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Loving free trade more than we realize

In the ongoing debate over America’s trade policy, politicians and pundits often claim that the public supports tariffs and other protectionist measures, such as those given to us by the Trump and Biden administrations. A new Cato Institute poll, however, reveals a more complex picture: Americans might like the idea of tariffs and “Buy American” policies, but their support shrinks when confronted with higher prices and other negative consequences. This disconnect -- between abstract preferences and real-world actions with concrete downsides -- challenges the protectionist ...

A new age of flooding

On August 9 a flood delivered by Hurricane Debby clobbered the community of Trout Run, just north of Williamsport. Nine inches of rain flushed muddy water into low-lying homes while torrential currents made Highway 14—as photographed in the Sun-Gazette—look like the San Andreas Fault, gaping and ugly enough to eat a car. Lycoming County was not alone. The storm wreaked damage from South Carolina to Vermont. Governor Shapiro declared a disaster proclamation for one-third of the state. That released $2 million of taxpayer money for relief, which will be a drop in the bucket needed to ...

Shapiro won’t be VP — and he only has himself to blame

Earlier this month, all signs pointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. After all, Shapiro sits atop high approval ratings in the nation’s largest and most important swing state. He seemingly had a home-field advantage with Harris’s announcement scheduled for Philadelphia. However, life served Shapiro a healthy helping of humble pie when Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tom Walz as her running mate. So, why Walz instead of Shapiro? Speculation about why Harris didn’t pick Shapiro is rampant –including blowback from ...

Harris failed as ‘border czar’

I have been a Border Patrol agent since 1997, serving under Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden, and I served as president of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) from 2013 to earlier this year. I have worked alongside U.S. presidents, members of Congress, and elected officials across the political spectrum to find ways to strengthen our border security and give our Border Patrol agents the resources they need to keep America safe. Let me clear something up: Vice President Kamala Harris is the “Border Czar,” and while she is trying to deny that fact, pretend to ...

Loss of power plants needs to be priority

What can Pennsylvania lawmakers do about a looming regional power shortage that they didn’t cause and can’t easily fix? This dilemma poses the most important energy issue facing the commonwealth. PJM Interconnection — which operates the regional electric grid serving 13 states and the District of Columbia — issued a report last year warning that, under current trends, there may not be enough electric generating capacity to keep the lights on by 2028-2030. The problem results from a combination of circumstances. First, demand for electricity is growing due to the proliferation ...

Pennsylvania’s backward budget

Pennsylvania’s most precious resource – people – are leaving. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s newly adopted 2024–25 state budget, once more, mimics the policies of other declining states, guaranteeing this downward trend will continue. From 2013 to 2023, Pennsylvania, on average, lost 25,000 people annually to other states through migration. Where did they go? Recent Independent Fiscal Office analysis shows Pennsylvanians moved to Florida, the Carolinas, Delaware, and Texas. Today, more income flows out of Pennsylvania than in – on net, a negative $2.76 billion. These destination ...