November 2003 PRI Ideas in Action
Policy Update and Monthly Impact Report

PRI continues to impact public policy in California, the nation, and abroad. The following is just a sample of PRI's recent contributions.

If you would like to receive this monthly update by email, please contact Carrie Levy at clevy@pacificresearch.org or 415/955-6136.

Education Studies Key Issue: Education Audit

Policy Briefing
Earlier this year, a joint committee of the state legislature instructed the State Bureau of State Audits to investigate wasteful spending practices at the California Department of Education. In November, the state auditors released their findings, which criticized the Department for various failures in oversight of state education funds.

PRI Perspective
PRI has sharply criticized the waste that is inherent in state education spending. In its study, Grand Theft Education, released earlier this year, PRI detailed the history of wasteful spending practices in state education programs. Also, PRI’s California Education Report Card discussed waste in education spending. Tax dollars can be wasted either by mismanagement or failure of government programs to achieve their stated objectives, including, most importantly, raising student achievement.

While the state audit of education spending criticized negligent management practices, it did not touch upon the key issue of poor performance of state education programs. It is critical that a performance audit of state programs be initiated. Only through such analysis will Governor Schwarzenegger and lawmakers be able to direct scarce resources to those efforts that actually produce positive results.

PRI Impact
• November 5, as part of his duties as a member of the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Assistance Corps, Lance met with the education coordinators of the U.S. possessions in the South Pacific, including representatives of Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
• November 6, as part of his duties as a member of the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Assistance Corps, Lance met with Hawaii state education officials to discuss that state’s teacher quality programs.
• November 7, CaliforniaRepublic.org reprinted Lance’s Capital Ideas column “An Idea Worth Considering.”
• November 9, the Sacramento Bee published Lance’s op-ed “To-Do List for Schwarzenegger: An Education Audit.”
• November 9, World magazine quoted Lance on Arnold Schwarzenegger and education in the article “Friend and Foe.”
• November 10, Matt Cox was quoted in the Orange County Register’s editorial on the state education audit, “Wasted Effort.”
• November 17, the Orange County Register published Lance’s op-ed “Critical But Not Critical Enough,” which laid out the key findings and weaknesses in the state audit of education spending.
• November 17, National Review Online published Matt Cox’s op-ed “Good Riddance” which discussed the resignation of the California Teachers Association representative on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s transition team.
• November 17, Jennifer Nelson, online columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, quoted Lance on the findings of PRI’s California Education Report Card and carried a link to the report.
• November 25, KQED-FM broadcast Lance’s commentary on performance of California students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress exams.

Technology Studies Key Issue: Internet Taxes

Policy Briefing
On November 1, the national moratorium on Internet taxes expired. Many believed that the moratorium, which banned Internet access taxes, would be made permanent with a new bill – the Internet Tax Non Discrimination Act sponsored by Republican Rep. Chris Cox and Democratic Rep. Ron Wyden. However, due to heavy lobbying by pro-tax forces, the bill has stalled in Congress.

PRI Perspective
Legislation that bans taxes on Internet access services such as cable broadband and Digital Subscriber Lines is sound policy. Broadband is important for utilizing the growing area of services and vast information sources on the Net. At a time when the much ballyhooed digital divide has faded from memory, the nation’s poor are the ones who will be hit hardest by the tax-everything-that-moves mentality afflicting big government politicians. The cure to state budget deficits is not to hamstring the digital world with taxes, but to cut waste. Allowing broadband to prosper will help stimulate the economy and create new jobs.

PRI Impact
• November 1, Sonia's column on Internet taxes was published by the Heartland Institute.
• November 2, PRI Tech Studies Advisory Board Member Michael Mahoney spoke at telecom conference in Carmel.
• November 3, Sonia’s column “It’s a Spammer’s World After All,” ran on Tech Central Station.
• November 7: Sonia’s spam column was reprinted in the united pro choice smokers rights newsletter.
• November 12: Sonia emceed a PRI event on terrorism and civil liberties featuring journalist James Bovard.
• November 20, PRI ePolicy publication on Net taxes was sent to decision-makers, media, and other individuals across the country.
• November 21, PRI was mentioned in the American Spectator.
• November 30, Sonia signed letter on e-tax issues to Governor Schwarzenegger.

Other Current Issues

Health Care
• PRI president Sally Pipes was interviewed on health care policy on more than half a dozen radio shows nationwide and had op-eds published in National Review Online and other outlets.
• Sally delivered speeches at the California Association of Health Underwriters Conference in Los Angeles; Philanthropy Roundtable Conference in San Diego; California Pharmacy Association press conference in Bakersfield; and the Saturday Evening Post Town Hall in Boston.
• Sally was interviewed twice this month on CNN Financial News to discuss key issues leading into the 2004 presidential election and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s inaugeration.

Business and Economics
• Lawrence McQuillan was named to Governor Schwarzenegger’s newly created task forces on a state spending limit and workers’ compensation reform.
• Op-eds by Lawrence McQuillan and Andrew Gloger were published in the San Francisco Business Times and Los Angeles Daily News, respectively.