Page 776 – Show-Me Institute

Keep Doing What You’re Doing

Posted on April 21, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

This quote from Rep. Mike Talboy captures my sentiments exactly:

”This is akin to us putting up an amendment to the people to rename the state of Missouri, the state of Missouri,” said Talboy, D-Kansas City.

I’m not in favor of constitutional amendments that say nothing new. The fact that something is good, true, or protected by law doesn’t mean we need an amendment about it in the state constitution. (For example, the ice cream cone is the official dessert of the state of Missouri, but voters haven’t approved an amendment to that effect.) No one would take the Constitution seriously if it contained reiterations of all legal protections, down to the nitty-gritty details.

That’s why I object to the proposed constitutional amendment that just passed the state House of Representatives. The proposal states that Missourians have a right to pray in public schools, which is hard to disagree with, because they already do. The sponsor says he’s reacting to some cases in which students’ rights were infringed on; my response is that we should continue to enforce existing laws.

The amendment would also require public schools to display the Bill of Rights. Personally, I think it would look kind of funny on the walls of the early childhood education centers. But even if displaying the Bill of Rights at all public schools is the best idea since sliced bread — or should I say, ice cream cones — it’s not important enough to go in the Constitution.

Instead of tacking on a new amendment to reaffirm every law on the books, we could add just one amendment: “Good job, Missourians. Continue to obey the laws you already have, and keep it up.”

The Infamous Green Sales Tax Holiday Is Here

Posted on April 21, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

It sounds like a monster. All sales tax holidays are scary, but for this one they specify the color. It makes it seem so much more palpable and alive.

The green sales tax holiday is exceptionally bad because it distorts both the timing of sales, as all sales tax holidays do, and the choice of which products to buy. The tax is lifted only on appliances that have been approved as earth-friendly by the Environmental Protection Agency. I hope nobody is expecting a slight diversion of sales for one week to save the planet!

Private Airport Right Here in Missouri

Posted on April 21, 2009May 5, 2026 by David Stokes

With all our recent talk about privatization of airports, how the hell did I not know one was being built in Branson? Thanks to the Cato Institute and my colleague Jen Roland for bringing this to my attention. I honestly had no idea this was happening, but it is very exciting. The nation’s first entirely privately funded airport is going to be serving Branson, and opens next month. I can’t believe I had to learn from the New York Times about a new airport in Branson. The next thing you know, I am going to have to listen when they tell me who to vote for. …

UMSL Professor Nails It on Development Incentives

Posted on April 21, 2009May 5, 2026 by David Stokes

There is a great op-ed on the Post-Dispatch today from a professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, which — speaking as a native, here — will always be UMSL in my heart and mind. Although the article is in a St. Louis paper, its content applies statewide — and nationally, frankly. It is very well done, and sounds similar themes to what we have written here at the Show-Me Institute.

I Could Have Told Them That (Or: Slow News Day in Mid-Missouri)

Posted on April 21, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

Thank you, Combest, for linking to this funny story. The attorney general has announced that if an African missionary wants you to wire him hundreds of dollars so he can send you a “free puppy,” it’s a scam.

The Wonders of the Market

Posted on April 20, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

I recommend this article in today’s Wall Street Journal about English education in China. Many Chinese children attend English-language classes in the evening; one such school is run by the Walt Disney Corporation.

In places, the article insinuates that Disney is just trying to push its brand and get Chinese kids hooked on Mickey Mouse and princesses. But the parents quoted point out that they chose the Disney school for their daughter because they already liked the brand, which shows that advertising can work both ways.

I think that for-profit schools like this can be successful, if kids are enthusiastic about the brand. Similarly, when I was in elementary school, one of my friends got to learn piano by practicing theme songs from different movies. That method has the potential to motivate students.

I bet most American kids would love to study math or reading after school in a miniature Disney World. Unfortunately, Disney would meet with a lot of resistance if it opened these schools in the United States, because the public is extremely suspicious of marketing to children and for-profit education. (If you want proof, take a look at the comments to the Journal article.) It’s fascinating that for-profit schools are more welcome in communist China than they are here.

From Cradle to Grave

Posted on April 20, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

I just read this article about a proposal for state agencies to encourage patients in Missouri to sign end-of-life directives. These are a type of legal document that instructs hospitals whether to perform various procedures that extend patients’ lives.

It’s not the government’s place to influence people’s decisions in favor of these documents. If we want to respect people’s decisions about medical treatment, we should also respect their decisions about legal documents. Promoting the use of specific documents is only a small step away from promoting specific treatments or other courses of action at the end of life.

Another problematic aspect of this idea is that it circumvents the legislature. If end-of-life directives are so important that the state needs to weigh in on the matter, someone should introduce a bill addressing them. Then the bill can undergo the same public scrutiny and debate that other legislative proposals are subjected to.

Show-Me Health Coverage

Posted on April 20, 2009May 5, 2026 by Sarah Brodsky

An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch outlines a health care proposal that passed the Missouri Senate last week. Like other health spending proposals, the plan would pay for medical treatment for people who meet certain income requirements. There are two unusual features to this bill, though. First, it limits participation in the program to three years (or five years for some students). Needless to say, lobbyists are appalled:

Lobbyist Amy Blouin, who represents the Missouri Budget Project, called the time limit “horrifying. It’s kind of like you can only be healthy for three years.”

It’s not really like that, since the program doesn’t even exist right now, and nobody is saying you can’t be healthy. On the contrary, we have government programs in place to help people pay for health care. But the lobbyists needn’t be so worried, because I’m guessing that if Show-Me Health Coverage does become law, the limits would be lifted quickly. Politicians are wont to introduce new programs as temporary measures, only to quietly make them permanent once they’re established.

Here’s the second aspect of the proposal that’s worthy of note:

Adults at higher income levels could eventually join the program but would be required to make deposits into health savings accounts.

If the program could help people transition from temporary assistance to permanent health savings accounts (HSAs), that would go above and beyond what the typical state program does. It remains to be seen whether HSAs will take a central role in this or other programs, but at the very least, it shows how much progress HSA advocates have made. HSAs are no longer just a crazy idea; they’re mainstream policy.

New Airport Possibility for St. Louis and Kansas City

Posted on April 20, 2009May 5, 2026 by David Stokes

I had pretty much spent the day researching airport privatization, with KMOX playing in my office (I love streaming radio), when Carol Daniel read the AP report that the Chicago–Midway Airport privatization deal had collapsed after the private consortium failed to raise enough capital by the deadline. Like the failure of the Missouri Bridge public-private partnerships, this one is squarely a victim of the economy, not policy. The good news is that this opens a large airport privatization spot authorized by the FAA — which Midway had, until now, been awarded.

The other lesson is that giving these ideas careful consideration is hardly dangerous for the public, given that Chicago has received a $126 million penalty payment from the private investors because they walked away from the agreed-upon deal. So, what KC really needs to do is move forward with this idea while protecting its flank, like Chicago did.

You can get hard details on the credit issues and penalty payments here. The Kansas City Business Journal also has some old reports that indicate how long this idea has been around, and how Mayor Mark Funkhouser supported it (or, at least, supported its consideration) while serving as city auditor.

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