March 2000

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PRI continues to impact public policy in California, the nation, and abroad. The following is a sample of PRI’s influence in March 2000.

Notables

Former PRI fellow Erin Schiller, of Georgetown University Law School, won the second-place award in the Felix Morley Journalism Competition, sponsored by the Institute for Humane Studies. Justin Matlick, a fellow with PRI’s Center for Freedom and Technology and now at the University of Chicago, took third place.

PRI President Sally Pipes spoke at a March 24 conference in Calgary sponsored by the Canada West Foundation. Sally’s "AOL’s Access Saga" appeared in the March Chief Executive and her "Real School Choices On California Ballot Offer A Litmus Test For Gore and Bush" ran in the March 24 Investor’s Business Daily. The March 29 Las Vegas Review Journal picked up "Tax Man Heal Thyself: Audit Reveals more IRS Abuse," a Capital Ideas by PRI Editorial Director Lloyd Billingsley. Lloyd’s book, Hollywood Party, was released in paperback by Prima Publishing. "Campaigningor" by PRI’s Steve Hayward, appeared in the March 1 National Review. The March issue of the California Journal carries Lance Izumi’s column "Immoderate Moderates."

On March 25, the California Network of Education Charters (CANEC) at its annual conference gave its prestigious Hart Vision Award to Pam Riley, associate director of coalition relations for PRI’s Center for School Reform, in recognition of her ongoing efforts to promote charter schools.

Education

"Tie Teacher Pay to Student Performance," by PRI Fellow Tom Dawson, appeared in the Los Angeles Times on March 30, 2000. Lloyd Billingsley discussed "Of No Account," a PRI briefing, on the Roger Hedgecock show on KKGO Radio in San Diego. The San Francisco Business Times published Lloyd’s "Kohn-head alert: Ex-teacher babbles into mainstream" on March 13.

On March 12, Barbara Simpson of KFSO in San Francisco interviewed Lance Izumi, director of PRI’s Center for School Reform, about PRI’s California Index of Leading Education Indicators 2000. On March 3, Lance discussed the Index at the Rocky Mountain Republican Women’s Leadership Forum in Denver and on March 16 he gave a presentation to Leadership San Francisco (LSF) at San Francisco State University. On March 6, Lance was interviewed by the Orange County Register on attempts by a local school district to gerrymander high-performing Chinese-American students into a low performing school in order to raise the school’s ranking. "School out of bounds," by the editor, quotes Lance in the March 10 Register. On March 7, KQED-FM in San Francisco broadcast Lance’s commentary on California’s per-pupil spending figures. "School index reveals little bang for tax bucks," by Lance Izumi, appeared in the San Francisco Business Times on March 17. "Competition would be good for schools" quotes Lance on school choice in the March 13 Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA).

Enterprise and Opportunity

Naomi Lopez Bauman, director of PRI’s Center for Enterprise and Opportunity, has been invited to serve on the Task Force on Homelessness of the California State Senate. Naomi’s article, "Clinton approach to small business is small-minded," was published in the Rocky Mountain News on March 12 and also appeared in the Modesto Bee, the Journal Tribune (Biddeford, ME), Raleigh News and Observer and Rock Hill Herald. Naomi’s article, "What makes you think you can hire just on skill?", appeared in the March 31 liberzine.com. On March 15, Naomi discussed the wage gap and glass ceiling myths on the Roger Hedgecock Show on KKGO in San Diego. "Think tank invites privatization entries" advertised PRI’s privatization competition in the West County Times (Richmond, CA) on March 8.

Freedom and Technology

Sonia Arrison, director of PRI’s Center for Freedom and Technology, attended the final meeting of the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce in Dallas, March 20-21. On March 23, Sonia spoke on "Internet Taxes: Killing the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg?" to the department of computer science at Sonoma State University. In March PRI released "A Primer on Forced Access" by Sonia Arrison and Eric Montarti of the Pennsylvania-based Allegheny Institute. "The U.S. ‘Digital Divide’ Is Not Even A Virtual Reality," by PRI fellow Helen Chaney was published by Bridge News on March 12. Helen’s "Getting American online," appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News and Pine Bluff Commercial on March 8, and the Journal of Commerce on March 10. "Digital divide is a false issue," by the editor, quotes Helen Chaney in the Daily Park City News (Bowling Green, KY), March 21.

On March 29, Sonia Arrison testified before a California Senate commitee on Internet taxes.

Environment

Steven Hayward, director of PRI’s Center for Environmental and Regulatory Reform, addressed a conference on "Land Use Planning for the 21st Century," at the DeVoe Moore Center at Florida State University at Tallahassee, March 3–4. Steve spoke on central city revitalization and his paper will be published in Land Use Planning for the 21st Century edited by Sam Staley and Randall Holcombe, due next fall from Greenwood Press. "Greening Up: Earth(worms) First," by Robert C. Balling, mentions PRI’s book The Heated Debate in the March Environment & Climate News.

Events

David Frum, senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute, discussed his most recent book, How We Got Here: The 1970’s—The Decade That Brought You Modern Life—For Better or Worse, at a reception at PRI headquarters on March 14. If you would like additional information on any of the topics listed above, contact our offices :