• Capital Hill Testimony/Briefings/Events

• NCPA Scholars in the News

• NCPA Publications

• The NCPA has made a key addition, naming Robert D. McTeer, Jr. as a Distinguished Fellow. McTeer, currently chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a member of the Open Market Committee, will lead the NCPA's work on economic policy issues ranging from fiscal and monetary policy to tax reform. McTeer will also work periodically on education issues. The news of McTeer's appointment was reported by CBS MarketWatch, Dallas Morning News and KBTX-TV.
• Fox News Channel's "Beltway Boys," Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke, discussed the election outcome and what it means for the final two years of the Bush administration with NCPA Chairman Pete du Pont during a special post-election Sumners Distinguished Lecture Series luncheon Nov. 15 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas.
• NCPA President John C. Goodman, who is widely recognized as the "father of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)," debated the future of health care financing with Alain C. Enthoven, a professor at the Stanford University School of Business who is widely recognized as the "father of managed competition." The October 23 debate, moderated by Wall Street Journal columnist David Wessel, was a part of the Care Continuum Congress meeting in Washington, D.C.
• NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett debated "Global Warming Man or Nature," with the Sierra Club's Neil Carmen at the 50 th Annual conference of the Texas Environmental Health Association meeting in Austin, TX on Oct. 19.
• Goodman discussed the future of consumer-directed health care and health reform in general in a new Democratic Congress at the Consumer Health World conference in Washington, D.C., Dec. 11.
• NCPA Adjunct Scholar David Deming testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Dec. 6, telling the senators that "there is a bias in the media that has bloomed into global warming hysteria. As a result, the public has become vastly misinformed." Read Deming's Testimony at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/speech/2006/20061206-sp.html.

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• The Washington Post recently singled out NCPA President John Goodman for his unequaled efforts to establish consumer-directed health care. In a Dec. 28 feature, the Post noted Goodman "pushed longer and harder in Washington than anyone else to make consumer-directed health plans a reality."  The article also quoted Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), who, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, supported the 2003 legislation that cleared a legal path for the new plans, said that he was a convert to the idea years before, in part because of Goodman's tireless advocacy campaign.  "It was a long slog, but he made it and it paid off," Grassley said. "I think it's going to be one of the big directions that health care is going to move in."
• NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick told the Fox News Channel on Nov. 20 that consumers can save up to 90 percent on their prescription drugs if they simply shop for drugs the way they do everything else.
• NCPA Board Chairman Pete du Pont's Oct. 24 commentary for the Wall Street Journal's OpinionJournal.com examines what might happen if Democrats take control of the U.S. House.
• The Dallas Morning News Nov. 12 noted the NCPA's role in promoting Health Savings Accounts and cited NCPA research showing mandatory insurance will not significantly reduce the level of uninsured.
• Herrick told the Dec. 17 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that when patients are insulated from the true cost of health care, they tend to run to the doctor every time they get the sniffles.
• Goodman examined the impact this year's election will have on health reform on CNBC's Morning Call Oct. 31.
• The Nov. 24 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlighted the findings of the new book by NCPA E-Team Adjunct Scholar's Denis Avery and Fred Singer that global warming is part of a 1,500-year cycle of moderate temperature swings and that human activity has little to do with it.
• Herrick told the Nov. 8 edition of Investor's Business Daily that Wal-Mart understands many of its employees can't afford lavish health insurance coverage and are therefore providing a more affordable option.
• In a special commentary for the Oct. 22 Dallas Morning News, Goodman noted that while Texas has more medically uninsured people than any other state, the candidates for Governor are offering plans to deal with it that range from the trivial to the silly.
• Herrick told the Washington Post Nov. 30 that consumer-directed health care plans are instigating a cultural shift in the health care marketplace. This also appeared Nov. 30 in American Health Line.
• The December 1, 2006 edition of Canada's Western Standard, noted NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett 's criticisms of the British government's "Stern Review" on climate change.
• Herrick told the Oct. 20 edition of the Los Angeles Times that expanding public coverage crowds out private coverage. Moreover, millions of children already qualify for Medicaid but have not enrolled.
• Burnett told the Oct. 1 edition of Environment News that recent congressional hearings showed extensive flaws in the so-called "hockey stick" theory of human-induced climate change.
• NCPA Senior Policy Analyst Matt Moore told the Oct. 19 edition of the Dallas Morning News that while a cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits for current seniors is nice, he's more worried that absent reform future seniors will see Social Security benefit decreases.
• NCPA Graduate Student Fellow Pam Villarreal told the Las Cruces Sun-News (Oct. 1) that New Mexico has lost more economic freedom than any other state due in part to their high tax burden.
• Goodman told the Oct. 1 edition of Health Care News that t he goal of Health Savings Account (HSA) plans is to allow patients to manage their own health care dollars, not to see how much financial pain we can make them suffer.
• Goodman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Medicare is a very wasteful program that could be improved by adding a Health Savings Account. This article also appeared Oct. 13 in the San Diego Union -Tribune.
• Burnett told CNS News Oct. 11 that market realities, not conspiracies, are the reason behind the recent drop in gas prices.
• Herrick discussed opportunities for Texas to reform Medicaid Oct. 12 on the Ron Thulin Show on KAHL-AM (San Antonio).
• Herrick told Modern Health Care that New York needs to reorient its Medicaid program away from inpatient and nursing home care.
• NCPA Adjunct Scholar David Deming told the Oct. 15 Washington Times the Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) was correct to be skeptical about global warming science. Deming also discussed this column Oct. 16 on Bill Bennett's nationally syndicated radio show.
• Moore told the October 2006 edition of the Payroll Manager's Report that automatic enrollment for 401(k)s was the most important part of the new pension reform law.
• Goodman on Oct. 23 told Dallas Morning News' Pam Yip that Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have several advantages for consumers.
• Herrick told the October edition of Health Care News that medical tourism is prompting price discussions.
• Herrick appeared on the Oct. 2 edition of the Terry Lowry Show on KTEK-AM (Houston, TX) and discussed mischaracterizations of HSAs by the media.
• Burnett also discussed gas prices with CNS News on Oct. 11.
• Burnett discussed how simple economics is behind the recent drop in gas prices on WBAL-AM (Sept. 23) and Wisconsin Public Radio (Sept. 21).
• Herrick discussed opportunities for Medicaid reform in California Oct. 19 on KRXA-AM (Monterey, CA).
• On Oct. 17 Herrick told McClatchy-Tribune's Kevin Hall that Wall-Mart would be well advised to better communicate to their employees the reasons for shifting to consumer-directed health care plans and the benefits it can provide them. This article appeared Oct. 19 in the Star-Tribune ( Minneapolis, MN) and Oct. 21 is the News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), among others.
• Herrick discussed opportunities for Medicaid reform in New Jersey and Pennsylvania Oct. 18 on WOND-AM (Atlantic City, NJ).
• Moore discussed Oregon's economic freedom rating on KOPT-AM (Oregon). Moore cited the NCPA/Fraser annual report in stating Oregon's comparatively low economic freedom led to poor growth rates.
• Herrick discussed opportunities for Medicaid reform in Washington State Oct. 18 on KRLC-AM ( Spokane, WA ).
• Marking the arrival of the 300 millionth American, Moore warned that without reform to Social Security and Medicare, this new American will see a future of higher taxes and smaller benefits. Moore shared his thoughts Oct. 17 with WOR-AM's (New York, NY) nationally syndicated Henican & White Show; KDKA-AM (Pittsburgh, PA); KOA-AM (Denver, CO); KSEV-AM (Houston, TX); KVCE-AM (Dallas, TX); and Westwood One's nationally syndicated Lars Larson Show . Moore shared his warning Oct. 18 on WILM-AM (Wilmington, DE) and WKBK-AM (New Hampshire). Moore continued on Oct. 19 on the Bloomberg Radio Network; WGN-AM (Chicago, IL); KMNY-AM (Dallas, TX) and KXYZ-AM (Houston, TX).
• Gregg Bemis noted the NCPA's findings about New Mexico's economic freedom in the Oct. 15 edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican.
• Herrick on Oct. 23 told Dallas Morning News' Pam Yip that Wal-Mart's recent announcement that it's expanding its offer of $4 prescriptions for some generic drugs to Texas will enable consumers to better use HSAs.
• Burnett discussed energy subsidies in the Oct. 26 edition of the Dallas Observer.
• On October 29 Herrick told John Andrews of Backbone Radio – KNUS-AM (Denver, CO) that Colorado needs to reform its Medicaid program.
• Goodman told the Nov. 3 edition of the Washington Times that Republicans are likely to continue to promote Health Savings Accounts if they maintain control of Congress. Democrats, conversely, are likely to seek to expand government programs.
• Goodman told the Nov. 1 edition of Employee Benefit News that the tax law dictates what type of health insurance we have.
• The Oct. 29 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted NCPA research that increases in the minimum wage are likely to lead to higher unemployment and reduced health care benefits.
• Goodman explained doctor behavior Oct. 24 in a special online essay for Health Affairs .
• Herrick told the Nov. 9 edition of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel that many workers are under the misconception that employer-provided health insurance is free to the employee.
• The Nov. 13 Jacksonville Business Journal noted NCPA research showing patients are less likely to spend wastefully on health care when they are more directly in control of their health care dollars.
• On Nov. 9 Herrick told KUSF-AM (San Francisco, CA) that disabled MediCal enrollees need to be able to control the funds that pay their homecare provider and the money should follow the patient.
• Villarreal discussed the prospects of an increase in the minimum wage under a Democratic Congress Nov. 13 on the "Richmond Morning News" on WRVA-AM.
• In a special commentary for the Nov. 17 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) noted research from NCPA President John C. Goodman and NCPA Senior Fellow Gerald Musgrave that Canadians spend more the $1 billion a year on health care in the U.S.
• Goodman told the Nov. 13 edition of Modern Healthcare that the Democrats are likely to seek an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid eligibility.
• Goodman told the Nov. 10 edition of Inside Consumer Directed Health Care that Democrats are not likely to seek a repeal of Health Savings Accounts, but they won't favor their expansion either.
• In a special commentary Nov. 15 for KERA-FM (Dallas, TX) Burnett argued in support of coal-fired power plants and on how reduction of coal production could adversely affect the economy.
• Herrick told Business First of Louisville Nov. 20 that the less people are insulated from the cost of health care, the less likely they are to run to the doctor every time they have the sniffles.
• Herrick told the Washington Times Nov. 19 that the tax increase required to fund a universal health care system in the U.S. would significantly slow economic growth.
• NCPA Senior Fellow Andrew Rettenmaier told the Nov. 14 edition of the Tampa Tribune that middle-aged workers will consume, on average, more in one year of retirement from government benefits alone than they did before retirement.
• Rettenmaier told the Nov. 13 edition of the Orange County Register that funding retirement benefits for the Baby Boom generation is going to put a severe strain on workers. Rettenmaier also suggested that government should not discourage boomers from working longer. His comments were also covered by the Christian Science Monitor (Nov. 8).
• Gov. du Pont's Nov. 22 commentary for the Wall Street Journal's OpinionJournal.com notes that free trade is important for economic growth.
• Goodman discussed prospects for health reform in a Democratic Congress in the Nov. 24 edition of Investor's Business Daily.
• Goodman told the Nov. 22 Detroit News that rather than focusing on the number of people without insurance, we should focus on whether they are receiving care.
• NCPA Senior Fellow Gerald Scully told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Nov. 26 that if the federal government had just kept the tax burden at its optimum level since the 1950s, we would have had enough money to have funded all actual spending programs during that time without any public debt.
• Scully told Oklahoma City's Journal Record Nov. 22 that taxes been set at their optimum level during the past 50 years, t he average American family would have more than three times as much real income as it actually has.
• Burnett told the Nov. 11 edition of Community Development Digest that the success of the property rights/eminent domain referendum in 8 of 11 states served to protect property rights in the face of the Supreme Court's Kelo decision.
• Herrick told the Tom Hartman Show on Air America Nov. 22 that seniors could save significantly on drug costs by being smarter shoppers. Herrick echoed these remarks Nov. 13 on the Carl Wigglesworth Show on 1310-AM (San Antonio, TX).
• Herrick discussed Medicaid reform Nov. 12 on PBS's McCuistion .
• Goodman told the Nov. 27 edition of Investor's Business Daily that the U.S. needs to move to a system of personal and portable health insurance.
• Burnett discussed the 1,500-year climate cycle Dec. 2 on WEMJ-AM (New Hampshire).
• Burnett told WFWB-AM (Los Angeles, CA) Nov. 29 that Congress, not states or the courts, is responsible for instructing the Environmental Protection Agency what to regulate.
• Burnett told the Nov. 20 edition of the Clean Water Report that the U.S. Supreme Court missed a golden opportunity to provide clear guidance on wetland protection.
• Herrick told United Press International Dec. 1 that the fastest growing segment of people without health insurance are those earning at least $50,000 a year.
• In a separate story, Herrick told United Press International Dec. 1 that proof of citizenship should be a requirement for applying for Medicaid benefits.
• Herrick told the Nov. 30 Louisville Courier-Journal that the U.S. spends 7.2 percent of gross domestic product on health care.
• The Nov. 30 edition of New American notes NCPA research showing that federal Medicaid law provides incentives for states to spend in a wasteful manner.
• Herrick told Nov. 28 edition of the Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) that health care spending decisions should be made by patients.
• Burnett told Environment and Energy Daily Dec. 6 that Senator Boxer's proposal to revive the corporate environment income tax is unfair, as it often would target companies that had nothing to do with the pollution at issue.
• Deming told KTOK-AM (Oklahoma City) Dec. 10 that the mainstream media has misinformed the public about global warming.
• Deming told the nationally syndicated Mike McConnell Show Dec. 8 that there is an effort to eliminate the Middle Warm Period from science and history.
• CNSNews.com reported on Deming's Senate testimony Dec. 7, quoting him as telling Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) that the media is suffering from a mass delusion on climate change.
• Herrick told the Dec. 10 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that universal health care would be an economic disaster.
• Herrick told WRDC-AM's (Hartford, CT) Dave Thatcher Dec. 15 that Canadians wait nearly 18 weeks, on average, to receive treatment once referred by a primary care physician.

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• Medicaid takes money from poor states and gives them to rich ones, according to this new NCPA study. The study notes that some relatively well-off states get significantly more from the federal government than they should and other states notably less. Read "Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st288/.
• Some environmentalists have indicted coal-fired electric power generation as a major source of air pollution and contributor to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Yet according to this new NCPA Brief Analysis, shifting from coal-fired electric power generation to other forms of energy would have a small effect on CO2 emissions and an even smaller impact on climate change, but it would impose costs on the economy and thereby the health of Americans. Read "Economic and Public Health Benefits of Coal-Based Energy" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba573/.
• States that have lower taxes, smaller government and flexible labor markets tend to have comparatively more economic growth. According to this annual report from the NCPA and Canada's Fraser Institute that attempts to quantify each state's economic freedom, and then examine what this means for economic growth, there is good news for all but a few states, most notably New Mexico. Read "Economic Freedom of North America -- 2006 Annual Report" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/special/pdf/EFNA2006.pdf.
• As Congress continues debate over reduction and possible elimination of the estate tax, the NCPA released a new study that undermines the chief argument made by proponents of the tax – that estate taxation prevents the concentration of wealth in the hands of financial dynasties. The report shows that the contribution of inheritances to the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is surprisingly small. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senator Jon Kyl wrote a letter to their colleagues drawing their attention to this study. Read "Wealth, Inheritance and the Estate Tax" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st289/.
• Employees routinely shift costs from their employer's health insurance plan to the more generous and inefficient workers' comp system, according to this new NCPA study. Employers can't control workers' comp costs as much, and as a result, they face increasingly higher insurance premiums, which reached nearly $60 billion in 2000. Workers ultimately bear these costs through lower wages. Read "Workers' Compensation: Rx for Policy Reform" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st287/.
• The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) was intended to tax the small number of wealthy people who, in any given year, legally owe no personal income tax due to the many number of exemptions allowed in the U.S. tax code. Yet due to the nature of the exemptions, more and more people will fall subject to the AMT. This new NCPA Brief Analysis suggests Congress should create a new system that taxes everyone fairly, efficiently, and simplifies the entire tax law. Read: "The Alternative Minimum Tax Threatens Middle-Income Families" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba571/.
• Forcing developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent climate change before they fully develop their economies will lead to continued poverty and more environmental harm, according to this new NCPA Brief Analysis. Read "Constructive Thinking About Climate Change, Part II" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba570/.
• Can the problem of the growing number of people without health insurance be solved by passing a law mandating its purchase? A budding bi-partisan movement believes it can. Yet a new NCPA Brief Analysis cautions that experience with mandates in auto insurance shows mandating health insurance may not work. Read "Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba569/.
• Despite claims that there is a health insurance crisis in the U.S. , the proportion of Americans without health insurance has changed little in the past decade. This new NCPA Brief Analysis says the increase in the number of people without health insurance is largely due to immigration and population growth. Read "Crisis of the Uninsured: 2006 Update" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba568/.
• Prior to breaking for the final election push, Congress was working towards reducing the estate tax. This new NCPA Brief Analysis says when they return for their lame duck session, Congress should instead move towards a full repeal of this inefficient and economically harmful tax. Read "Killing the Death Tax" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba574/.
• Rapidly growing federal benefits for seniors are so generous they will soon provide recipients with a higher standard of living during retirement than they had when they were working, according to this new NCPA study. The study also notes that Medicare benefits will eclipse a person's Social Security benefits in just two decades. Read "How Generous are Social Security and Medicare?" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st290/.
• The U.S. Supreme Court missed a golden opportunity to give landowners, federal regulators and the states clear guidance about which wetlands are under federal control and what actions can be taken to protect and/or develop them. According to this new NCPA study, far from clearing the legal air, the highest court made the issue cloudier - all to the detriment of the environment and the economy. Read "Protecting Property Rights, Preserving Federalism and Saving Wetlands" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st291/.
• In two years the first of 77 million baby boomers will become eligible for early retirement benefits from Social Security, beginning a three decade long tidal wave that will ultimately lead to a doubling of retired workers and severely straining the nation's economy. One way to soften the blow of boomers' retirement, according to this new NCPA report, is for government to encourage boomers to stay in the workforce longer, or at least not encourage them to leave. Read "Work and Retirement" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/bg/bg162/.
• As a Democratically-controlled Congress convenes next year a likely agenda item for newly elected Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is to have Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices, similar to arrangements made by Medicaid and the Veteran's Administration. Yet according to this new NCPA study, the most effective way to lower drug costs is for seniors to become smarter shoppers. Read "Shopping for Drugs: 2007" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st293/.
• Everything you know about air pollution is wrong. According to this new NCPA study, environmentalists, regulators and journalists have exaggerated pollution levels and health risks. As a result, they have proposed counterproductive policies. Read "Fact Not Fear on Air Pollution" at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st294/.

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