The latest data on state to state migration confirms that folks vote rationally with their feet and that Delaware legislators are in denial about this fact.   Census data shows that two-thirds of the net migrants into Delaware from 2007-09 came from just four states: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, these states have among the highest tax burdens, strong unions, and sluggish economies.   Two-thirds of the net out-migrants from Delaware w

An analysis on the upward trend of personal income and estate taxation.

In 2012 the Supreme Court ruled on a series of cases, cumulatively decided as Florida, et al., v. Department of Health and Social Services and concluded that the ACA was a tax and thus was constitutional. At that time Obamacare supporters were very happy and Obamacare opponents were furious with the Supreme Court for twisting their logic like a pretzel to find the ACA constitutional as a “tax”.   Fast-forward three years later and another case is being heard in front of the S

After two decades of stellar performance, Delaware’s economy moved in reverse during the most recent decade, and the near term outlook is subpar.   A DECADE OF DECLINE   The major measures of performance for the Delaware economy from 2000 through 2010 are grim. Compared to a median annual growth in total employment of 2.5% during the 1990s, Delaware crept along at 0.4% during 2000-10. If government jobs are excluded, total employment in Delaware actually retreated -5.4%. Simi

The news is that the rollout of Obamacare is a disaster, and by any measure widely known it is just that, a screw-up. Do you remember Ali getting destroyed by Frasier in the first few rounds? The strategy became known as Rope-a-Dope. Ali won. We can learn from Ali and history. This "failure" of Obamacare is nothing of the sort. It is brilliant and successful.   One must judge the progress by the stated end goals. Barrack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, as well as both Ra

Fiskers projected sales dont coincide with reality.

An analysis of the governors proposed cut in funding for the University of Delaware for FY2011.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of the PPACA, the patient protection and affordable care act.  This is President Barack Obama’s centerpiece legislation of his political career and in many ways defines his presidency. What this court battle is about has nothing to do with health care and everything to do with freedom and liberty.  In order to provide healthcare to less than 10% of the population our elected offici

This is a poor time to experiment with new energy regulations such as the RPS (Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards). The stark reality is that Delaware’s economy is in very serious straits. Delaware has fewer jobs today than it did a decade ago. Over that decade unemployment has gone from 3.3% to 8.5%. Under the best scenario it will take Delaware 3 years to regain its peak pre-recession level of employment, and it may take as long as 5 years. Nearly 19,000 discouraged worke

This article was originally published at delawareonline.com on June 4, 2015 and in The News Journal the next day. As former chair of DEFAC (the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council 1977-85), I read with interest and enthusiasm the May 2015 report of the DEFAC Advisory Council on Revenues.   The recommendations and conclusions reached in that report were carefully explained, and in general, if adopted, would improve the State’s revenue structure.   A few of their