Week in Review: Targeted by the Government

May 4, 2019

Why Was This Man Targeted by the Government?

“Nothing short of criminal.”

That’s how one juror described the U.S. government’s relentless prosecution of Howard Root, the CEO of a medical device company who in 2016 found himself facing three years in prison and the destruction of the company he worked so hard to build.

In a new video, the Goldwater Institute examines why the government targeted Root and how, ultimately, he and his company were acquitted of all charges. The video follows a report by Goldwater national investigative journalist Mark Flatten, who uncovers Root’s story, the implications it has for all Americans, and the Goldwater Institute’s plan to defend free speech in medicine.

It’s a story you have to see to believe. Watch the video here.

People Move — And Their License to Work Should Move with Them

Maricopa County, Arizona, is exploding in population. Home to Phoenix, the county added more than 81,000 residents last year — the largest population increase of any county in the United States. For those new residents, and the many others who are sure to follow, they’ll find that they have arrived in a land of opportunity, thanks to a series of groundbreaking reforms — led by the Goldwater Institute — to protect their right to earn a living. It’s an example for the nation and a roadmap for other states to follow.

In April, Arizona became the first state in the nation to recognize occupational licenses from other states. It’s a commonsense yet groundbreaking change to a law that has for too long held workers back. In every other state, a worker who holds a license in one state and then moves to another is forced to go through more study and training in order to do their same job in their new home. That’s costly, time-consuming, and irrational.

As Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey pointed out while signing the bill into law, just because someone moves to a new state doesn’t mean that their training, knowledge, and skills are left behind. Now, any new resident who holds a license to work in their field will be able to continue doing so in Arizona without interruption.

Read the rest of this article in The Daily Caller

Why Florida Patients Have Reason to Celebrate

Imagine if your local grocery store or gas station had to ask their rivals for permission to open a new store or station. As absurd as this sounds, this is what happens in the majority of states when it comes to opening a new hospital.

Many states are restricting the creation or expansion of healthcare facilities through certificate of need (CON) laws. Some states require the facility to seek permission from state-established boards with authority to approve or deny the applications. It should come as no surprise that these boards are often stacked with interests from would-be competitors, making the likelihood of approval slim and frequently resulting in a “competitor’s veto.” That can result in negative consequences for patients, as detailed in a recent Goldwater Institute report.

That’s why it is great news that Florida has passed legislation that would “end the CON” for general hospitals. Read more on the story from Goldwater Institute director of healthcare policy Naomi Lopez Bauman.