State Budget

The Merits of an Expanded Sales Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute has a recent op-ed on the idea of states broadening their sales tax base, noting that several states are looking this direction.

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Government Accountability

CF Blog Round Up

  • February 10, 2010

Here is what the Commonwealth Foundation has bloggers discussing this week: The Pennsylvania Guardian links our work monitoring Pennsylvania’s deficit Conservative Network Reform Blog highlights our analysis of…

Media

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Regulation

Still More Job Security in Pennsylvania Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

Gov. Rendell once again touted the reduction in and relatively-low number of state government employees.  But as we noted last year, the “state complement” includes only about half of…

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Public Union Democracy

PSEA Complicit in Pension Debacle

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

The PSEA has a ridiculous new video calling on members to demand state lawmakers “keep their promise” on pension plans – essentially saying “don’t reform the system at all,”…

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State Budget

Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

As part of his budget, Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania’s sales tax from 6% to 4% (Philadelphia has an additional 2% and Allegheny County 1% on top of the…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Address Live Updates

  • February 9, 2010

CF will be offering live comments via Twitter on Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 am.  Updates will show up below.  You can also follow CF staff here,…

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Public Union Democracy

Growth of Government Unions in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 9, 2010

Eric Boehm notes the growth of public-sector union members (which now represent a majority of union members nation-wide) and the decline of private union members in Pennsylvania. More…

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Taxes & Economy

Perpetuating Fraud And Mismanagement

  • February 9, 2010

The Department of Public Welfare will receive additional federal funding to support its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This amount will be used to increase grants by…

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Taxes & Economy

Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2010

Yes, to answer the question posed by the title, the state can mandate the creation of “green jobs” via alternative energy mandates – just as it…

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