Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy

1932-2009

We didn't often agree on policy but he fought for what he believed in and made an indelible mark on our history.

Rose Director Friedman

1911-2009

We lost a dear friend last week: Rose Director Friedman. I first met Milton and Rose when I was teaching at Dartmouth College almost 30 years ago. We remained friends throughout their lives. Rose and Milton attended the NCPA's 15^th Anniversary dinner and allowed me to interview them. They spoke kindly about the work of the NCPA and other free-market groups that evening and also challenged us to continue the fight for liberty. As on many other occasions, it was obvious to all in attendance how important she was to the couple's 68-year collaboration.  America and the world are much richer for Rose Friedman's contributions, and it should be a challenge to all of us to continue the monumental legacy that she and Milton left. The world is a very different and much better place because she was a part of it.

 
1941 – 2009 

Among the most interesting people I have known, a disproportionate number have unusual backgrounds and unusual life stories. Jerry Scully was one of them.

He once told me that most of the people he grew up with were either dead or in jail. On a stint in Afghanistan, he once got in a fire fight with rebel gangs who, given the chance, would have dismembered him. At one point he dropped out of academic life, bought a boat and spent a year or so sailing around the Caribbean.

He had a great deal of influence on me and on the NCPA throughout our 25 years of existence. Were I in a position to award Nobel Prizes, I would have given Jerry one of them. Continue reading »

The passing of Pat Rooney reminds us just how much impact one individual can have on improving the lives of many millions with a commitment to reshaping state and national health care legislation.

Pat was a great man and a pioneer in the consumer driven health care movement. 

His family-owned insurance firm, Golden Rule, was the first to offer commercially available medical savings accounts (MSAs).  His legacy includes far-reaching legislative action on health care reform, giving more than 12 million people significant control of their health care dollars with consumer directed plans.

We are so sorry to hear of his passing.  As an NCPA board member, Pat made incalculable contributions not only to our organization but to the cause of free market health care reforms that benefit all people.  The world is a much better place for all of his efforts.