By Aaron Richardson-Talk Radio News Service

Michael Tanner, CATO’s Head of Health Care and Social Security Research is unhappy with the most recent draft of the bill that will eventually pave the way for health care reform in the U.S.

During a discussion today on Capitol Hill, Tanner voiced his opposition to many of the bills provisions such as: tax on employer provided insurance, a payroll tax hike, a income tax surcharge on people who make 250,000 dollars or more and the proposed soda and beer tax.

According to Tanner, those with less income will be specifically harmed by the beer and soda tax since those in that demographic tend to purchase these products with more frequency.

CATO’s Director for Health Policy Michael Cannon, who appeared alongside Tanner, suggested letting employees choose their insurance providers instead of employers. Cannon noted that this would result in higher salaries for workers.

“The $620 billion in employer premium contributions does not come out of the employers’ pockets, it is actually from workers’ wages,” said Cannon.

“If the employers weren’t providing health benefits to those workers the employers would have to return that $4,000 or $9,000 dollars back to those workers and add it to their salaries” added Cannon.

David Rittgers, legal policy analyst at the Cato Institute, describes the mechanisms by which the reaction of a great power against terrorism results in greater recruitment for terrorist groups amongst local populations. (0:31)

 

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CATO Institute expert Dr. Ted Galen Carpenter explains that a mishandled United States’ relationship with an emerging Chinese powerhouse could cost us a hefty price for decades to come. (0:42)

 

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Dr. Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan, CATO Institute experts on U.S. / Chinese relations, today spoke at a briefing entitled “China’s Rise: Is Conflict Unavoidable?” The briefing examined the different political and economic ramifications a Chinese superpower would bring about across the world.

Carpenter, home after a recent trip to Beijing, said that the relationship our nation has with China is the most important foreign policy relationship we have. He stressed the difficult nature “reunifying” a politically divided China brought with it, and noted that bringing the Chinese together might not even come about should they continue to sustain their economic success. (more…)

The Cato Institute held a panel hosted by policy analyst Marian Tupy called “Let Failing African Governments Collapse: A Radical Solution to Underdevelopment” to discuss the negative consequences of Western aid to African nations and possible implications of ending aid. (more…)