The Democratic Governor Who Wants Drug Legalization and Free Markets
"Government in general does a lot of things that aren't necessary," says Jared Polis.
Occupational Licensing
Minnesota Caretaker Gets Lifetime Ban for Crime She Didn't Commit
Even if background check applicants are guilty of wrongdoing, imposing lifetime bans on gainful employment is not a good policy.
Anarchy in Central Park
New York politicians got out of the way for once, and something beautiful happened.
Companies Shouldn't Have the Right To Veto Their Competition
Certificate of need laws hurt consumers by decreasing the supply of services, raising prices, and lowering service quality.
Study Finds Bar Exam Requirements Greatly Reduce the Number of Lawyers
New research by legal scholar Kyle Roxzema finds that bar exam requirements reduce the number of lawyers by 16%, and even variations in the difficulty of exam requirements have big effects.
One Reason for New York's Pitiful Rollout of Legal Pot: License Preferences for Victims of Prohibition
More than two years after legalizing recreational use, the state has just a dozen licensed retailers.
Rejoice Georgians: You Don't Need a Government Permit To Advise Breastfeeding Moms
The state’s Supreme Court strikes down an absurd, unneeded occupational licensing demand.
Georgia S. Ct.: Right to Pursue Lawful Occupation Invalidates License Requirement for Lactation Consultants
The court so holds applying the Georgia Constitution's Due Process Clause, which the court had long interpreted as securing a right to pursue a lawful occupation.
Michigan Senate Proposes Onerous Licensing Rules for Hunting and Fishing Guides
Proponents say that the bills would ensure the quality of fishing and hunting guides, but occupational licensing doesn't tend to work that way.
Utah Is Making It Easier for Foreign and Out-of-State Professionals To Get Licensed and Get to Work
Other states would do well to enact similar reforms.
Progressive Politicians Are Regulating Their Own Projects Into Oblivion
Excessive government interference in the market hurts consumers and thwarts policy goals. It also gets in the way of the government itself.
How Bad Are Your State's Occupational Licensing Requirements?
You shouldn't need permission to make a living.
The Government Is Subsidizing Microchip Firms—While Making It More Expensive To Produce Microchips
Politicians say they want to subsidize various industries, but they sabotage themselves by weighing the policies down with rules that have nothing to do with the plans.
The End of a Weed Paradise
D.C. is destroying its thriving cannabis industry with bureaucracy and red tape.
Virginia Next for Occupational Licensing Reform
The state will fast-track applicants who have out-of-state credentials or experience.
New Hampshire Gov. Sununu Just Announced a Massive Occupational Licensing Reform
In a budget address, Gov. Sununu promised legislation to allow some out-of-state licenses, abolish others.
DeSantis Revokes Licenses From Businesses That Fail To Use Flawed E-Verify System
Floridians will bear the cost of DeSantis currying favor with immigration restrictionists.
Pennsylvania's New Governor Dumps Excessive College Diploma Demands for State Jobs
More leaders should follow in the footsteps of Govs. Josh Shapiro, Larry Hogan, and Spencer Cox.
Ohio To Honor Occupational Licenses from Other States
While not a cure-all, universal recognition reduces the costs and time commitments of mandated training.
With Jordan Peterson, Occupational Licensing Becomes a Way To Censor
New mechanisms to threaten liberty are brought to bear on those who need the government's permission to do their jobs.
New York Is Setting Up Legal Marijuana Merchants for Failure
Nearly 20 months after the state legalized recreational use, no licensed pot shops have opened, but the black market is booming.
Republicans Need an Actual Plan To Grow the Economy
The biggest beneficiaries of economic growth are poor people. But the deepest case for economic growth is a moral one.
Texas Roofer Arrested in Florida for Helping Hurricane Victims
He's fully licensed, but not in the right state.
The Government Should Be Pro-Market, Not 'Pro-Business'
Businesses are all in favor of competition, tax cuts, and deregulation only until they aren't—meaning only until subsidies might benefit them.
D.C.'s Preschool Teacher Education Requirement Won't Help Working Families
Even if credentialed teachers help kids learn more, it’s not worth making D.C. day cares prohibitively expensive and pushing experienced teachers out of jobs.
Occupational Licensing Doesn't Mean Higher Quality Services
Plus: FIRE teams up with Ice-T, self-preferencing shouldn't be an antitrust offense, and more...
How Faithful Is The Rings of Power to J.R.R. Tolkien's Anti-Statism?
Between the books and the new TV series, we see two different visions of freedom.
English Tests Are Just an Excuse To Block Immigrants From Licensed Professions
Why should the government care if massage therapists can speak English?
Minnesota Engineering Board Fines, Censures Engineer-Activist for Calling Himself an Engineer
Licensing authorities are penalizing Strong Towns founder Charles Marohn for referring to himself as a professional engineer while his license was briefly expired.
Supreme Court Asked To Decide if Paid Diet Advice Is Protected by the First Amendment
A Florida woman has been threatened with fines for giving tips without the proper occupational licensing.
Federal Court Upholds Washington, DC Regulation Requiring Child Care Workers to Have College Degrees
The decision may be in accordance with Supreme Court precedent. But if so, it underscores that precedent's flaws.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds College Degree Requirement for Child Care Staff
Plus: how voters respond to vague criticism, U.S. lawmakers still at war with TikTok, and more...
Which Is More Scandalous: The Training for Armed Teachers or the Training for Police Officers?
On average, the minimum requirement for cops is about 650 hours, compared to about 1,300 hours for barbers.
It's Becoming Easier To Get Permission To Work, But Not by Enough
Occupational licensing reform is a popular cause, but barriers remain too high.
Stephen Carter Makes the Case for Barring the Bar Exam
The famous columnist and Yale Law School professor points out that the case made against other standardized tests, such as the LSAT, also applies to bar exams.
July Brings a Mixed Bag of New State Alcohol Laws
California bartenders will need to be certified, while Virginians can now bring up to three gallons of booze across state lines.
A New Jersey Town Wants To Charge This Woman $5,000 To Sell Cookies
Somerville still has costly regulations on the books even though New Jersey has legalized the sale of home-baked items.
This Michigan Town Repealed a Ban on Fortunetellers, but Might Break State Law if It Tries To Regulate Them
Petoskey's draft ordinance would require both "legitimate" fortunetellers and people pretending to tell fortunes to be licensed, calling into question the sense of licensing at all.
NYC Mayor Defends Decision To Handcuff and Strip Search Woman Selling Mangos on a Subway Platform
Maria Falcon doesn't have a business license. So New York police officers detained her and confiscated all of her merchandise.
Occupational Licensing Hurts the Vulnerable Without Helping the Public
Hispanics get slammed the hardest by licensing requirements that regulators can’t justify.
These Hair Braiders Might Kill an Idaho Licensing Law That State Officials Admit Makes No Sense
They've been practicing African-style hair braiding for a combined 60 years. Now, these three women are suing for the right to make a living using their skills.
New York Restricts Free Legal Advice. Now It Faces a First Amendment Lawsuit
A pastor and a nonprofit challenge occupational licensing rules.
It's Time for New York City To Scrap Its Cap on Street-Food Permits
Despite shifting enforcement away from cops, NYC is still ticketing the dickens out of New York's street-food sellers.
The 'Build Back Better' Bill Will Spend a Lot of Money To Make Our Problems Worse
You can support pre-K education and affordable child care and worry about climate change while understanding that policymakers need to get out of the way.
FTC Drills Alabama Licensing Board for Anti-Competitive Scheme Targeting Teledentistry
The FTC challenged a licensing scheme that it says limited consumer choice and excluded new providers.
My National Affairs Article on "Voting With Our Feet"
The article explains how expanding opportunities for foot voting can enhance political choice, help the poor and disadvantaged, and reduce the dangers of political polarization.
This Private Eye Was Denied a License Because He Criticized Police
Free speech and occupational licensing collide.