In case you missed it…

John Tsarpalas

 

Common Core

Years before implementing Common Core curriculum, California was dedicated to improving K-12 math requirements. Over time, the state had managed to triple the number of eighth graders ranked proficient in math, and quadruple the number of eighth graders learning algebra. But then, in 2014, the state adopted Common Core curriculum — and almost overnight the progress that had been made in education was wiped away. (Read more)

 

Government waste

A Los Angeles firefighter, Donn Thompson, hiked his $92,000 annual salary last year by over $400,000 by, apparently, “overtime.” And it’s not the first time he’s turned such an exorbitant amount of overtime into cash. What’s worse for California taxpayers, however, is that Thompson’s cost to them will go on for years and years beyond his retirement — given the realities of current pension laws. Thompson and his habit of accumulating massive amounts of overtime, however, are not unique. For decades, firefighters have taken advantage of overtime rules to jack up their salaries and pensions. (Read more)

 

Public sector unions

The average wage for Clark County local government workers is richer than what their peers in 99 percent of counties nationwide receive, according to an NPRI analysis of the most current wage data available from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite receiving wages that already place SEIU Local 1107 employees in the top 1 percent of counties nationwide, the union recently rejected Clark County’s offer of a 2 percent across-the-board pay increase, demanding instead a 3.25 percent raise. “As the SEIU of Nevada has made clear,” explained Nevada Policy Research Institute Director of Transparency Research Robert Fellner, “unions in the public sector are not about eliminating any supposed imbalance that results in below-market wages. Instead, both they and the politicians who work for them profit from the constantly inflated public pay and the increased burden they impose on taxpayers.” (Read more)

 

Politics

For decades, organized labor has treated its members like ATMs for political activity — using dues to lobby and reward union-serving politicians. Since 2010, organized labor has given more than $1.3 billion to Democrat Party organizations and left-leaning nonprofits, according to a survey of federal political spending. Given that many rank-and-file union members tend to lean Republican, it’s no wonder that many workers nationwide have decided to opt out of union membership altogether. Even union leaders themselves have acknowledged that many members don’t agree with the union’s political activities. Last year, federal lawmakers introduced legislation that, among other things, would have required unions to get written permission from members before using their dues revenue for political purposes. It’s a good start toward making sure union members aren’t subsidizing political speech with which they disagree. (Read more)

 

Political correctness

It’s not just Hollywood and giant tech companies that are systematically “blacklisting” conservative or libertarian material. Even comic books are bastions of politically-correct progressivism nowadays. As Jon Del Arroz writes for The Federalist, “At one time, comics were fun and pro-America, upholding objective standards of good vs. evil. Supergirl used to fight tyrants hell-bent on world domination. Now she worries if she’s offended her non-binary friend by calling “it” by the wrong pronoun.” Just another indication why the market demand for alternatives to the obsessively politically correct is real and growing. (Read more)

 

John Tsarpalas

John Tsarpalas

President

John Tsarpalas is the President of the Nevada Policy, and is deeply committed to spreading limited government ideas and policy to create a better, more prosperous Nevada for all.

For over three decades, John has educated others in the ideals and benefits of limited government. In the 1980s, John joined the Illinois Libertarian Party and served on its State Central Committee. Later in the 90s, he transitioned to the Republican Party, and became active in the Steve Forbes for President Campaign and flat taxes.

In 2005, he was recruited to become the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party where he graduated from the Republican National Committee’s Campaign College, the RNC’s Field Management School, and the Leadership Institute’s activist training.

Additionally, John has served as President of the Sam Adams Alliance and Team Sam where he did issue education and advocacy work in over 10 states, with a focus on the web.

John also founded or helped start the following educational not-for-profits: Think Freely Media, the Haym Salomon Center – where he served as Chairman, the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity and Midwest Speaking Professionals.

A native of Chicago, John now lives in Las Vegas with his wife of more than 40 years.