Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2012

PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…

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Regulation

Booze Bosses Busted?

  • August 22, 2012

The unethical behavior of top Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board executives, including “CEO” Joe Conti, has landed the Kings of Cabernet under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The…

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Taxes & Economy

Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else Too

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 20, 2012

Bernard Hinault, five-time cycling champion of the Tour de France, once grumbled that the French government taxed the rich so heavily, the state had claim to three pumps of…

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Education

Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity Scholarships

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • August 20, 2012

Since our last update on the new Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program, the Pa. Department of Education and Department of Community and Economic Development have compiled additional information…

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Public Union Democracy

Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 15, 2012

CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…

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Welfare

Welfare Without Work Fails

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 15, 2012

The Obama administration recently relaxed welfare to work requirements, arguing it will help the truly needy. In contrast, Pennsylvania lawmakers took an opposite step by including new welfare work requirements…

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Public Union Democracy

Union Allowed to Stalk in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlights special state laws governing labor unions. For example, four states, including Pennsylvania, have anti-stalking laws, but exempt labor unions…

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Health Care

ACA a Boon to Special Interests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…

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Health Care

Pizza, Burgers and Health Care Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 10, 2012

The devastating side effects of the Affordable Care Act are multiplying every day. It’s not uncommon to hear that premiums are rising, about 7 percent next year, according to the…

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