The United States’ ranking in the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom rose slightly, but no thanks to the Obama administration. The survey conducted by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal still declares the U.S. only the 12th freest nation in the world, but there were gains when the government slowed its spending. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) says it was because Republicans in Congress, influenced by the Tea Party, reined in government. “I think it’s noteworthy that because of a new Republican Congress that took over in 2011,” Ryan said, “we brought some temper to the out-of-control spending that was happening here in Washington and as a result, it made us more free. That’s a good step in the right direction with many, many steps to follow.” Since Obama took office, the nation’s rank has fallen from 6th place to 12th, even as the rest of the world grows in its overall freedom. It’s a lesson the world is slowly learning and the Left refuses to recognize: The path to prosperity is through Liberty. More…