Arthur will be discussing his latest book, The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise. By appealing to the writings of the Founders, social science research, and public opinion data, Arthur demonstrates that free enterprise embodies the American notions of fairness and service—and allows each individual to live a flourishing and prosperous life.

**Please note: the Stamford Sheraton is at 700 East Main Street, Stamford – it was previously on Summer Street. Use the address above for directions and maps.** Click here for directions.

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are $20 per person and include free parking. Lunch and book tickets are $40.

Click here to register today!

All questions should be directed to Jessica at (860) 282-0722 or jessica@yankeeinstitute.org.

About Arthur
Arthur Brooks is president of AEI. Until 2009, he was the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy at Syracuse University. He is the author of ten books and many articles on topics ranging from the economics of the arts to applied mathematics.  Before pursuing his work in public policy, Arthur spent twelve years as a professional French hornist with the City Orchestra of Barcelona and other ensembles.

“Last night’s vote does not affect our lawsuit challenging the legality of the administration’s forced unionization of certain personal care attendants and daycare providers.

“Observers should not make the mistake of concluding that the legislature’s action makes moot the lawsuits challenging the forced unionization of these workers. In fact, the first hearing on the case is scheduled for Monday morning in Hartford Superior Court.

“Our suits make two sets of arguments. First, we argue that the governor’s use of executive orders to implement this forced unionization scheme improperly usurped a legislative responsibility. The legislature’s attempt to sanction the governor’s action retroactively concedes that point, which we appreciate, but it does not make the original executive orders legal. The legality of all the union organizing that has taken place under the authority of the executive orders is therefore still very much in doubt.

“Our second set of arguments is that the unionization of these employees is illegal under existing state and federal law. These groups of personal care attendants and daycare providers, who are private sector employees and self-employed small businesspeople, are not subject to unionization in the first place.

“See you in court on Monday.”

**Please note: the Stamford Sheraton is at 700 East Main Street, Stamford – it was previously on Summer Street. Use the address above for directions and maps.** Click here for directions.

The photo op will begin at 10 a.m. and tickets are $250 per individual or couple – this ticket option includes brunch as well. Guests who select the photo op do not need to also purchase brunch tickets. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Yankee Institute.  A 8×10 print will be mailed to guests after the event.

The general brunch will begin at 10:30 a.m. and tickets are $40 per person.

All questions should be directed to Jessica at (860) 282-0722 or jessica@yankeeinstitute.org.

About Joe
Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) is the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. In April 2011, Scarborough was named to the prestigious “Time 100” list of the world’s most influential people. Along with co-host Mika Brzezinski, Morning Joe features interviews with top newsmakers and analysis of the day’s biggest stories.

Previously, Joe hosted Scarborough Country on MSNBC, a primetime news show the San Francisco Chronicle called “must-see TV.”

In addition to his career in television Scarborough is also the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America’s Promise,” a book that draws on the forgotten genius of conservatism to offer a road map for the movement and the country.

Prior to his career in television, Joe was the publisher and editor of the award-winning newspaper The Florida Sun.

Joe served as a member of Congress from 1994-2001. While in office, he was a member of the
Judiciary, Armed Services, Oversight and National Security committees.

His 2004 book Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day predicted the collapse of the Republican majority and US economy due to his party’s reckless spending.

Download the complaint here.

To see photos from today’s events, be sure to check out the Yankee Institute’s Facebook page.

Former US Rep. Rob Simmons (CT-2) was elected Chairman of the Yankee Institute on March 5, 2012

EAST HARTFORD – Former Congressman Robert R. “Rob” Simmons is the new Chairman of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy. Simmons was unanimously elected to lead the free-market think tank by his fellow board members at the group’s annual meeting Monday.

Simmons succeeds Andrew J. Cowin of Greenwich, who stepped down as chairman after serving in that position for eight years. Yankee experienced a ten-fold increase in membership during Cowin’s tenure. Cowin continues to serve as a member of Yankee’s board.

“I am proud that Rob Simmons has accepted the Chairmanship of Yankee,” Cowin said. “Rob is a patriot who has served his state and nation all his life. His background in politics, public policy, teaching and fund-raising is a tremendous asset to Yankee,” Cowin said. Simmons’ primary focus for the organization will be development and fund-raising.

Fergus Cullen, Executive Director of the Yankee Institute, said, “I have known Congressman Simmons since the 1990s and respect his credentials as a Barry Goldwater conservative. Rob is a great fit for Yankee as we continue to grow and expand our influence.”

The Yankee Institute’s mission is improving lives through freedom and opportunity. The think tank develops and advocates free-market and private sector solutions to public policy issues. The group supports lower taxes and limited government.

Simmons served as Senator Goldwater’s Staff Director on the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1981-1985. He is also an Associate Fellow of Berkeley College at Yale, completed his Masters in Public Administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and was a pre-doctoral candidate in Political Science at the University of Connecticut.

From 1991-2001, Simmons represented his home town of Stonington and North Stonington in the General Assembly, and served in Connecticut’s 2nd District Congressman from 2001-2007. From 2007-2008 he was the state’s first Business Advocate, and is a retired US Army Colonel with multiple years of service in Vietnam.
- 30 -

ABOUT THE YANKEE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY: The Yankee Institute is a think tank that develops and advocates free-market and private sector solutions to public policy issues. Founded in 1984, Yankee has offices in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Yankee Institute is nonpartisan research and educational organization and is classified by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit.

**Please note: the Stamford Sheraton is at 700 East Main Street, Stamford – it was previously on Summer Street. Use the address above for directions and maps.** Click here for directions.

The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and include the reception and free parking. Click here to register or use the ticket box below.

All questions should be directed to Jessica at (860) 282-0722 or jessica@yankeeinstitute.org.

About the Speaker
Dr. Feulner’s leadership has been internationally recognized. The Daily Telegraph (UK) named him one of the 100 most influential conservatives in America in 2007 and 2010. Feulner first joined The Heritage Foundation as a founding trustee in 1973, becoming president in 1977. He travels more than 150,000 miles a year, crisscrossing the United States and the globe to meet with leaders and help spread the ideals of individual liberty, economic freedom, rule of law, and family values.

He graduated from Regis University with a bachelor’s degree in English, and received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 1964. He later attended Georgetown University and the London School of Economics, and then earned a doctorate degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1981.

Feulner began his Washington career as Public Affairs Fellow for the Center for Strategic Studies and at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he wrote on subjects such as trade with the Soviet Union. He later became a confidential assistant to Rep. and later Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird. Afterward, Feulner became Chief of Staff to Rep. Philip M. Crane. Before joining Heritage as its President, Feulner was Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee.

Feulner is the author of seven books: Getting America Right (2006), Leadership for America (2000), Intellectual Pilgrims (1999), The March of Freedom (1998), Conservatives Stalk the House (1983), Looking Back (1981) and Trading with the Communists (1968).

In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic Congressman Chris Murphy holds a 49-40% lead over Linda McMahon and a smaller 45-39% advantage over Chris Shays. Susan Bysiewicz edges McMahon, 43-40%, but Shays holds a slight lead over Bysiewicz, 42-41%, should they both become their party’s nominees in the general election.

Governor Malloy’s approval and re-elect numbers have improved somewhat since the end of the last legislative session, though he continues to be the least popular elected Democrat in Connecticut. Governor Malloy’s approval rating is 51 % and his net approval rating is positive by five points (51/46), a net improvement of 19 points compared to June of last year, when it was 42/56 percent. Gov. Malloy’s re-elect number is 47%, up 8 points but still below the 50% mark incumbents like to see. Gov. Malloy’s job approval rating trailed those of other Democrats:

• Senator Richard Blumenthal:       62% approve, 31% disapprove (net +31)
• Senator Joe Lieberman:                 53% approve, 43% disapprove (net +10)
• President Barack Obama:              53% approve, 44% disapprove (net +9)
• Governor Dannel Malloy:              51% approve, 46% disapprove (net +5)

Among candidates, Chris Murphy enjoys the highest net favorable rating (+19), followed by Shays (+7) and Bysiewicz (+1). Romney (-5), McMahon (-9) and Gingrich (-35) had net negative favorability ratings.

Voters were asked about a number of policy issues that may be considered during the coming legislative session, including education reform.

• Cut spending, don’t raise taxes: 70% of voters think the state budget deficit should be addressed “all” (40%) or “mostly” (30%) by spending cuts, and not tax increases.

• Abolish teacher tenure: 61% of voters would support abolishing tenure for public school teachers, and just 24% want to see tenure kept.

• Reform teacher compensation: 53% of voters support reforming teacher compensation to reflect student outcomes and classroom evaluations, while 28% think experience and education credentials should be the main considerations.

• Skeptical about teachers unions: 63% of voters think teachers unions care more about protecting members’ jobs than about the quality of education (28%).

• OK on Sunday liquor sales: By two-to-one (62-321%), voters support changing state law to allow for Sunday sales of beer, wine, and liquor.

• Oppose forced unionization: By 52-34%, voters disagree with the Malloy administration’s push to unionize certain daycare providers and personal care attendants.

• Reform immigration: 56% of voters support creating a path to legal status for illegal immigrants, and just 37% say such people should be required to leave the country.

• Skip Davos: By 48-35%, voters disapprove of the Governor’s decision to attend the World Economic Forum.

Complete results are available here: Toplines (PDF); Survey (PDF); Crosstabs (XLS)

Methodology: The phone survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, February 1 and 2, of 500 likely Connecticut voters and has a margin or error of 4.5 % with a 95% level of confidence. The survey was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, which is associated with Rasmussen Reports. Question wording was based on public polling conducted by NBC News/Wall Street Journal, ABC News/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, Quinnipiac, University of New Hampshire, Rasmussen, and Pew.

EAST HARTFORD – The Yankee Institute launched an education campaign today to help personal care attendants fully understand their rights related to the forced unionization effort being waged by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), District 1199. “No one can be bullied into this forced unionization scheme,” said Fergus Cullen, the Yankee Institute’s Executive Director. “We are letting PCAs know that they don’t have to sign the cards.”

View the informational mailer now!

The Yankee Institute sent an informational flier to more than 6,000 personal care attendants on the list provided to Yankee by the Malloy Administration after a recent Freedom of Information Act request. Unlike the union documents, it lets PCAs know that up to $780 could be diverted from their paychecks each year in union dues and that a portion of those funds will be used for political activities they may not support.

Governor Malloy set the forced unionization process in motion in September 2011 with Executive Order No. 10, which targeted PCAs for unionization. The Yankee Institute calculated that this move will be worth between $1.4 million and $5 million in dues to SEIU, some of which will go to political activities such as, for example, supporting the Governor’s agenda. According to documents filed with the Office of Labor-Management Standards, SEIU 1199 spent $15.3 million on political activities and lobbying in 2010.

“$780 might not mean much to the Governor or SEIU, but it means a lot to hard working people in Connecticut taking care of some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Instead of being diverted for political organizing, it should be going toward groceries, utility bills, and gas. We are letting the PCAs know that they can’t be bullied into signing the card.”

The Yankee Institute has also set up a hotline for PCAs to report bullying tactics as they see them. They can call the Yankee office at 860-282-0722, e-mail us at unionfacts@yankeeinstitute.org, or visit our website on the subject, www.yankeeinstitute.org/unions

Yankee Institute Policy Brief: Connecticut’s Minimum Wage

Overview:
According to recent news reports, State Rep. Zeke Zalaski (D-Southington) will host a press conference today in which he is expected to announce a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage. Though well intentioned, this policy option is deeply misguided and will impose yet another obstacle to job growth in Connecticut.

The minimum wage is a “significant cause of unemployment”
“Overwhelming empirical evidence has convinced most economists that the minimum wage is a significant cause of unemployment, particularly among the unskilled.

Among the beneficiaries of the minimum wage law are the more highly skilled workers who remain employed and who can command higher wage in the absence of less-skilled competition. These more highly skilled workers tend to be represented by labor unions, which, not surprisingly, tend to support increases in the minimum wage.” (Stephen A. Landsburg, Price Theory & Applications 5e. United States. South-Western Thomson Learning, 2002. Page 407)

More than 50 years of academic research on the subject has found the disemployment effects of the minimum wage
A February 1995 summary of the issue by the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress identified 105 studies that supported this conclusion. (Congress of the United States Joint Economic Committee, 50 Years of Research on the Minimum Wage. February 15, 1995. Accessed online on January 31, 2012 at http://www.house.gov/jec/cost-gov/regs/minimum/50years.htm)

But Connecticut’s minimum wage has been increased 32 times since 1951
Connecticut’s minimum wage was increased 30 times between 1951 and 2007 (John Moran, History of CT Minimum Wage, CT Office of Legislative Research Report. June 26, 2006. 2006-R-0410)

Public Act No. 08-92 increased the minimum wage to its current rate of $8.25 an hour. The hike was implemented in two steps, from $7.65 to $8.00 on January 1, 2009 and to $8.25 on January 1, 2010. (OLR Bill Analysis sHB5105 as amended by House “A” Accessed online on January 31, 2011 at http://cga.ct.gov/2008/BA/2008HB-05105-R010727-BA.htm)

In fact, Connecticut “has consistently enacted minimum wages that are higher than the national minimum.”
“Connecticut has consistently enacted minimums that are higher than the national minimum.” (John Moran, History of CT Minimum Wage, CT Office of Legislative Research Report. June 26, 2006. 2006-R-0410)

Since 2000, Connecticut’s minimum wage has been significantly higher than the federal minimum wage (Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2012, United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Accessed online at http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/stateMinWageHis.htm)

Many other states have not followed Connecticut’s course
Connecticut is one of 18 states with a minimum wage rate higher than the federal rate. A total of 23 states have the same minimum wage rates as the federal. There are 5 states with no state-mandated minimum wage and another 4 states with minimum wage rates set lower than the federal minimum. (Minimum Wage Laws in the States – January 1, 2012, United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Accessed online at http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm)

Conclusion: Connecticut needs to create new jobs, not kill them
Piled on top of a $1.9 billion tax increase and the adoption of a paid sick leave mandate in 2011, further tinkering with the state’s minimum wage would be another job-killing measure just as the state economy is starting to rebound.

About the Yankee Institute
The Yankee Institute is a think tank that develops and advocates free-market and private sector solutions to public policy issues to improve lives through freedom and opportunity. Founded in 1984, the Yankee Institute is located at our new office in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Yankee Institute is nonpartisan research and educational organization and is classified by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit.

**Please note: the Stamford Sheraton is at 700 East Main Street, Stamford – it was previously on Summer Street. Use the address above for directions and maps.** Click here for directions.

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 per person and include the meal and free parking. Click here or fill out the form below to register now!

All questions should be directed to Jessica at (860) 282-0722 or jessica@yankeeinstitute.org.

About the Speaker

Carlson is a political commentator and journalist, most recently hosting his own nightly program on MSNBC, Tucker. At CNN, he hosted a number of shows, including the network’s political debate program, Crossfire. During the same period, Carlson also hosted a weekly public affairs program on PBS.A longtime writer, Carlson has reported from around the world, including dispatches from Iraq and Lebanon. He has been a columnist for New York magazine and Reader’s Digest. He currently writes for Esquire, the New York Times Magazine, and The Daily Beast. He is also a senior fellow with the Cato Institute. In 2009, Carlson co-founded the news site, TheDailyCaller.com.  His first book is entitled, Politicians, Partisans and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News.