author-image Ernest Istook About | Email
Ernest Istook is recovering from serving 14 years in Congress and is now a distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation.
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Red faces about 'green' jobs

by Ernest Istook -- It's red faces for those claiming government should subsidize "green" jobs for American workers. According to new reports, they're not very well-paying jobs, and many could be exported more…

Barack Obama: Symbolism over substance

by Ernest Istook -- Friendly headlines greeted President Obama when he announced a freeze on White House salaries – at least on those over $100,000 per year. Having embraced symbolism, Obama stopped more…

Mr. President: End race-based victimhood

by Ernest Istook -- President Barack Obama's inaugural address rightfully denounced "our collective failure to make hard choices." Now he is uniquely positioned to address one of the toughest: race relations. We more…

A trillion reasons we're in deep trouble

by Ernest Istook -- My 6-year-old granddaughter Abby bragged recently that she could count to 20. She proceeded to demonstrate, and I praised her. Then she asked how high I can count. more…

Burris mess exposes Senate's own sleaze

by Ernest Istook -- The U. S. Senate's treatment of nominee Roland Burris is a perfect example of how warped our Congress has become. Almost all of Washington comes out smelling bad. more…

Protect the secret ballot

by Ernest Istook -- A few years ago, 16 of Congress' most liberal members wrote Mexico's government, "We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required, by Mexican labor more…

Santa forced to evacuate North Pole

by Ernest Istook -- Evacuation operations continue at the North Pole, as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, their reindeer and an estimated 5,000 elves are being relocated due to global warming to a more…

Fuming over the fun tax

by Ernest Istook -- Where do bad ideas come from? The proposed soda tax, "iPod tax" and others announced by New York Gov. David Paterson mark a new low in using the more…

You call this 'vital infrastructure'?

by Ernest Istook -- Heisman Trophy hopefuls are second-stringers compared to congressmen and senators. Politicians can throw money at problems far better than any quarterback can throw a pigskin – and they more…

Greed: It's not just corporate 'fat cats'

by Ernest Istook -- Greed is good. – Gordon Gecko, the movie "Wall Street" (1987) Condemning corporate greed is smart politics when everyday Americans have financial struggles. No wonder it's back in more…