Hawaii's taxpayers might be shocked to discover that while numerous voices are calling for an increase in the General Excise Tax to cover any future state budget shortfalls, upwards of $1.4 billion dollars in unspent excess monies may be sitting in special funds. Several of these funds were tagged by the auditor almost a decade ago for repeal.

Goldwater seeks contributions to support its lawsuit against the federal health care bill. GI asserts, "Our lawsuit is the strongest in the nation because it combines the best arguments from lawsuits already filed by the Virginia and Florida Attorneys General with additional claims based on the separation of powers, the right to medical autonomy and privacy, and the First Amendment." The suit also uniquely challenges the new price-setting board.

What Texans want is more, less expensive electricity -- not less, more expensive electricity. If Texas wants to reduce energy costs and save money for consumers, it needs to go back to the drawing board and make significant changes to the energy efficiency program and eliminate the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Anthony Graber  faces up to 16 years in prison for videotaping a state trooper, who stopped Graber for speeding. The video shows the officer jumping from an unmarked car, gun drawn, yelling at Graber before identifying himself. After the officer discovered the video, he received an arrest warrant for Graber for violating state wiretap law, which requires the consent of each individual involved in a private conversation prior to audiotaping it.

A common claim by Michigan's public school establishment and its political allies is that, despite spending $20 billion annually on education, our schools are "underfunded." Comparisons to other states and to historical funding levels show that the claim is unsubstantiated and misleading. The reason for school money troubles is not "underfunding," but a failure to contain employee costs that comprise about 80 percent of operational budgets.

On Sept. 15, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be the featured speaker at OCPA's annual Liberty Gala in Tulsa. Palin will join a prestigious group of past OCPA speakers, including Congressman Paul Ryan, Justice Clarence Thomas, and the late William F. Buckley, Jr. For information about event sponsorships or tickets, visit www.ocpathink.org or call 405-602-1667.

Massachusetts' strug gle to make "universal health insurance" work serves as an excellent peek at what the entire country faces when ObamaCare kicks in. The Bay State's 2006 health-reform law, for example, didn't reduce expensive emergency-room use or lower costs as predicted. Emergency visits have climbed 9 percent, or about 3 million visits, from 2004 to 2008. Health care now consumes 35 percent of the state budget, up from 22 percent in 2000.

The MacIver Institute's policy analysis, website and archives remain publicly accessible over the internet, thanks to a Wisconsin State Supreme Court injunction that prohibits the enforcement of a controversial Government Accountability Board rule. The GAB's anti-First Amendment rule would've restricted the rights of individuals and entities to inform, comment and criticize government in the months prior to an election.  

The online 2010 Heritage Budget Chart Book allows visitors to dig down into the data of government revenue and expenditures in a visual format that is easy to understand. This year's book provides roughly 40 new charts, including several that are interactive.

The 8^th annual Preserving the American Dream Conference takes place Sept. 23-25 in Orlando, Florida. There, attendees will learn how personal mobility, property rights, homeownership and private enterprise are threatened by both incremental and sweeping policy assaults at all levels of government. More importantly, attendees will gain the free-market tools and learn liberty-based solutions to defend against the command-and-control approach.