Regulation

Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2010

The Wall Street Journal recently published an interview with Gov. Rendell that highlighted Rendell’s analysis of policy issues – the stimulus, Wall Street/bailouts, and Immigration – at least in…

Media

Read More: Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate

Taxes & Economy

Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 1, 2010

This week the student-run Publius Foundation think tank in Pittsburgh released their second study. Looking at the proposed Pittsburgh Beverage Tax, the brief concludes soda taxes harm the economy…

Media

Read More: Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage Tax

Taxes & Economy

Top Mann Nemesis: He’s Not a Fraud

  • May 28, 2010

The person who was most instrumental in debunking Penn State scientist Michael Mann‘s hockey stick chart, Steve McIntyre of Climate Audit, said at a climate realists’ conference last week…

Media

Read More: Top Mann Nemesis: He’s Not a Fraud

Regulation

Tobacco Tax Fact Check

  • May 28, 2010

The misinformation that comes out of the Policy and Budget Center (PBC) amazes me. Here is the first post of a two-part fact-checking on taxing smokeless tobacco products…

Media

Read More: Tobacco Tax Fact Check

Government Accountability

On Partisan Legislative Staffers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2010

One recommendation of the Grand Jury report release this week was that the Pennsylvania General Assembly should move from hiring partisan staff for each caucus to having a centralized…

Media

Read More: On Partisan Legislative Staffers

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a Flop

  • May 28, 2010

Pennsylvania’s film tax credit program has exhausted its limits for the year, to much moaning from the film industry lobbyists. Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a Flop

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 27, 2010

At a community forum in Luzerne County Scott Perry, Director of Oil and Gas Management for the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) explained how Marcellus natural gas drillers are…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards

Public Union Democracy

CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 27, 2010

The Commonwealth Foundation joined with 50 other organizations in opposing using taxpayer funds to bailout private pensions; see the news release from Americans for Tax Reform. Two separate bills,…

Media

Read More: CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions

State Budget

Entitlement Spending Driving Federal Deficits

  • May 27, 2010

The Heritage Foundation has a new 2010 federal budget chart book, full of useful charts and data. For instance, the Obama Administration is spending more on a…

Media

Read More: Entitlement Spending Driving Federal Deficits