By William Mattox, JMI Resident Fellow Posted February 1, 2012 Today marks the first-ever celebration of Digital Learning Day, and to commemorate the occasion, The James Madison Institute is shining our spotlight on Christy Box of Brevard County and Tariq McCray of Seminole County – two students who are benefitting from the digital revolution in …

Read Full Post

By Christian Kent, JMI Intern and Florida State University Senior in Economics Posted January 26, 2012 In an age where many Americans would like to see a reduction in the size of their government, it can be a difficult task choosing a starting point.  With so many laws affecting so many lives, it can be …

Read Full Post

By Bob Sanchez, JMI Policy Director Posted January 24, 2012 With bipartisan support, parents in many states are winning an enhanced right to choose the schools that they believe will not only give their children the best chance to succeed academically, but will also surround their children in a safe and nurturing environment rather than …

Read Full Post

By Bob Sanchez, JMI Policy Director Posted January 12, 2012 Chalk up another casualty for recalcitrant labor unions. Hostess Brands, producers of Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs, and the iconic Twinkie snack cake, has filed for bankruptcy protection — again. As recently as 2009, the “restructured” firm emerged from previous bankruptcy proceedings that had dragged on …

Read Full Post

By Bill Mattox, JMI Resident Fellow Posted January 11, 2012 Most 2012 election observers want to talk these days (understandably) about actual candidates for president – Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Barack Obama, and the like – but forgive me for just a moment as I make an observation about Chris Christie that seems especially fitting …

Read Full Post

By Bob Sanchez, JMI Policy Director Posted January 5, 2012 One puzzling feature of the current “jobless recovery” is that thousands of jobs remain unfilled while thousands of qualified workers remain jobless. Although the unemployment rate has dropped slightly – in part because many discouraged workers have left the labor force — the anemic pace …

Read Full Post

By Francisco Gonzalez, JMI Development Director Posted January 4, 2012 It’s that time of year again. Gathering around the dinner table with friends and relatives you don’t see very often. And when you remind them that you are living and working in the public policy arena inTallahassee (or Washington, for that matter), your relatives have …

Read Full Post

By Bill Mattox, JMI Resident Fellow Posted January 3, 2012 As a political independent who’s still very much undecided about the 2012 presidential race, I read with great interest a recent New York Times article entitled, “Two Romneys: Wealthy Man, Thrifty Habits.”  The article, which cited many colorful examples of Mitt Romney’s personal frugality, sought …

Read Full Post

By Dr. J. Robert McClure, JMI President & CEO Posted December 29, 2011 As everyone wraps up a frenzied holiday period filled with family, friends and lots of good cheer, we at the Institute are thankful for our members’ and supporters’ commitment to this organization in 2011. So many have helped make it, by far, …

Read Full Post

By Robert F. Sanchez, JMI Policy Director Posted December 28, 2011 The death of brutal North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il put a spotlight on the contrast in conditions on opposite sides of the 38th parallel, which remains the dividing line between the Republic of Korea to the south and Kim’s stronghold, the laughably misnamed “Democratic …

Read Full Post