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Citizen's Guide to California Public School Finance
PRI Publication
By: Vicki E. Murray, Ph.D
3.31.2009
Most people think California ranks almost last in public school funding... The reality is, most state and national experts agree that California ranks around the middle nationally. To help remedy this lack of transparency, the Pacific Research Institute and Just for the Kids–California partnered to produce the California School Finance Center database.
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Why Legislators Target California's High-Tech Innovators
Capital Ideas
By: Daniel R. Ballon, Ph.D
3.25.2009
The California Assembly will soon consider proposals to “protect” residents from two of Silicon Valley’s most successful innovators. Google and Facebook help form the backbone of the state’s high-tech economy, but some lawmakers see them as a threat to privacy and security.
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Smart Policies for a Smarter Grid
Tech Policy Transmissions
By: Daniel R. Ballon, Ph.D
3.25.2009
President Obama’s vision for economic recovery centers on creating “green collar” jobs through substantial investment in clean technologies. Upon signing his “green stimulus” bill in February, Obama touted a $4.5- billion provision to “create a newer, smarter electric grid that will allow for broader use of alternative energy.”
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Putting Women's History Month to Good Use
Contrarian
By: Sally C. Pipes
3.24.2009
It’s Women’s History Month, so let’s take another look at the greatest woman of our time. We recently considered “There is No Alternative,” a book about Margaret Thatcher by Claire Berlinski, who did not know her. In the interest of gender fairness, we turn to Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady, by John Blundell, Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, who did know Lady Thatcher. As he tells it, the “Iron Lady,” tag is somewhat incomplete.
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Get Off the Lawn
Environmental Notes
By: Amy Kaleita, Ph.D
3.17.2009
A lush green lawn has a certain aesthetic appeal, there’s no denying that. If lawn was counted as a crop, however, it would be one of the nation’s biggest, but it is far from a critical need as far as water use. Yet, watering lawns accounts for nearly 40 percent – almost half – of residential water use in California.
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That Voodoo That You Do So Well
Capital Ideas
By: K. Lloyd Billingsley
3.4.2009
Before the Motion Picture Academy handed out its latest awards, and before the legislature passed the alleged budget fix, the reviews were already coming in on California. They are less than stellar but well worth attention.
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Unfair Pay Act Perpetuates Myths
Contrarian
By: Sally C. Pipes
3.3.2009
An evil, greedy company deprived a hard-working woman of her full earnings, aided by a bad court ruling and an unfair outgoing president. The United States Congress heard the victim’s cry, and came riding to the rescue with the Fair Pay Act, the first bill signed by new president Barack Obama, righting a widespread injustice and enabling all working women to live happily ever after.
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