Michael Kinsley Quotes

If you're going to use the public resources, you need the public benefit.

Now in business we do a cost benefit analysis before we make policy changes. Washington should as well.

Philosophically, I don't believe in public funding for private sports.

If everyone in America can easily see who and what their lawmakers are requesting taxpayer money for, we can keep elected officials honest, end the days of political, special interest favors, and reduce wasteful spending.

Whenever I've had to make a major decision as a doctor, cop or for a company I've worked for, I ask myself: What is the value proposition here? Will my decision bring added value to the population I have the privilege to serve?

Why should a city be mandated to do something by the federal government or state government without the money to do it?

I'm sort of suspicious of most economic development projects, but the ones that encourage taxpayer-funded relocation bidding wars should be declared unconstitutional.

Every dime spent is a political decision made.

People dislike government spending in the abstract, but the like government spending when they see the benefit.

I know why elected officials want to spend money. It’s great. I can get a vote from you if I give you some money. OK but that doesn’t help your children. It just helps you.

The left’s reflex is that if something is good then the government ought to provide it, and some conservatives are falling into the left’s political trap.

My specific concerns with Trump's plans are that they are likely to investments in infrastructure where the private returns are highest (for example toll roads and bridges) rather than where the public gains are greatest.

Tax dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not.

Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy, transportation, medical research and military infrastructure.

Government should make tough decisions in the larger national interests, even if it upsets the people.

I'm old enough to remember when Republicans loved the CBO because it tells the conservatives the thing that matters most to them which is how much is it going to cost taxpayers.

I think maybe the people in elected positions are more interested in preserving their jobs than in doing the best job possible.

Our Congress passes laws which subsidize corporation farms, oil companies, airlines, and houses for suburbia. But when they turn their attention to the poor, they suddenly become concerned about balancing the budget and cut back on the funds for Head Start, Medicare, and mental health appropriations.

We shouldn't be bailing out insurance companies under ObamaCare.

No sensible elected politician would look for spending reductions out of sacking teachers and nurses. We all know how important they are and that our electors want to keep those we have and employ more where possible.

As our leaders in Washington confront tough decisions about our budget priorities, I urge them to continue federal funding for public broadcasting.

States know better than the federal government how to allocate and manage resources to address the needs of their people.

Government is about priorities.

Some may remember that, in 2010, I publicly broke ranks with my colleagues from the Quebec City area who were pushing our government to subsidize a new sports amphitheater in the city. They had seized on this popular project to... What else? Buy votes.

The Export-Import Bank's long legacy of crony capitalism has hurt the livelihoods and businesses of many Americans who don't get special treatment from this misguided government program.