Government Accountability

Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2009

The Heritage Foundation points out an interesting fact – 51% of union members are government workers, according to the most recent data, an all-time high. And I assumed General…

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Government Accountability

Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2009

Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…

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Government Accountability

Shady State Contracts and the Need for Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 12, 2009

Auditor General Jack Wagner reprimanded the Department of General Services for their failure to execute and oversee state contracts. Since 2003 a large number of contracts have not been…

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Taxes & Economy

The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2009

Many pundits, members of the media, and elected officials (or their spokesman), cite employment data showing “fewer jobs lost” in October (or in the case of the state, September)…

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Government Accountability

Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue

  • November 12, 2009

The US House health care bill not only has little significant tort reform, it in fact limits states from enacting meaningful tort reform. This statement taken directly from the…

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Taxes & Economy

Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2009

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued an executive order to stop city officials from asking immigration status for the express purpose of boosting the city’s population in the Census,…

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Government Accountability

Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2009

Capitolwire (subscription) is reporting that State Representative Mario Civera (R- Delaware), who was recently elected to the Delaware County Council, is now rethinking resigning, and planning both to stay…

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Regulation

PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with Renewables

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 11, 2009

Last month the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action plan. While touting the creation of “green jobs”, it did not advocate increasing PA’s…

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step Forward

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2009

The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee advanced HB 1880, sponsored by Representative Rick Mirabito, that would create an online database of state spending, similar to legislation already enacted…

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