Show-me Institute Podcast

Show-Me Minute: Uber Ever had trouble finding a taxi? Me too. That’s why I used Uber on a recent trip to Texas. The ridesharing service was easy to use, comfortable and affordable. In Missouri, it may not have been possible at all. That’s because taxicab regulators in Kansas City and St. Louis don’t like companies like Uber and have filed suit to stop them. They control the number of cabs and prices that are charged, supposedly to ensure safety and supply and demand. What they really want to do is eliminate any competition. Competition is a good thing. Innovative companies should not be penalized for providing a needed service. Sure ridesharing services should be safe and drivers licensed, but are other regulations like huge insurance fees really necessary? More rides can mean better service and lower prices, and result in plenty of jobs for drivers. If the ridesharing services aren’t good, customers won’t use them. Let the free market decide who can give you a ride home. Want to help? Cli

Show-Me Minute "Growth" It’s hard to ignore an elephant in the room. But our leaders seem to be doing just that. Something’s wrong with Missouri’s economy. We are way behind most states in annual growth in goods and services. From 2001 to 2014, Missouri ranked 45th in GDP growth. It’s an elephantine problem, but lawmakers keep ignoring it. So how do we get Missouri moving again? How about cutting income taxes? Lost revenue, you say? Well, if Missourians had more money to spend, that would mean more revenue for the state. And why not stop handing over our money in corporate welfare? Missouri has dished out more than $5 Billion in corporate giveaways since 1990. Maybe our leaders should just let the free market work…and stop ignoring the economic elephant in Missouri. Want to help? Go to our website at Showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for Liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.

Show-Me Minute Education Savings Accounts If you try on a pair of shoes that don’t fit, should you have to buy them? Of course not. So why should you have to buy an education that doesn’t fit your child? Education savings accounts are a great way to customize your child’s education. ESA’s work like this. The money the state would normally pay to your child’s public school would go into an account that you control. You would get a debit card for private school tuition, online learning programs, or any number of other approved uses. You can use that money to tailor your child’s education. Rather than sending more money to a bureaucracy that doesn’t respond quickly to student needs, Education Savings Accounts would put parents in charge. It’s school choice at its best, and thousands have signed up across the country. Missouri needs to get on board …and help parents provide a better education for their kids. Want to help? Go to showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for liberty. This Show-Me

Show-Me Minute - Health Care Know what a Rube Goldberg type of device is? It’s something that’s way more complicated than it should be…like health care. When you go to the doctor, do you know what it’s going to cost? Wouldn’t it be nice not to be shocked by the eventual bill? Reform is needed, not more of the same broken system…and direct primary care may be one answer. Under it, doctors assign clear prices to care and guarantee direct access for patients. And they cut out the middleman insurer! That benefits doctors and patients. Missouri is one of more than a dozen states to protect direct primary care practices from state regulators. More reform is needed…but Direct Primary Care is a good start toward lower patient costs and more competition for doctors…and a health care system that may finally work. Want to help? Go to our website at showmeinstitute.org and make a donation for liberty. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.

To bring real reform to public education, the system needs to think outside of the box.

Looking to buy a Tesla? A new lawsuit may mean the end of Tesla in Missouri. Originally aired on KFTK's Marc Cox Show on 9/16/16

SMI's Patrick Ishmael discusses his new blog on the University of Missouri blinding and killing half a dozen beagles. Originally aired on The Gary Nolan Show on 9/1/2016 For more information visit showmeinstitute.org

Would raising the cigarette tax in Missouri help or hurt Missourians? You may be surprised to find out what the proposed tax is funding and what it isn't. Show-Me Institute policy researcher Michael Highsmith appears on KWTO to discuss. Originally aired on 8/27/2016

James Shuls talks with KFTK's Marc Cox about the recent discovery of lead in the drinking water at several St. Louis city public schools. Some have used this to argue for more funding, but, as Shuls points out, St. Louis's public schools have one of the highest per pupil spending rates in Missouri. Learn more at: http://ShowMeInstitute.org

Brenda Talent appeared on KMOX’s Reardon Roundtable and discussed Mayor Francis Slay’s legacy and the controversy surrounding St. Louis Business Journal’s 25 "Most Influential Business Women." Originally aired on 8/19/2016 on KMOX.

The Show-Me Institute's Patrick Tuohey joins host Marc Cox of KFTK 97.1FM in St. Louis to talk about what Missouri's big cities need to do to attract more businesses. Learn more at: http://www.ShowMeInstitute.org

Healthcare giant Centene is asking for almost $150 million from taxpayers for its expansion project in Clayton, Missouri. Is this just another example of corporate welfare? Find out more at more at showmeinstitute.org Originally aired on KTRS on 8/8/16

The tumultuous events at the University of Missouri last fall resulted in the firing of one professor, Melissa Click, and the resignation of the school dean and UM system president. With its reputation in shambles, can Mizzou recover? Mike McShane talks with Mike Ferguson on KCMO radio. Originally aired on 8/8/2016 For more information visit showmeinstitute.org

St. Louis-based healthcare giant Centene is asking for $147 million from taxpayers to build two high rise office buildings, a hotel, and an entertainment district. Find out more at showmeinstitute.org Originally aired on The Gary Nolan Show on 8/4/16

Would raising the minimum wage in Missouri help or hurt lower income workers? You may be surprised. Originally aired on KWTO on 8/2/16.

Does the Missouri Legislature need to be more open and transparent when it comes to public meetings? Originally broadcast on KFTK on 7/15/16.

Missouri's roads and highways needs improvements, but what's the best way to do this? This first aired on KMBZ on 7/26/2016. Learn more at: http://www.ShowMeInstitute.org

The former Chrysler assembly plant in Fenton, Missouri has been vacant since manufacturing moved to Mexico in 2007. Now developers are looking for $57 million in tax payer dollars to redevelop the former site.

Since the late 1990s, Missouri’s economy has increased at half the rate of the United States as a whole. But the question remains: Why has the Missouri economy reported such slow growth over the past eighteen years?

Millions of taxpayer's dollars have been put into KC's 18th and Vine jazz district with no signs of improvement. SMI's Patrick Tuohey talks with KCMO's Mike Ferguson on July 11, 2016.