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Articles by Publius

Saturday Open Thread: Debt Edition

Today, in 1835, for the first, and only, time the U.S. Federal Debt is $0. Oh, and today in 1935, Elvis Presley, and in 1947, David Bowie, were born.

Feds to Investigate California Public Pension Fund for Securities Fraud

In today’s New York Times: Federal regulators are investigating whether California violated securities laws and failed to provide adequate disclosure about its giant public pension fund, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission

GOP Issues First Oversight Letter to Justice Department

Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post: In a five-page letter, Smith notes that there has been “little oversight” as to how the civil rights division has used its budget increases ($22 million in FYI 2010 and $17 million requested in

Bill Daley Will Be New White House Chief of Staff

NBC News and Politico are reporting that Bill Daley, brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, former Commerce Secretary under Bill Clinton and long-time executive at Wall Street’s JP Morgan Chase will join the Obama Administration as White House Chief of

Thursday Open Thread: Constitution Edition

Today, in Congress, the House will open its session with a reading of the Constitution. That this has never happened before is an historical quirk…that so many lefties are upset about it is, as we say in poker, a ‘tell.’

Illinois Has Days to Plug $13 Billion Budget Hole

From Bloomburg: Illinois lawmakers will try this week to accomplish in a few days what they have been unable to do in the past two years — resolve the state’s worst financial crisis. The legislative session that begins today will

Monday Open Thread: Congress Edition

This week, the GOP takes control of the U.S. House. Over the next few weeks they will also take control of state houses across the country. Hope=Change.

Modest Proposals to help the GOP and America

Glenn Reynolds in today’s Washington Examiner: With the new Congress being sworn in this week, everyone is full of advice. Well, I’m no exception. The first advice comes from Han Solo in the debut “Star Wars” film: “Don’t get cocky.”

GOP Prepares for New Power and Increased Pressure

From Reuters: Republicans roared to victory in the November congressional elections by targeting President Barack Obama’s fiscal policies and asking, “Where are the jobs?” Once they take power from Obama’s Democrats in the House of Representatives when the new Congress

Sunday Open Thread: 55 Edition

Today, in 1974, President Richard Nixon signed into law the 55 MPH speed limit. This should give pause to those who think that GOP control is some kind of salvation. We need to stop relying on politicians and take matters

2010: The Year of the Tea Party

The Hill has a month-by-month recap of 2010: The grassroots conservative political movement made its clout felt the entire year, from the healthcare reform debate to GOP primaries and the general election last month. Senior Democrats, ranging from Democratic National

Steve King: Congress Will Investigate 'Reparations'

From CBS News: President Obama earlier this month signed into law a measure to pay American Indians and black farmers a total of $4.6 billion to cover decades of government mistreatment. Now, a Republican congressman says the GOP-controlled House next

School Officials Suspend Teen Over Lunchbox Mixup

From WRAL in Sanford, North Carolina: Ashley Smithwick, 17, of Sanford, was suspended from Southern Lee High School in October after school personnel found a small paring knife in her lunchbox. Smithwick said personnel found the knife while searching the

Government Accountability Office Can't Hold Government Accountable

From Accounting Today: The U.S. Government Accountability Office said it could not render an opinion on the 2010 consolidated financial statements of the federal government, because of widespread material internal control weaknesses, significant uncertainties, and other limitations. “Even though significant

Poll: Obama and Hillary Clinton Are 'Most Admired'

From the Associated Press: For the third straight year, President Barack Obama ranks as the man most admired by people living in the U.S. The annual USA Today-Gallup poll, released Monday, finds that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is

What If the FCC Had Always Regulated the Internet?

Over at Slate, the always interesting Jack Schafer imagines a world where government always regulated the Internet: In January 1993, idle regulators at the FCC belatedly discover the burgeoning world of online services. Led by CompuServe, MCI Mail, AOL, GEnie,

Monday Open Thread: World Bank Edition

Today, in 1945, the World Bank was created. We won’t argue that it hasn’t ever done anything good, but will note that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Even After Shellacking, 2012 Looks Okay for Obama

Michael Barone in today’s Washington Examiner: On Boxing Day, it’s worth noting that Barack Obama is down but not out. You could tell as much from the contrast between his petulant postelection press conference and his peppy pre-Christmas press conference.

Medicare Revives End-of-life Planning

From the Associated Press: A new health regulation issued this month offers Medicare recipients voluntary end-of-life planning, which Democrats dropped from the monumental health care overhaul last year. The provision allows Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling to help beneficiaries

Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. “Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. “Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ “Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? “VIRGINIA

EPA Moves to Unilaterally Impose Carbon Caps

From the Associated Press: Stymied in Congress, the Obama administration is moving unilaterally to clamp down on power plant and oil refinery greenhouse emissions, announcing plans for developing new standards over the next year. In a statement posted on the