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Washington Policy Center Launches 2009 Federal Health Care Reform Project
As Congress and the President debate plans for reforming health care, it is essential they and the public consider how more government involvement will impact accessibility, affordability, and quality. Health care reform must be focused on patients, allowing more access to more treatments and more doctors with less interference from insurance companies, politicians, and special interests. A balanced, common sense approach that provides assistance to those who truly need it and keeps health care patient-centered rather than government-centered for everyone.
The project is spearheaded by Dr. Roger Stark, WPC’s Health Care Policy Analyst. Dr. Stark is a retired surgeon and has been involved extensively in the health care community. In 2007 Dr. Stark authored the book Health Care in the U.S.: Problems and Solutions, and his opinion-editorials have appeared in The Seattle Times and the Washington DC Examiner. He has done in-depth research on Medicaid, health care reform measures across the country, and patient-driven health care.
Inside Olympia host Austin Jenkins talked to Kathleen O’Connor, Founder of CodeBlueNow! and Dr. Roger Stark, Health Care Analyst for the Washington Policy Center about what we might expect from Congress this summer as far as national health policy.
Watch 30 minute debate with :
Why the U.S. and Washington Should Not Build High-Speed Rail
Washington should apply for its share of federal high-speed rail stimulus funds for safety improvements such as grade crossings and signaling systems, but not for new trains that will obligate taxpayers to pay millions of dollars in annual subsidies, says a new report from Washington Policy Center (WPC). Authored by WPC adjunct scholar Randal O’Toole, the report makes the following key findings:
• Initial funding commits the nation to a program whose eventual costs could exceed $1 trillion. This doesn’t count overruns, operating subsidies, and rehabilitation costs.
• Outside of the Boston-to-Washington and Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg routes, Amtrak short distance trains lose an average of $37 per passenger and Amtrak expects the states to cover most of these operating losses.
• A hidden cost of rail is that it must be rebuilt about every 30 years. This means construction could leave states obligated to fund billions of dollars in rehabilitation costs.
• The fact that American freight railroads are profitable while European passenger lines are not suggests that freight, not passenger, is the highest and best use of a modern railroad in most places.
• It is far more cost-effective to save energy by encouraging people to drive more fuel-efficient cars than to build and operate high-speed rail.
• Considering the energy required for rail construction, improvements in auto and airline energy efficiencies, and the high energy cost required to move trains at higher speeds, high speed rail will have little to no environmental benefit.
• Upgrading the 280 rail miles in Washington to 110-mph standards would cost nearly $1 billion.
• The average Washingtonian will take a round trip on high-speed rail once every 8.5 years.
• For every Washingtonian who rides high-speed rail once a month, more than 100 Washington residents will never ride it.
The complete report can be viewed online here
A Policy Note summarizing the full study is available here
33,000 New Jobs Could be Added at No Cost to Taxpayers
Washington state could add some 33,000 new jobs at no cost to taxpayers if the federal estate tax were repealed, according to a new analysis of a study from the American Family Business Foundation by Washington Policy Center.
The estimates are based on research by the former director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Holtz-Eakin. The research was conducted for the nonprofit American Family Business Foundation (AFBF), Washington, DC.
New Book by Scott Oki Offers Foundational Ideas for Truly Reforming Public Education
Washington Policy Center has released a new book by local philanthropist, entrepreneur, and education reformer Scott Oki. Outrageous Learning: An Education Manifesto describes the real problems facing schools today and offers 11 foundational thoughts for bringing constructive change to public education.
Outrageous Learning is intended to start an ongoing discussion of genuine education reform, and so in addition to the book, WPC has launched outrageouslearning.org. This interactive website provides a discussion forum for sharing ideas, asking questions, and continuing a broad conversation about improving public schools.
Click here to order your copy of Outrageous Learning
Donate to send Outrageous Learning to Washington State's educators
Washington Policy Center is on Facebook
Now there's a new way to connect with WPC. Keep up-to-date on our latest research, receive invites to our special events, and interact with WPC staff on Facebook. Check us out!
Subscribe to RSS Latest WPC appearances in the news
What's not wrong with health care in the US
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, July 1
Will lawmakers pledge to read healthcare bill before voting?
Seattle PostGlobe, June 30
You'll soon have 4,500 reasons to trade in that gas hog
The Herald (Everett), June 29
Transparency in state government only a good thing
The Olympian, June 29
OP-ED: The non-competition health plan
Auburn-Reporter, June 29
Replace state property tax with carbon tax for climate action
The Seattle Times, June 29
School librarians in Bellevue: Are they needed? (letter to the editor)
The Seattle Times, June 28
Track state spending from your computer
Spokesman Review (Spokane), June 27
State doctor: health care overhaul won't work
Bellingham Herald, June 27
A discussion on the value of high-speed rail
Bellingham Herald, June 25
More transparency in state always better
The News Tribune (Tacoma), June 24
Health reform debate in the papers
Seattle LocalHealthGuide, June 23
Think Tank in the Other Washington Analyzes Federal Health Care Policy
State House Call, June 22
Recession bottoming out, but more job losses ahead
Puget Sound Business Journal, June 18
Unemployment + lower gas prices = fewer riders
Puget Sound Business Journal, June 17
A healthy look at education reform
The Seattle Times, June 17
Obama directs agencies to focus on performance
Seattle PostGlobe, June 17
7th Annual Environmental Policy Luncheon & Conference
Click for more information
Featuring Climatologist Pat Michaels
Lunch is preceded by morning panel discussions on environmental policy topics such as free market environmentalism.
Upcoming Speaking Engagement
Centralia - Chehalis Chamber of Commerce
July 13, 2009
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
The Aerie Ballroom, 219 S. Tower,
Centralia
Dr. Roger Stark, policy analyst at the Center for Health Care, will speak to the Centralia - Chehalis Chamber of Commerce on the proposed federal health plans.
Bellevue Downtown Association & Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee
July 14, 2009
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
TBD
Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation, will speak on 5 principles of transportation and the WPC Statewide Traffic Relief Poll at the Bellevue Downtown Association and Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee meeting.
Mt. Vernon Rotary
July 28, 2009
12:00 PM
Cottontree Convention Center,
2300 Market St., Mount Vernon, 98273
Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation, will speak on 5 principles of transportation and the WPC Statewide Traffic Relief Poll at the Mt. Vernon Rotary weekly meeting.
Washington Association of Health Underwriters
July 29, 2009
Safeco Field Meeting Rooms, Seattle
Dr. Roger Stark, policy analyst at the Center for Health Care, will speak to the WAHU meetings on the proposed federal health plans.
