We got mixed signals from a turbulent political week. Barack Obama seems to be enjoying an uptick in polls, moving toward 50 percent approval. But his weakness was apparent in his State of the Union address: issues. 

The headlines that the health care bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus will cut the federal deficit by $81 billion over the next ten years are not worthy of belief.

Nebraska's CB plans are innovative and could be a model for other states to follow as they try and bring their budgets and pensions under control. Yet there are other, more transparent and taxpayer-friendly ways Nebraska could construct the pension system.

Our soldiers in Afghanistan have to deal with enough absurd rules of engagement without having to put up with one that can turn a serious wound into a mortal one. They deserve better — as do our Dustoff crews.

A panel of retirement experts and public policy economists will address the growing threats to the pension liabilities of states and municipalities.

Despite increasingly tough talk about the importance of Asia, the Obama administration’s preview of its fiscal year 2013 defense budget proves that it is a “pivot” in name only. 

Widespread state sales taxation of business purchases results in significant economic inefficiency, so reduction in the taxation of business purchases should be a high priority in efforts to improve state and local tax systems.

Despite a $160 million outstanding lifeline, Treasury misrepresentation paints a rosy picture of success.