Whither the Soul of the GOP?

Do Republican primary voters really want a small-government conservative as president? That's questionable given the strong showing of Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney in Iowa, says Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner: "If the Iowa Caucuses have shown us anything, it is that there still is a fight over what kind of party the GOP will be."

• "Santorum's Big-Government Conservatism," by Michael D. Tanner
• "Why Ron Paul Matters," by Edward H. Crane
• "Newt Gingrich Is No Conservative," by Gene Healy
• "Romney Can Run, but He Can't Hide from Romneycare," by Michael D. Tanner
• "A Guide to the Presidential Candidates' Proposals to Cut Spending," by Tad DeHaven

Happy New Year from Cato

Our greatest challenge in 2012 is to extend the promise of individual liberty, economic freedom, and limited government. We at Cato hope that you'll continue to support our mission.

• "Good News for the New Year," by Richard W. Rahn
• "Our Freedom to Trade Expanded in 2011," by Daniel Griswold
• "A Free and Prosperous New Year," by David Boaz

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More Government Transparency for 2012?

A House committee has adopted legislation that will "require all House legislative documents be published electronically in an open, searchable format on one centralized website." Cato scholar Jim Harper, who has been grading Congress on its efforts toward transparency, said the move marks a good first step, but outlines further practices that should be adopted to make Congress truly open to public inspection.

• "Transparency Slated to Improve," by Jim Harper
• "Publication Practices for Transparent Government: Budgeting, Appropriating and Spending," Capitol Hill Briefing
• Transparency grades for Congress