Obama Policy Is Positive Step, But Could Delay Real Reform | Alex Nowrasteh | Cato Institute: Commentary

Obama Policy Is Positive Step, But Could Delay Real Reform | Alex Nowrasteh | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The last time Obama used his prosecutorial discretion to review deportation cases, his administration promised to stop the deportations of unauthorized immigrants with strong American family ties and no criminal records. Since that policy went into effect in November 2011, Department of Homeland Security officials stopped deportations in a bare 2 percent of the 411,000 cases reviewed. Last week's memo could be just a repeat of that."

Obama's Executive Unilateralism | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Obama's Executive Unilateralism | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "In an interview with a panel of Latino journalists last fall, the president had a different take: "This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true. We live in a democracy," he insisted. "You have to pass bills through the legislature and then I can sign it." That's why, despite the urging of immigration activists, he could not implement the Dream Act via executive diktat."

"The University of Chicago's Richard Epstein warns that "government by waiver" is "among the most serious challenges to the rule of law in our time." The growth of the administrative state has concentrated enormous discretionary power in the president's hands, and he can use that power to reward political allies and legislate by decree without the inconvenience of democratic deliberation.

Consider the conditional waivers the administration has granted to 10 states, freeing them from the strictures of the No Child Left Behind Act — but only if they adopt certain reforms, nowhere to be found in the law."

"the president's union allies were suspiciously overrepresented in Obamacare waivers granted by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, loosening administrative cost limits in employer health plans."

Wanted: Servants, Not Celebrities | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Wanted: Servants, Not Celebrities | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The empirical evidence supports the stereotype that the Republicans are somewhat more restrained when it comes to spending than their Democratic colleagues, but that is a low standard. "

"History shows that both Republicans and Democrats usually end up voting for more spending (and taxing) than they promise during their election campaigns. The basic problem is that they are heavily lobbied by those who want specific spending programs, and rewarded with campaign contributions for voting in favor of those programs."

"By 1988, he garnered 71 percent of the vote — the all-time record for any Long Island congressman. He was a model of how a lawmaker can be fiscally responsible, yet get re-elected time and time again in a swing district (after defeating a well-known Democrat)."

"Mr. Lent once told me that he thought the reform that would have the biggest single effect would be to no longer allow the sponsor of a bill or party leadership to name the legislation. "

Obama, Romney short on specifics for voters | Fox News

Obama, Romney short on specifics for voters | Fox News: "Romney, for example, has pledged to cap total federal spending at 20 percent of the gross domestic product by the end of his first term, increase defense spending and put the federal budget on track to be balanced within eight to 10 years. But he's offered scant detail about the painful spending cuts that would be necessary to pull off such a trifecta."