Public Union Democracy

How Unions Put the Squeeze on Pennsylvanians

  • Priya Brannick
  • March 5, 2012

We’ve talked before about how passing meaningful reform on anything from school choice to prevailing wage has been stymied not by a Democrat vs. Republican fight in Pennsylvania’s legislature, but…

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Taxes & Economy

Utility Rates Drop Again Thanks to Marcellus Drilling

  • March 5, 2012

Natural gas drilling is continuing to provide significant savings for Pennsylvania families across the state through lower electricity and natural gas prices. Last week, PPL Electric Utilities, servicing eastern…

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PLCB Stars in Magnum P.U.!

  • March 5, 2012

While Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board execs have been jet setting around the globe on the taxpayer dime to Paris, Dubai, Barcelona and Argentina, their taxpayer-paid marketing team has been…

Media

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State Budget

Chart of the Day: Welfare Spending

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 5, 2012

Total welfare spending in Pennsylvania more than tripled from 1991 to 2012, rising 227 percent. During the same period (1991-2011) population rose by a paltry 6.7 percent. It goes without…

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PLCB: One Bourbon, One Scotch, Two Bills

  • March 2, 2012

In a massive money mishap that would make Delaware Destroyer George Thorogood mad to the bone, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s latest snafu comes at, not surprisingly, the customer’s expense.

Media

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State Budget

Big Government Limits Economic Growth

  • March 2, 2012

Last month, Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address kicked off state budget negotiations. As lawmakers debate priorities, one thing is crystal clear—low government spending fosters economic growth. The Mercatus Center’s…

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Public Union Democracy

Pop Quiz: Would You Pay $126 or $84 for the Same Product?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 2, 2012

Yesterday, we noted how Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law is a “rent” for labor unions.  Here’s an example of how it plays out in real life—when our schools are…

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Businesses Face the Highest Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2012

A new study from the Tax Foundation finds that mature Pennsylvania businesses are the highest taxed in the nation. Newly established operations in the commonwealth are the second highest taxed,…

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Public Union Democracy

Rent Seeking: Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Musical

  • Priya Brannick
  • March 1, 2012

“Rent” isn’t just a depressing musical about New Yorkers facing AIDS. It’s also a term economists use to describe the benefits special interests win for themselves in the political…

Media

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