health Savings Accounts encourage fiscal responsibility.

• Bartlett said in the May 18 edition of his weekly syndicated column for the Washington Times that he sees a trend in reporting that there is no greater income mobility in the U.S. than in Europe, and he says nothing could be further from the truth.

• NCPA Board Chairman Gov. Pete du Pont wrote in the May 23 edition of the Washington Times that personal retirement accounts are an essential element of any Social Security reform plan.

• Burnett and E-Team Adjunct Scholar Dennis Avery debunk the claim that human-induced global warming is going to cause mass famine in the May 24 edition of the Washington Times.

• Bartlett discusses proposals to raise the retirement age for Social Security benefits in the May 25 edition of his weekly syndicated column.

• Moore told the June 1 edition of the Spokesman-Review ( Spokane) that Galveston County, Texas’s retirees are getting better returns on their retirement investments than Social Security.

• Burnett’s special column about ethanol and national energy policy appeared in the June 6 edition of the Akron Beacon-Journal. The column also appeared in the Duluth Tribune and Billings Gazette.

• Bartlett told the June 9 edition of the Washington Post that Social Security is on its last legs. His comments also appeared on C-Span.

• Herrick told the June 10 edition of the Washington Times that patients are increasingly making more of their own health care decisions as they take on a larger share of the costs.

• Burnett’s special column about ethanol and national energy policy appeared in the June 12 edition of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The column also appeared in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Akron Beacon-Journal, Duluth Tribune and Billings Gazette and on WMNF-FM ( Tampa Bay).

• Burnett told the June 15 edition of the Washington Times that producers of MTBE need liability protection.

• Burnett told the June 16 edition of the Miami Herald that both the Kyoto Protocol and the McCain-Lieberman would not prevent global warming and would have a negative economic impact.

• NCPA Washington Representative Jack Strayer told the June 19 edition of the Kansas City Star that daylight saving time has a great number of benefits. His comments also appeared in the Miami Herald and Buffalo News.

• Goodman’s paper for the Cato Institute, which was written from his new book, Lives at Risk, was quoted in the June 20 edition of the Chicago Tribune by nationally syndicated columnist Steve Chapman.

• In a special column in the June 20 edition of Investor’s Business Daily, NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar Dennis Avery said that studies of seal pups and their weaning weights reveal that California’s oceans have been cooling over the past two decades.

• Burnett told the June 20 edition of the National Post ( Canada) that elevated levels of CO 2 improve crop yields.

• Team NCPA Iowa Team Leader Kevin McLaughlin told the Des Moines Register on June 24 that Social Security reform should provide for personal retirement accounts. 

• Bartlett told the April edition of The American Legion that the Hall-Rabushka flat tax plan deserves careful consideration.

• Herrick wrote in a special column for the April edition of Health Care News that current tax laws hamper consumer-driven health care.

• Burnett told the May edition of Environmental and Climate News that there is a worldwide revival in nuclear power.

• Herrick told the May edition of Health Care News that consumers should own their own health insurance rather than rent it. His remarks also appeared in the Dodge City (KS) Globe.

• Burnett told the June edition of Environment and Climate News that since wind is intermittent, wind power plants can never be a baseline source of energy.

• The July edition of Reason Magazine will feature a review of Lives at Risk, an analysis of the failure of national health insurance to deliver on the promise of a right to health care. The book is co-authored by NCPA President John Goodman and Senior Fellows Gerald Musgrave and Devon Herrick.

• In the July edition of Environment and Climate News, Burnett applauds Florida’s new standard for listing endangered species.

• As the tax filing deadline approaches, Bartlett says in the Washington Times that taxation is a lot more important than whether you get a refund. Bartlett’s comments also appeared in National Review.

• Bartlett said in his syndicated column for the Washington Times that a media effort highlighting income inequality reads like a conspiracy.

• Bartlett said in his syndicated column for the Washington Times that tax reform is necessary even if it means finding new methods of taxation. His comments also appeared on CNN Money.

• Bartlett said in his syndicated column for the Washington Times that the current political polarization in Washington has its roots in the 17 th amendment to the Constitution.

• Burnett said in a special column on Earth Day for the Washington Times that the environment in the U.S. has improved markedly since the first Earth Day in 1970. His remarks also appeared on the South Korean News.

• NCPA Senior Economist and Team NCPA State Leader in Arizona, Dr. Barry Asmus, wrote a special column about personal retirement accounts and indexing in the East Valley (AZ) Journal.

First Quarter 2005: Report to Donors | Clip Highlights | Activites | Quarterly Reports Home