Pacific Research Institute

Does California Even Know How to Fix Its Housing Problem?

February 06, 2019

California

New Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget asks for $500 million to boost construction of housing for “moderate income” Californians. Housing, he said while introducing his first budget, “is the issue.” He is correct. Everyone is aware of the grim state of housing in California. But no one, at least those with enough political influence...

California’s Carbon Fixation Allows Lawmakers to Avoid Hard Choices

February 06, 2019

Sacramento hasn’t yet outlawed gasoline- and diesel-driven automobiles. But it’s on the agenda. In the meantime, the state remains committed to former Gov. Jerry Brown’s goal of flooding California roads with zero-emissions vehicles. The transition, of course, won’t be free. In fact, it could cost as...

Arizona Patients Should Welcome Medicaid Work Requirements

February 05, 2019

Healthcare

Arizona just received the Trump Administration's go-ahead to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries. Under the policy, able-bodied enrollees between the ages of 19 and 49 will have to spend 80 hours a month working, attending school, or giving back to their community in some way. Arizona will...

Progressives’ Prescription Drug Plan Puts Patients At Risk

February 04, 2019

Healthcare

In mid-January, three Democrats — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, and California Rep. Ro Khanna — introduced legislation that aims to reduce prescription drug prices. Their plan would essentially peg U.S. drug prices to those in five foreign countries where prices are typically lower because...

Sleepless in America: Can Technology Help Insomnia?

February 04, 2019

Healthcare

By Mia Zaharna, MD and Henry I. Miller, M.S., M.D. Insomnia is a common and often frustrating sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to...

‘Medicare-for-all’ means long waits for poor care, and Americans won’t go for it once they learn these facts

February 03, 2019

Healthcare

This week, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., one of the front-runners in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, revealed her radical vision for American health care – outlawing private health insurance and putting the government in charge of the system. Harris, along with 15 of her Democratic colleagues,...

Newsom Supports Charter Cap: Kids Will Suffer

February 01, 2019

Education

An ominous aspect of the recent Los Angeles teachers strike settlement is the provision pushing for a halt on the number of charter schools. Although the 2017 L.A. school board elections resulted in a board majority favoring charter schools, in the strike settlement agreement The New...

After 20 Years, the Feds Need to Stop Holding Up Wi-Fi for Automated Cars

January 31, 2019

Remember 1999? Yes, it was a memorable year thanks to the Prince song. But, the last year of the 20th century is also noted for the launch of MySpace, the announcement of Blue Tooth, the rage that was Napster, and the panic over Y2K and the...

Israel Cancer Cure Claims Are Literally Unbelievable – Show Us the Data

January 31, 2019

Healthcare

We are constantly bombarded with media announcements of miraculous breakthroughs in cancer treatment, giving the false impression that the disease is well on the way to being eliminated as a serious threat. But non-experts—including most reporters—often fail to understand that the improvements in prevention, detection,...

This May Be the Worst Regulation Ever

January 31, 2019

Healthcare

By Henry I. Miller, M.S., M.D., and Drew L. Kershen The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created what may be the most bewildering, least cost-effective regulation ever. In July 2016, Congress passed a law mandating that all food containing genetic material that has been modified with...