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credit: University of Georgia If states are to rebuild and retool their economies, they must establish innovative and cost-effective solutions to increase student access to public colleges and universities, according to a recent report. Researchers at the nonpartisan think tank, the American Enterprise Institute, released a study titled, “Taking Charge: A State Level Agenda For Higher Education.” In it, the organization argues that governors and state legislatures must leverage the two-year an

(Credit: election.sk.ca) In the Land of Lincoln, Democrats control the governor, lieutenant governor, and both chambers of the General Assembly. After the 2010 midterm elections, Democrats strengthened their hold on political power in Illinois by keeping control of the governorship and maintaining their majorities in the General Assembly. As is becoming more the trend in the United States, victorious state political parties are drawing congressional maps that favor the majority party. In 2012

I was dismayed and disappointed, to say the lest that someone who themselves benefited from Affirmative Action, Justice Clarence Thomas, voted against it.  This was all the more disturbing, as the case seems to have been groomed for the decision, and to have been won through misrepresentation of fact. It appears that the plaintiff, Ms. Abigail Fisher, did NOT lose a well-earned position in the college of her choice that should have been hers through hard work and achievement; quite the opposite

In response to the growing privacy concerns, local law enforcement agencies in Maine are now required to have a warrant to track cell phone activity.  Passed on Tuesday, LD415 reads: "a government entity may not obtain location information without a valid warrant issued by a duly authorized judge or justice." It defines government entity as "a state or local agency," clarifying that federal agencies are not bound by the warantless cellphone tracking state laws. The law goes on to mandate that

“Self-righteous liberals tell us that Jesus had a heart for the poor, which is undeniable. But Jesus never directed that government be the agency used to help the poor. He was talking about charity proceeding from individuals and His church.”—Sean Hannity, Conservative Victory, p. 207 Don’t get Sean Hannity started on the “Christian left.” Only a communist, or worse, would even suggest that Christ’s injunctions to take care of the poor and vulnerable had anything to do with government. Those wh

In different ways, liberals and conservatives both pine for the 1950s. Liberals mourn the loss of the egalitarian economic arrangements that characterized the postwar decade — the strong unions, the growing middle class, the 90 percent top tax rate, the Keynesian consensus. Conservatives, meanwhile, see a lot to like in the 1950s social architecture — low divorce rates, high church attendance, strong social solidarity, traditional attitudes toward sexuality and family. It has been said that lib

Local groups in Texas have banded together to help prevent voting rights violations from happening in the state after the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which determined the states and local governments subject to extra federal scrutiny because of a history of past discrimination against ethnic minorities. Texas was one of the states required to appeal to the U.S. Department of Justice before changing state election laws. The coalition consists of the NAA

(Credit: Gage Skidmore) After his bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination fell short, former Texas congressman Ron Paul is dipping his toe into independent media broadcasting. Simply titled, The Ron Paul Channel, the tagline for the project is, "Turn Off Your TV. Turn On the Truth." Announced on the former congressman's Facebook page over the weekend, the introduction was: "FINALLY a media network dedicated to liberty, peace, prosperity, and the celebration of the values that you

July 4 is a time of heightened patriotism. Celebrating our independence from Great Britain's rule, Americans across the nation gather with friends and family to commemorate the establishment of our freedom and the principles on which our country was founded. While recent events have made us critical of the United States government's capacity to uphold the ideals put forth by our Founding Fathers, the signing of the Declaration of Independence "was an act of progress with resounding historical s

All the hoopla in Texas right now is over state Senator Wendy Davis and her now famous filibuster of the Texas Legislature's push to end abortions in the state. While the issue of "women's rights" and "women's health" is surely and important one, and one that has predominated the headlines, the most fundamental political issue was addressed by Wendy Davis at the end of her interview with Rachel Maddow … and it has nothing to do with abortion. As Davis points out, the reason why issues like abor