Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Voters Reject Property Tax Hikes

  • November 6, 2009

With an already-weakened economy that has put Pennsylvania families on a tight budget, Monroe County taxpayers finally said “enough is enough!” when confronted with two referendums on Tuesday’s ballot calling…

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Regulation

Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2009

Following our report showing that moving from state-run liquor stores to licensure has little impact on alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and DUI rates, Pennsylvania papers are again joining the…

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Government Accountability

Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2009

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette notes that the Pennsylvania Senate is outlining a number of new rules, largely related to legislative staff and taxpayer dollars being used to support…

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Taxes & Economy

V and American Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2009

While attending a conference in North Carolina, and staying in the same room Yogi Berra did (though not on the same night), Joe Sterns and I caught the premier…

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Health Care

Guide to Pelosi-Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has some resources on the latest health care bill being pushed by US House Democrats, including a summary of the legislation, and the full…

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Public Union Democracy

SEPTA Union Doesn’t Represent “The Working Class”

  • November 4, 2009

About 5,100 union workers for SEPTA went on strike early Tuesday, leaving 450,000 people to find new ways to travel. The union is demanding a 4% raise and an…

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Taxes & Economy

Lies, More Lies, and Statistics

  • November 4, 2009

On Oct 10, Pennsylvania released a preliminary report on received ARRA (i.e. “simulus”) funds.  The study concluded that “$262,592,907.68 has been spent to date and 1,408 direct full-time equivalent…

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Regulation

PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing Industry

  • November 3, 2009

The Pennsylvania Legislature’s willingness to succumb to special interests has been well documented by the Commonwealth Foundation, but the amount of attention given to the horse racing industry is…

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Government Accountability

Transparency and Performance in Government

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 3, 2009

The Mercatus Center has a new working paper on the importance of government transparency. Authors Jerry Brito and Drew Perrault argue that, “Transparency is a means to an end…

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