Independent Institute

The University of California is facing a $500M budget shortfall and plans to address it by raising tuition for out-of-state students. But this approach avoids a larger issue: the UC’s bloated bureaucracy, especially in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) departments. DEI positions, which defy the intent of California’s Prop 209, cost millions while offering no direct educational value. At UC Berkeley alone, the DEI vice chancellor earns $364,000 annually, and the campus employs hundreds more in similar roles. Meanwhile, top executive salaries are sky-high, UC’s president earns $1.3M annually. ??: https://buff.ly/4i2LIuK

Utility energy efficiency (EE) programs are often framed as cost-effective, climate-friendly “no-regret” policies. Yet, studies consistently reveal overstated benefits, hidden costs, and free-rider issues. Why should utilities & governments spend billions annually on EE when customers and taxpayers can make rational energy decisions themselves? Misaligned incentives & flawed analyses make many of these initiatives more harmful than helpful. It’s time to reevaluate. ??: https://lnkd.in/gjFVBDfF

A free and independent press is essential to a functioning republic, yet journalists in the U.S. face federal threats to their sources and freedoms. The PRESS Act, which has passed the House twice unanimously, seeks to provide a much-needed federal shield law to protect reporters while addressing national security concerns. At a time when some political leaders threaten to curtail press freedoms and label the media “an enemy of the people,” safeguarding the First Amendment has never been more critical. Originally published in MSN ??: https://buff.ly/3Zy41kt

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The US housing crisis is a product of policy. We face a 4.3 million apartment shortage by 2035, a gap largely tied to zoning regulations upheld in the 1926 Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. decision. Back then, zoning explicitly aimed to limit apartments, labeled as "parasites" by Justice Sutherland, to protect single-family neighborhoods. Today, zoning adds 27% to multifamily housing costs, compared to 10% for single-family homes. If we’re serious about addressing the housing shortage, we must confront the legacy of zoning and consider bold reforms. ??: https://lnkd.in/g4peZa2E

The quiet tug-of-war over specialty drug costs is one of the most overlooked issues in healthcare today. Big Pharma and large employers both want patients to access lifesaving drugs, but they disagree on who should bear the cost. Now, a proposed regulation threatens to hand drug companies a win at the expense of employee wages. We need market-driven solutions, not overreach, that ensure fair pricing and better outcomes for everyone. Originally published in Forbes ??: https://buff.ly/4i11CG4

Our education system is at a crossroads. Decades of grade inflation and declining learning standards, aggravated by the pandemic, have left both K-12 and higher education in a troubling state. Students today are working less but earning higher grades, undermining the value of education and the workforce readiness of graduates. This is not a costly problem to fix, it’s about leadership and accountability. University boards, policymakers, and educators must come together to raise standards, support intellectual rigor, and ensure our students rise to meet their potential. Let’s make learning meaningful again. Originally published in Minding the Campus ??: https://buff.ly/40YUkMT #Education #HigherEd #StudentSuccess #Leadership

On November 12, the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments in Viramontes v. County of Cook, a pivotal Second Amendment challenge to Cook County’s ban on AR-15s and other semiautomatic rifles. These firearms, often inaccurately labeled as "assault weapons," are widely owned by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, and Heller clearly protects the right to possess such arms in common use. However, the court's focus largely shifted to procedural issues raised in the briefs rather than addressing the substantive merits of the case. With one of the most comprehensive evidentiary records presented in such challenges, this decision has the potential to set significant precedent for firearm regulations and constitutional rights. Originally published in Reason ??: https://buff.ly/4904vCX

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"The money should work the same for everybody" - Senior Fellow Judy Shelton $42 Trillion has been created in U.S. household wealth in the last 4 years. 62% of that went to the top 10% of wealthiest Americans.