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FISCAL | BUSINESS | TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATIONS | EDUCATION | HEALTH | CULTURAL & FAMILY ISSUES |NEWS Institute for Health Freedom (www.forhealthfreedom.org). IHF's mission is to present the ethical and economic case for strengthening personal health freedom. The Institute, A 501(c)(3) organization, the institute, does not endorse any health care treatment, product, provider, or organization, but works with scholars and policy experts in the areas of economics, health care, law, philosophy, and the sciences to foster public debate. The Institute's publishes research and analyses. Two recent Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org) analyses highlight the serious problems with Maryland's single-payer health care schemes.
See stories on health care reform for Maryland. See stories on Medicare reform. See stories on more consumer choice in health care. Maryland Charter School Network (www.myschoolonline.com) - then choose Maryland under state - then choose Maryland Charter School Network under organization). Maryland has no charter schools, but the network, home to the Maryland Coalition for Education Reform, helps those who want to start one. Center for Educational Excellence (www.edreform.com): Maryland's Charter school law gets a "D." See the Center's state-by-state ranking. Environmental Literacy Council (www.environliteracy.org). This "Hard Green" group, led by Marylander and MTA board member Kathleen B. deBettencourt, Ph.D., reviews environmental textbooks to identify the all-too-frequent "junk" science and economics in them. Environmental Literacy's materials help teachers carry out the difficult job of informing students about complex, interdisciplinary environmental issues. The council provides resources for teachers in climate, air, food, energy, water, forests, biodiversity, risk, waste, population, and economics. SchoolReformers.com (www.schoolreformers.com). Anyone concerned about education in Maryland should visit this portal early and often. The internet site covers the market-based school reform movement. There is hope for school reform, says the website, because "the future belongs to the fastest, not the biggest....The internet is making it very easy to introduce newcomers to the movement; and it is drastically reducing the time, cost, and energy needed by activits to promote their cause." This rich but user-friendly site pulls together information nationally and by state (See Resource Directory by State: Maryland - www.schoolreformers.com/resources/bystate/md/). Campaign for America's Children (www.putparents incharge.org). This non-partisan nonprofit organization seeks to educate the public on issues relating to improving children's education. With a nationally known board of directors, the group's TV ads for educational alternatives and opportunity for low-income and minority children drew attention in the 2000 campaign season. View the ads on-line. It also publishes scholarly analyses. Black Alliance for Educational Options (www.baeoonline.org). "School choice is widespread - unless you're poor." That is why the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) has launched a TV, radio, and print ad campaign to raise the issue of "unequal educational opportunity" that primarily hurts minorities and low-income families. View the ads on-line. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation (www.edexcellence.net). This website features a suggested reading list, links to related sites, and information about the foundation's education reform projects in its home of Dayton, Ohio. The foundation sponsors the Educational Excellence Network (EEN), an umbrella organization for the promotion of sound education reforms, which was founded 15 years ago by nationally known education reformer and scholar, Chester E. Finn, Jr. (now the foundation's president and CEO) and Diane Ravitch, former deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Education. EEN is affiliated with the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. For the "Arizona model" of attaching funds to children instead of school districts, see "What Is Public Education" by Lisa Graham Keegan in the Fall issue of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. Also see: "Why Is Education So Hard to Reform?" Nine remedies to the tough problems, by Chester E. Finn. National Home School Legal Defense Association. Since 1983, HSLDA (www.hslda.org/splash/default.asp) has represented home school families, from negotiation with local officials to court proceedings - paying all litigation costs for cases it undertakes. It monitors federal and state legislation that affects home school families and provides many resources and links on its website. National Home School Education Research Institute (www.nheri.org). NHERI studies home education; operates a clearinghouse of research for teachers, parents, and others; and educates the public on research findings. See also: Calvert Institute papers on education, described above: Multiculturalism and the Demise of the Liberal Arts at Maryland's Public Universities and Colleges, Except Morgan State; Private Sector Public Schools: Fiscal Responsibility Dictates It, Says Nova Scotia. And see the Heritage Foundations' ongoing coverage of education ideas on the foundation's key issue page on education reform. See more stories on Education Choice. Americans for Tax Reform (www.atr.org). ATR tracks issues, provides briefs and analyses, and e-mail alerts. ATR developed the Taxpayers Protection Pledge for legislators that the Maryland Taxpayers Assocation promotes. Maryland Tax Education Foundation, Inc. (www.MarylandTaxEducation.org). The Maryland Tax Education Foundation (MTEF), a nonpfofit, tax-exempt educational association, works to research and educate the public concerning spending affordability, the friendliness of the Maryland tax structure to retirees, and many other topics. American Enterprise Institute (www.aei.org). With 50 resident scholars and an extensive publications program, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of freedom— government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense— scholarly research, open debate, and publications. Founded in 1943, its research areas include government tax, spending, regulatory, and legal policies; economics and trade; social welfare; U.S. politics; and foreign affairs. Americans for Fair Taxation (www.fairtax.org). The FairTax proposal would replace the federal income tax with a single-rate retail sales tax. Chesapeake Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. (ABC - www.abc-chesapeake.org), the largest organization representing the interests of the Merit Shop contractor locally, works to have non-union contractors working on the Wilson Bridge and other public construction projects in the state. Calvert Institute for Policy Research (www.calvertinstitute.org). The Calvert Institute is a state-based independent, non-partisan, public policy research institution committeed to generating new ideas based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and personal responsibilitiy. The institute seeks to make Maryland worthy of its fond nickname, "The Free State." Briefing papers, listed by topic on the Calvert website, discuss fiscal concerns, education, health, and other issues. Marylanders with an interest in fiscal restraint and the principles of limited governent and personal responsibility will find much to interest and help them. For example, see what the Calvert Institute has to say on:
Cato Institute (www.cato.org). This well-known national think tank has 23 years of experience in promoting public policy based on individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Cato's research areas include: social security privatization, trade policy, the U.S. Constitution, defense, education and children, health and welfare, fiscal policy, foreign policy, monetary and banking policy, the global economy, natural resources, regulation, risk and science, and telecommunications. MTA board member Edward L. Hudgins is Cato's Director of Regulatory Studies and active in Maryland fiscal issues. See how the Cato Institute looks at Maryland.
Citizens for a Sound Economy. (www.cse.org/). This grassroots organization is dedicated to free markets and limited government as well as to personal involvement in public policy activism. Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org). Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Heritage has publications, forums, and lots of advice on reforming the tax system. In particular, see "Reducing Taxes and Reforming the Tax Code" by Daniel J. Mitchell (part of the foundation's Priorities for the President project) and Heritage's key issue page on taxes. See also Krista Kafer's summary of the June 27, 2002 Supreme Court Cleveland voucher decision (with useful links). Independent Women's Forum (www.iwf.org). Offering publications and speakers, the Independent Women's Forum is "the voice of reasonable women with important ideas who embrace common sense over divisive ideology... We don't pretend to speak for all women - but perhaps we speak for you." Of special interest is the pamphlet: Women & Taxes: Understanding Where Your Money Goes, by Eileen O'Connor, in IWF's series: What Women Need to Know About Work and Money. Manhattan Institue for Public Policy. (www.manhattan-institute.org). This New York City-based think tank studies a range of urban issues with great tax implications - education, housing, redevelopment, police. The institute's Winter 2001 City Journal, with many articles available on-line, has an analysis by Fred Siegel and Van Smith of how Maryland's fiscal philosophy adversely affected the city of Baltimore and how Mayor O'Malley might help. Virginia News Source (www.virginianewssource.com/ ). Virginia News Source (VNS) -- "Your Link to Reality-Based News" --covers international, notional, and local news. The editors specialize in matters of government, taxation, and politics in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. VNS invites Maryland activists to contribute letters and articles. Maryland Business for Responsive Government. MBRG (www.mbrg.org) is a nonpartisan, political research and education organization that works to improve Maryland's business climate. It is supported by corporations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and individuals. MBRG publishes Roll Call and For the Record each year, rating legislators on votes that affect business in the state. MBRG's Political Reports cover issues such as attracting jobs and businesses to Maryland. MBRG provides the thoughtful Dilorenzo Study - Alternatives to Socialized Health Care in Maryland: A Critique of the Lewin Group Report - which critiques the single payer health care proposal for Maryland: Thinking of Doing Business in the State of Maryland? Think Again (www.maryland-business.net). Making Maryland business-friendly should be about lower taxes, deregulation, and other fundamental changes that reduce the costs and risks of doing business in the state. This website tells it like it is: how far our state is from that ideal. National Federation of Independent Businesses (www.nnib.com). Follows issues of concern to small businesses, such as health care, regultory fairness, death taxes, OSHA refofrm, minimum wage, and superfund. Small Business Survival Committee (www.sbsc.org/). Works to protect small business. See how this national advocacy group ranks Maryland against the other stateson its friendliness to entrepreneurship - Small Business Survival Index 2000. E-Freedom Coaltion. (www.e-freedom.org). The e-Freedom Coalition consists of taxpayer groups, think tanks, and other organizations working together to ensure that individual liberty and freedom are protected online. Maryland County Taxpayer Associations. For a information on county taxpayers and property owners associations, click here. Montgomery County Taxpayers League, Inc. For information about this active association, click here. State Taxpayers Conference (www.statetaxes.net) is a private, nonprofit corporation whose members are the full-time chief executive officers of statewide associations devoted to the pursuit of objective and unbiased analysis of public finance issues in their states. For close to 70 years, NTC members have provided credible, non-partisan analysis of pressing fiscal issues in their states and have advocated for the adoption of sound fiscal policies. National Taxpayers Union and National Taxpayers Union Foundation(www.ntu.org). NTU is a 501(c)(4) organization founded in 1969 to fight for the American taxpayer. It is the largest grassroots taxpayer organization with more than 300,000 members across all fifty states. NTUF is a 501(c)(3) educational research organization founded in 1977. Research by NTUF has played a significant role in shaping the public debate over congressional accountability for bill sponsorship and floor votes, health care reform, franking privileges, entitlement spending, and congressional pay and pensions. NTUF undertakes four regular detailed analyses of the U.S. Congress and publishes a Chartbook on Entitlements and National Thrift Plan, and a variety of issue briefs and papers. The Christian Coalition of Maryland began in 2003 to organize for 2004 elections. Contact Lee Merrell. (L-AMERRELL@comcast.net). (http://www.ccmaryland.org/) HEDGEHOG REPORT: A lively dose of Maryland and national tax news, poll results, commentary, chat, and more. |
