Justin Katz

Meet the Unions: A Sham Commission

By Justin Katz | February 9, 2008 |

I don’t suspect that it will take long for Anchor Rising readers to figure out what group isn’t represented on the following list of folks on House Speaker Bill Murphy’s pension study group: According to the speaker’s office, the panel, when fully assembled, will include: Representatives Nicholas A. Mattiello, D-Cranston; Gregory J. Schadone, D-North Providence;…

What Harm Could Four Years Do?

By Justin Katz | February 8, 2008 |

Cliff May has a point: This year’s election will be unusually consequential. In 2006, Democrats regained control of both houses of Congress. Democrats also now hold a majority of governors’ mansions and state legislatures. The left long has been regnant on America’s campuses, in the mainstream news media, in the entertainment industry, and in the…

The Chill Up Rhode Island’s Spine

By Justin Katz | February 8, 2008 |

Legislators — even those who are trying to sound conciliatory to RI businesses — are making some scary noises: Stephen D. Alves, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, suggested yesterday that lawmakers may raise business taxes to balance the state budget. The remarks, at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce’s high-profile legislative luncheon, ran counter…

At What Point…

By Justin Katz | February 8, 2008 |

… do they get tired of their own rhetoric? More importantly, at what point does everybody start to catch on? I’m referring to the comments of Anne Nolan, president of Crossroads Rhode Island, with which Charles Bakst ended his column, yesterday: I said Carcieri is well educated and asked Nolan what she thinks his problem…

Now We’re Getting Lost Somewhere

By Justin Katz | February 7, 2008 |

I think they’re managing to bring Lost back from the dead. That is all.

Time and Money

By Justin Katz | February 7, 2008 |

My posting rate has been considerably lower this week in part because I’ve been neck-deep in statistics — some of the data purchased with our newly created expense account. We owe that luxury to those of you who’ve been so kind as to donate. That being the case, it’s worth mentioning that you have only…

A Correction to the Letter

By Justin Katz | February 6, 2008 |

Just a quick correction to letter to the Providence Journal refuting Crowley’s refutation of me: [Crowley] notes that cash handouts claim a small percentage of total state spending. This is among the Poverty Institute’s favorite talking points. He notes that such handouts are also a small percentage of our welfare system. That last sentence shouldn’t…

The Difference a Day Makes

By Justin Katz | February 6, 2008 |

In attempting to match the Crowley/Poverty Institute/ITEP argument, I didn’t include 2005 data (in part, ahem, because its availability didn’t register in my whirlwind round of data collection). I’ve modified the charts in the previous post so that the scales match. The thing to note is how much more the columns grew for Massachusetts and…

Lying Down the Line

By Justin Katz | February 5, 2008 |

Readers familiar with NEA Assistant Executive Director Patrick Crowley’s body of work are to be forgiven if they took the opening line of the letter to the editor that he’s been passing around to all the local papers — “repeat the lie, no matter how false it is” — as advice, not a complaint. Dan…

A Note on Advertisements

By Justin Katz | February 5, 2008 |

A free way (or at least consumerist way) to help Anchor Rising is to click on any advertisements that we manage to procure. More than once, if you’re so inclined. Daily, even. Just be aware of what you’re reading. We try to keep a reasonable eye out for ads of a dubious nature, but we’re…