Government Accountability

Conklin Would Serve as LG and State Rep

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 19, 2010

If the results hold, and they remain extremely close, Scott Conklin would be the Democrat nominee for Lieutenant Governor and for reelection to his PA House seat. Conklin recently promised…

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Government Accountability

Election Day Live Chat

  • May 18, 2010

Join Commonwealth Foundation staff and PA Independent reporters, as well as invited bloggers, to discuss the Pennsylvania primary election results and happenings throughout the day.  Post your questions and…

Media

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Regulation

Violations Carry a Hefty Price in the Marcellus Shale

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 17, 2010

In a recent Citizen Voice article, Scott Perry, the director of Oil and Gas Management at the DEP explains how costly environmental infractions can be for drilling companies. The…

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Regulation

Republicans Talk about Privatizing State Parks

  • May 17, 2010

Recently, there has been some speculation about whether Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers are considering leasing the state parks to private companies to operate. Competitively contracting management of our state park…

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Government Accountability

Rendell’s No-Bid State Forest Lease

  • May 17, 2010

Last week, Gov. Rendell announced 32,896 acres of state forest land had been leased to Anadarko Petroleum for drilling for $120 million. The no-bid deal was for land previously…

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Regulation

F&M Poll Shows Voters Support Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2010

The latest Franklin & Marshall College poll spends, not surprising, a good deal of time on election-related questions, but has a few related to current policy proposals in Harrisburg. …

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Taxes & Economy

The Price of Wind

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2010

The Wall Street Journal has a good article about how wind generation drives up electric rates in Massachusettes, and will continue to do so as alternative energy mandates are…

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Government Accountability

How Rendell Gets Shills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2010

In each of their “budget updates” (see: this one or this one) the Department of Public Welfare ends with this line “For information on…

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Taxes & Economy

Bad Pennsylvania Policy Spreads to DC

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 12, 2010

In the past couple of weeks, debate in Washington has ramped up over implementing national alternative energy mandates. Senator Jeff Bingaman has included the standards in his American Clean…

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