Education

Lawmakers Can Save Students in Duquesne

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 5, 2011

Jake Haulk at the Allegheny Institute points out that Duquesne City School District spends almost $20,000 per student every year (state average is about $14,000). But less than…

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Education

Academic Achievement Stagnates

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 4, 2011

Pennsylvania students are not making much academic progress according to 2011 PSSA test results. The Patriot-News reports small gains were not enough to keep some central Pennsylvania school districts…

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Public Union Democracy

Prevailing Wage Reform Bills Pass Committee

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 3, 2011

Six bills to reform Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law passed the House Labor and Industry Committee today, and will now go to the full House for a vote. The state’s 1961…

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Taxes & Economy

Evaluating Gov Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal in Pittsburgh today. Corbett’s proposal represents a significant improvement from some of the leading tax and fee proposals. Framework…

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Regulation

Poll: Support for Private Liquor Stores, Marcellus Drilling

  • October 3, 2011

The latest Quinnipiac poll shows strong support for liquor store privatization, Marcellus Shale drilling (as well as natural gas tax); and for the first time asks Pennsylvanians if they…

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Regulation

Lessons for Pennsylvania from Jersey Shore

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2011

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently nixed a tax credit for production of MTV’s Jersey Shore. This is a TV show that apparently doesn’t portray New Jersey in the…

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Welfare

Welfare Funds for Home Bowling Alley

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 29, 2011

What do bowling alleys, chandeliers, and six-person hot tubs have in common? They’ve all been purchased with state welfare funds. Yesterday Tim Costa, executive deputy secretary of the Department of…

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Taxes & Economy

Reading is Poorest City in U.S.

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 28, 2011

Just released Census Bureau figures show Pennsylvania’s poverty rate has climbed, rising to 13.4 percent in 2010 compared to 11.6 percent in 2007, when the recession first hit.

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