ObamaCare Would Crush Health Insurance Free Market

Download MP3

It may be a new year, but it starts off with an old debate over health insurance reform, now that Democratic leaders have passed bills through both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Now comes the hard part: merging the two bills. Based on what we know, would this legislation allow for a free market in health insurance? John Locke Foundation president John Hood says no. He also explains why supporters of government involvement in health care continue to push for its passage despite polling data that shows the majority of Americans are opposed to it. Then we turn to the ongoing debate over what qualities make a teacher a more valuable asset in the classroom. North Carolina taxpayers spend about $67 million a year to help public school teachers achieve national board certification. Legislative analyst Kris Nordstrom recently outlined for lawmakers the costs associated with the program. You'll hear highlights from his presentation, along with reaction from national board certification supporter Rep. Doug Yongue, D-Scotland. John Locke Foundation education policy analyst Terry Stoops will also offer a critique of national certification. Next, we turn to gun rights. North Carolina's highest court ruled in 2009 in favor of a nonviolent ex-felon who asserted his right to own guns. Alan Gura, lead attorney in a landmark federal gun-rights case known as District of Columbia v. Heller, reacted to the North Carolina case during a presentation in Raleigh to the Federalist Society. You'll hear highlights from his comments. That's followed by a look at state constitutions, which don't generate a lot of public interest or discussion, as the U.S. Constitution does. In fact, the furor last year over a new U.S. Supreme Court justice once again generated a lot of attention for debates about the importance of the U.S. Constitution. Meanwhile, state constitutions continue to attract much less notice. That's disappointing to John Dinan, political science professor at Wake Forest University. He explains that state constitutions play an important part in dictating the role government can play in our lives. And finally, we delve into the growing use by government of the 'blight' designation in order to acquire private property and give it to another private entity for development. John Locke Foundation local government analyst Michael Sanera discusses several instances of this approach and explains why more and more officials are using it on areas that aren't blighted at all.