The Law That Killed Freelance Work
California targets the gig economy.
Regulation
This South Carolina City Is Crushing Its Own Food Truck Economy
Greenville has run its food trucks out of town.
San Francisco Has Added a Lot of Jobs but Not Enough Housing. City Voters Approved a Ballot Initiative That Cuts Back on the Jobs.
The city's voters, politicians, and activists should stop trying to dictate how exactly their city will change over the years. They’re not very good at it.
Did Louisiana Enact a Bogus Health Law as a Pretext for Banning Abortion?
The Supreme Court weighs abortion regulation in June Medical Services v. Russo.
A New Book Reveals Facebook's Problems Started Way Before the 2016 Election
In Facebook: The Inside Story, even Steven Levy’s most generous conclusions about the tech giant are still pretty damning.
How Mandatory Paid Leave Hurts Low-Income Workers
Proponents always forget to figure in the costs.
State Regulations Let Hospitals Literally Veto New Competition. Here's How To Change That.
Certificate of need laws are on the books in 36 states, but they mostly serve as a way for hospitals to limit competition and keep prices high. State lawmakers should be dismantling them.
Trump's War on Whisky Is a Dram Shame
Whisky has become collateral damage in a long-running spat between the U.S. and the E.U. over subsidies to airplane manufacturers.
Judge Rules Businesswoman Must Remove Dresses From Her Home
Fairfax County, Virginia, allows home businesses but prohibits them from keeping inventory on site.
California Politicians Double Down on Encouraging People To Live in Wildfire-Prone Areas
The Renew California legislation introduced yesterday would force insurance companies to renew insurance policies in wildfire zones.
Illinois Bill Would Ban Adults From Pumping Their Own Gas
Rep. Camille Lilly, who authored the bill, says her legislation will lead to more safety, convenience, and jobs.
New York Regulators Issue Surprise Ban on Charging Renters Broker Fees
Brokers and building owners are vowing to fight a regulation they say will be catastrophic for their industry.
Uncle Sam Doubles Down on His Spending Addiction
The federal government is not a good steward of your money.
In California, Protecting Workers Means Outlawing Their Jobs
Assembly Bill 5 was designed to constrain the growth of the so-called gig economy. In practice, it's closing off opportunities
Government Should Repeal Out of Date Laws
"People commit crimes all the time without knowing it. It's impossible to know what sort of behavior is criminal."
We've Entered the Sixth Stage of Grief Over Kobe Bryant's Death: Legislation
Rep. Brad Sherman (D–Calif) has introduced a bill to mandate ground collision detection systems on all helicopters.
Why Alaskans Can't Get Alaskan Natural Gas
It's ridiculous to cut off Alaskans from the resources found in their own backyards.
New York's Progressive Rent Regulations Having the Exact Same Negative Consequence That Skeptics Predicted
New York told landlords they couldn't pass along renovation costs, so landlords stopped doing renovations
Trump Administration Repeals Federal Protections on Puddles, Dry Stream Beds, Some Ditches
Hysterical reactions greet the White House's modest changes to federal clean water rules.
How a Fake Rationing Scare Highlighted the Absurdity of California's Actual Water Policies
No, Californians aren't banned from showering and doing laundry on the same day. But the fact that so many people believed that lie says something about how insane the state's real water laws are.
Trump's Labor Department Provides Clarity on Joint Employment
Good news on the economic front.
Social Engineering Run Amok in the Department of Labor
Government control is not the answer.
Occupational Licensing Hurts the Little Guy
People who want to work should be allowed to work.
Uber's Lawsuit Against California's Anti-Freelancer Law Is Missing a Key Constitutional Element
It's crucial to get the constitutional text and history straight.
California Cities and State Regulators Are Coming for Your Gas-Powered Leaf Blower
Some 60 cities have banned or restricted gas-powered landscaping equipment. State air quality regulators are looking to do the same.
FDA Announces Ban on Flavored E-Cigarette Cartridges, Exempting E-Liquids Used in Refillable Vapes
For now, the FDA is targeting the vaping products that are most popular with teenagers. But the industry still faces a potentially devastating regulatory deadline.
Pot, Guns, Tampons, Narwhals, Bail, Bags, and More Face New Rules in 2020
Plus: Libertarianism in the 2020s, Trump's flavored vape ban, and more...
Virginia Bill Would End Single-Family-Only Zoning in the Old Dominion
The legislation would allow duplexes on any residential plot in the state.
California Law Unconstitutionally Discriminates Against Certain Workers, Argue Uber and Postmates
Gig workers and companies are suing over a California law, AB 5, that criminalizes their continued employment.
New Law Finally Authorizes Cannabis Cafés in Colorado, the First State to Allow Recreational Sales
Marijuana merchants, restaurants, and "mobile premises" can let customers partake if they get state and local approval.
Two Years After Licensed Marijuana Merchants Began Operating in California, They Account for Just a Quarter of Sales
The state's Cannabis Advisory Committee blames high taxes, local bans, and onerous regulations.
The 2010s Were a Terrible Decade for Housing Construction
NIMBYism has dominated housing policy for the last ten years. Will the 2020s be any better?
A Tiny Reform to a Massachusetts Booze Law Reform Faces Big Opposition
Independent booze retailers are trying to stifle competition using arguments from Prohibition.
Politicians Are Addicted to Price Controls
Instead of repealing tariffs that are raising aluminum prices, politicians are instead trying to lower aluminum prices by legislative fiat.
California Freelancers Suffer From Totally Predictable 'Unintended Consequences' of Gig Worker Protection Bill
Plus: Is there anything the upcoming spending bill doesn't contain? And more...
Will the Fed Edge Out the Competition With Real-Time Payments?
The Federal Reserve's impact on the real-time payments market all hinges on its willingness to play by the rules.
San Francisco Ballot Measure Would Tax Empty Storefronts in Attempt to Boost Retail Sector
The initiative would leave untouched all the city regulations that've made it so hard to start a business in the first place.
Climate Change: How Lucky Do You Feel?
Current evidence points toward a significantly warmer world by the end of the century. This will have substantial impacts on human life.
On Thanksgiving, Take a Moment to Focus on the Good News
It will help us feel grateful for our lives.
California Regulators Shut Down a Distillery for Serving Alcohol
Confusing regulations put well-run businesses at the mercy of bureaucratic brutes.
Despite Stiff NIMBY Opposition, San Francisco Business Owner Will Be Allowed to Convert Arcade Repair Business Into Normal Arcade
The struggles Joey Mucha had to go through to secure a simple change of use permit highlight the problems inherent in San Francisco's planning process.
California's Restrictive Gun Laws Still Can't Prevent Shootings
Instead of reducing the dangers posed by criminals, California's gun restrictions have increased the threat posed to decent people by the law itself.
New Jersey Takes a Swipe at the Gig Economy With New Independent Contractor Bill
Critics warn the state is threatening the flexible work arrangements preferred by many workers.
