Free Republic

Donald Trump on Thursday shared his economic vision with supporters gathered at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, promising trillions in tax cuts, energy reform, a crackdown on trade, and a reduction in the number of tax brackets. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, estimated his plan would create 25 million in new jobs, and that the massive tax cut would be offset by gross domestic product growth of at least 3.5%, on average, each year for the next decade. "This is the most pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-family plan put forth perhaps in the history of our country," Trump said, according to...

<p>Per its tradition in the second week of May, America’s business leaders have voted for the states with the “best” and “worst” business climates.</p> <p>As usual, Chief Executive Magazine places California at the top….of the naughty list!</p> <p>"That’s 10 years in a row — a decade of dominance.</p>

Weighing the economics of Abraham Lincoln isn’t easy to do in today’s terms. Lincoln was pro-subsidy and pro-tariff, both of which stances tend to be assigned to the interventionist left in today’s discussions. But Lincoln’s infrastructurally and financially primitive economy was not ours, and it’s worth thinking about how he might govern today given that in his words there is an unshakeable faith in free enterprise. Lincoln was pro-business, laudatory of wealth creation (and the inequality that goes with it), against class warfare and in favor of exploiting natural resources. “Property,” he said in 1864, “is the fruit of labor...

An ugly scene in the California economy played out in our own backyard this week, as Waste Connections, Sacramento's most valuable company, announced that it is moving its corporate headquarters – and the 100 jobs that go with it – to a Houston suburb. Waste Connections was a shining star in local business, starting here 15 years ago as a one-man shop and growing into a 6,500-employee behemoth operating in 30 states. But CEO and founder Ron Mittelstaedt has finally had enough of California's hostile, complex, expensive business environment and decided to pull up his stakes and head to greener...

AUSTIN --After a long run of tough times brought on by a sour economy, Texas lawmakers got some good news Monday as the state's chief fiscal officer projected a $1.6 billion surplus that could provide a much-needed financial cushion for the next session of the Legislature. The windfall available for the fiscal biennium that started Sept. 1 was generated by better-than-expected state revenue. It could enable lawmakers to expected state revenue. It could enable lawmakers to partly offset a $4.8 billion shortfall in Medicaid and soften some other cuts enacted during the 2011 Legislature, analysts said. The new projections by...

Rick Perry said Thursday "it ain't a day for quitting nothing" after his big "oops" during the Republican presidential debate the night before. "Oh, shoot, no," the Texas governor said Thursday morning during a series of media appearances, when asked if his debate gaffe would propel him to pull out of the race. On Wednesday, Perry was on stage with rivals Herman Cain and Mitt Romney in Rochester, Mich., when the debate sponsored by CNBC turned into a comedy of errors. Perry was discussing the three government departments he wanted to cut but forget one of them in a major...

Sounding increasingly like a candidate, Donald Trump repeatedly told a raucous tea party crowd today he has the qualities needed in the White House and the conservative ideals necessary to seal the Republican nomination should he decide to run. Trump struck familiar themes and talked about his own business acumen in his speech to hundreds gathered at a park here, where his name festooned signs, buttons and T-shirts of supporters. The real estate mogul even talked about the type of people he'd have serve as diplomats and said he was looking forward to releasing his financial disclosures. "Most very successful...

President Barack Obama has always believed that America succeeds when business succeeds. He has a deep, abiding commitment to doing what is necessary to strengthen our economy and make America more competitive. That is why, having spent decades in government and business myself, I was amazed to see the critical comments George Buckley, chief executive and chairman of 3M, made in the Financial Times this week, when he dubbed the president as “anti-business”. As a government our responsibility is to lay the foundations for the private sector to thrive; indeed, that is at the heart of our strategy for growth....

Can a Catholic father of six handle the responsibilities of public office? Mary Beth Buchanan, who is competing with Keith Rothfus in Pennsylvania-4’s GOP primary next Tuesday, doesn’t think so. [snip] From Sunday’s Post-Gazette: The married mother of a grown daughter had another message for the married father of six, whose youngest child is 3: “I’m running full time for this position and I will be able to devote my full time to it, as I do not have other responsibilities — as my primary opponent should be concerned about,” she said. (Rothfus is a repeal-Obamacare, pro-Second Amendment, anti-tax, pro-life...

IOWA CITY — President Obama on Thursday began an aggressive White House public relations blitz to sell his newly signed health care overhaul to a skeptical and sometimes confused public, calling the measure “pro-jobs” and “pro-business” and taunting Republicans who are vowing to repeal it. “My attitude is, go for it!” Mr. Obama declared, challenging his critics at a campaign-style rally here. “If these congressmen in Washington want to come here to Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest.”

An Economic Agenda for the GOP Republicans need to be pro-market, not pro-business. /snip The Republican Party today must follow a similar strategy, updated for present circumstances. It has to move from a pro-business strategy that defends the interests of existing companies to a pro-market strategy that fosters open competition and freedom of entry. While the two agendas sometimes coincide—as in the case of protecting property rights—they are often at odds. Established firms are threatened by competition and frequently use their political muscle to restrict new entries into their industry, strengthening their positions but putting their customers at a disadvantage....

Immigration from a pro-business pro-American point of view – A response to Michael Medved The Immigration bill has come down to a question of trust: The government has acted like North Korea in its negotiation with the American people: Over the years the American people have allowed amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. In return the government was supposed to put steps in place to stop illegal immigration, and punish employers who continue to hire them. Laws are now on the books with penalties and prison terms for employers, and for a fence to be built. Those laws have not...

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Friday that would have required retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to prepare reports for local officials on the effect of proposed superstores on existing retailers in the same market. A number of local California officials have sought to block the expansion of the world's largest retailer in the state and some lawmakers have sought to help with state legislation aimed at the company. California's celebrity Republican governor said he vetoed the bill because it "effectively sends a message to retailers and...

SACRAMENTO - Although the late Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight, R-Palmdale, was laid to rest last week, pending legislation bearing his name lives on. A measure by Knight that champions school choice and educational innovation received approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee and now heads to the Senate floor. Another bill also awaits the full Senate's consideration before a May 28 deadline. Knight's Senate Bill 1531, approved Thursday by a vote of 7-1, would remove the limit on the number of charter schools that can operate within the state. The bill will encourage further expansion of these schools by allowing...

<p>In his farewell address to the nation, President Reagan said: "I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life . . . [I]n my mind it was . . . teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and heart to get here."</p>