Week in Review: Does the government control your health?

From restrictions on promising treatments to limits on whom you can trust for care, the government stands in the way of your power to make informed decisions about your health. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This week, Dr. Jeffrey Singer—surgeon, author, Cato Institute senior fellow, and Goldwater visiting fellow—joined the Goldwater Institute for a conversation about his new book, Your Body, Your Health Care, in which he laid bare how invasive the government has become in our lives.

“It’s a fundamental principle of classical liberal thought that we own ourselves—self-ownership. We have autonomy,” Dr. Singer said.

Watch the discussion here.

Texas Unlocks Opportunity with New Worker Freedom Law

Texas has taken a decisive step to restore economic liberty. With the signing of a Goldwater-backed reform, the state has begun to dismantle its bloated occupational licensing regime—a system that forces professionals to navigate duplicative red tape simply to keep doing the work they’re already trained to perform.

While politicians of all stripes talk of the need to “create more jobs,” about one in four jobs in America requires an occupational license—a government permission slip to work. That’s why the Goldwater Institute developed the Breaking Down Barriers to Work Act, which allows for universal recognition of occupational licenses. It’s already law in over half the states, with more to come. In Arizona alone, more than 10,000 professionals have been granted licenses to work under the law since its enactment in 2019.

Texas is the latest state to join the movement toward greater worker freedom—putting the right to earn a living over the power of bureaucrats.

Read more.

Elijah Stacy Champions Ohio’s Right to Try for Individualized Treatments

Ohio stands at a crossroads, one that could change the lives of those fighting terminal or rare diseases. Leaders in the Buckeye State have begun to consider adopting Goldwater’s Right to Try for Individualized Treatments, a law that ensures patients have the freedom to access cutting-edge medical innovations.

Patient advocate Elijah Stacy recently appeared on NPR’s All Sides with Amy Juravich to explain why the reform is vital for individuals with rare and terminal diseases. Elijah, who suffers from a rare disease himself, urged lawmakers to act swiftly so patients in Ohio can access promising individualized treatments. “Future people…will have a better life than I have because of the work I’m doing. And that’s what really motivates me,” Elijah said.

Listen here.