State Policy Network

In an effort to meet requirements for a legislature-required transparency website, Oregon has made available some 32,620 state workers' salaries. Numerous public employees, however, are not included, such as those in the Oregon University System. The mean salary for all listed workers: $51,442. The mean for all Oregon workers, public and private: $41,430. The state workers' mean salary exceeds Oregon's mean salary by $10,000, or 24 percent.

Fast approaching entry deadline: Feb. 17! Cash prizes totaling $20,000 will be awarded to individuals who made significant contributions to the advancement of economic and individual liberty. The six Sammie categories are: Blogger, Video, Watchdog, Town Hall, Tea Party and Modern-Day Sam Adams. The theme of this year's Sammies, "We Are All Activists Now." Winners will be flown to Chicago in April and recognized at a red-carpet event.

President Obama's Race to the Top program offers Washington education leaders powerful incentives to change. However, these would only be first steps. Real reform would transfer school decision-making from legislatures and school districts to school principals. Putting principals in charge of their budgets, and teachers, raises student achievement wherever it is tried, across the country and around the world.

The cost of health insurance for retirees has become a burden for the Milwaukee Public Schools budget and, absent serious reforms, the problem will only grow. The unfunded liability for these health-care costs now stands at $2.6 billion, more than double the district's entire annual operating budget. These costs will ultimately be borne by Milwaukee taxpayers, and, because of the state school funding formula, taxpayers statewide.

In Colorado, an unfortunate byproduct of TABOR is the growth of government "fees." One of which is the tire disposal fee of $1.50. Interestingly, the fee is assessed before the subtotal, thus making it subject to sales tax. In sum, the state is taxing a fee. A state department of revenue FYI memo notes, "Effective August 5, 2009, the waste tire recycling development fee is considered part of the purchase price and is subject to sales tax."

The Oklahoma Education Association calculates spending at $7,615 per pupil in the state. But, a comprehensive examination of public-school spending during the 2007-08 academic year produces an estimate of $10,257 per pupil. To calculate that figure, Anderson measured every cost involved in funding and operating the public education system, using common-sense guidelines with an independent referee - the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

The Feb. 5 application deadline is fast approaching! This conference is a unique gathering designed specifically for high school students, and framed as a "crash course" in limited government thought. Participants will expand their knowledge of economics, American history, freedom and personal responsibility. The event will be held March 11-13. The $375 fee includes tuition, materials, food and lodging. Limited scholarships are available.

Health-care reform "may be the foremost example of President Obama's overreaching domestic-policy agenda, [but] communications policy deserves attention...." Last October, the FCC "unleashed a proposal to regulate a large swath of the Internet under a ‘net neutrality' regime. If adopted, this policy would likely discourage investment and innovation in broadband Internet networks" just as the U.S. is emerging from a severe economic slump.

Five days a week, The Nerve will report S. Carolina news about inside-government spending and deal-making, provide "videos of elected officials....just being themselves" and offer a "forum for insider tips so anonymous [The Nerve] can't even find out who leaves them."Log on today to get the scoop of the behind-closed-doors Boeing incentive deal - and more.

Applications are being accepted for the 2010 Acton University program, June 15-18, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. People of faith gather to integrate and better articulate faith and free enterprise, entrepreneurship, sound public policy and effective leadership at the local church and community level. Acton states, this year's program will offer "even greater depth of exploration into the intellectual foundations of a free society."