On Tuesday, June 30, 2020, the United States Supreme Court ruled (5-4) in favor of education choice in a landmark case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. I will leave the legal analysis to those far more qualified to do so, particularly to the Institute for Justice, the libertarian law firm who argued the case…

When voices on both the right and the left agree on something in the battleground of American politics, we all ought to sit up and pay attention. Right now, in the chaos of protests and calls for police reform, America is waking up to the problem of public-sector unions.   The death of George Floyd…

Many of our individual lives have changed in some way or another due to the coronavirus. Similarly, lawmakers have a wide range of public policy options worthy of consideration as they are tasked with facilitating smooth transitions into post-coronavirus life and recovery of the localities and economies they, and the constituents they represent, are a…

One never knows when poignant, humbling moments will hit you, or even why when they hit, they hit you square in the gut.   Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the Cardinal Institute has been doing its best to cut through the information thicket and curate three good resources – e.g., articles, research, podcasts, videos – that deal…

This week is teacher appreciation week – a week where students all over the country express their gratitude for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice made by their teachers. Teachers are inspiring; they help us grow in more ways than just book knowledge. I’m sure nearly everyone can think of a teacher who has impacted…

Now that we find ourselves somewhere around March 83rd, after having spent the last several weeks in quarantine, I’ve started to ponder what the world is going to be like once we’re “released back into the wild” — as I’ve come to call it.   I think it’s safe to say that there’s little chance…

What follows is a series of observations and ramblings. You have been warned.   If only there were something for us to discuss – some paradigm-shifting, traumatizing event that we’re all experiencing together. Oh yes, that’s right, working from home, quarantined (stuck?) with our families. I’m afraid you’ll have to forgive me, as I’m a…

Yesterday our Executive Director sent a letter to Governor Justice pleading with him to immediately and indefinitely suspend Certificate of Need laws in response to the COVID-19 crisis facing West Virginia. Maybe you’ve never heard of Certificate of Need (CON) laws, but, in a nutshell, these laws require healthcare providers to obtain permission from the…

Lately, it seems like everyone has a story, or a picture posted on their social media account of the cobwebs and a “LIMIT: 2” sign inhabiting the store shelves where hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray or wipes, or toilet paper used to live. After leaving the store empty-handed, maybe you thought you’d try your luck ordering…

“It’s a ’good ol’ boy’s’ club here! Always has been and always will be!” This was one of the first things people told me when I moved to Charleston from my small hometown in Kentucky. My starry-eyed enthusiasm for moving to a big city in a new state wavered when I looked around and began…