Government Accountability
Cost and Benefits of State Spending Transparency
The Mercatus Center has a new podcast on state online spending transparency. Jerry Brito, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, discusses the need for spending transparency in states…
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Read More: Cost and Benefits of State Spending TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Job Losses are Never “Good News”
A number of media outlets, such as the AP, are reporting Pennsylvania’s June job losses of 3,400 with a positive spin, as in the “smallest monthly job loss…
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Read More: Job Losses are Never “Good News”Government Accountability
PA Ranks Low on Ethics Disclosure, Ask Bob Mellow
The Pennsylvania legislature got a “F” from the Center for Public Integrity in a national report on lawmakers disclosing information about assets, holdings or connections to special interests. In…
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Read More: PA Ranks Low on Ethics Disclosure, Ask Bob MellowEducation
PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in Reserves
New data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (released last week) show that school districts across the state have a combined $2.4 billion in General Fund reserves as of…
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Read More: PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in ReservesState Budget
Follow the Pennsylvania Budget Debate
The House of Representatives has begun debating the Pennsylvania state budget (HB 1416) likely to continue today and tomorrow. For live updates, you can follow the Commonwealth Foundation…
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Read More: Follow the Pennsylvania Budget DebateState Budget
Can Gov. Rendell Pay State Workers?
KDKA TV has a story about how legislative staffers are being paid during the Pennsylvania budget impasse, with the angle that it is unfair to other state workers (who…
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Read More: Can Gov. Rendell Pay State Workers?Regulation
Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?
Among the proposal of Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner to help balance the state budget without a tax increase. But Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss suggests this is…
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Read More: Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?Government Accountability
Will Fumo Conviction Deter Public Corruption?
Alex Charyna mocks Governor Rendell’s ridiculous statement that Sen. Vince Fumo (sentenced to 55 months in prison, or about 12 days for each felony conviction), should only spend…
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Read More: Will Fumo Conviction Deter Public Corruption?Health Care
Federal Government, M.D.
President Obama’s $1.5 trillion health care plan would make health insurance a “right” for all Americans. The proposed plan empowers the federal government to ensure that employers provide insurance…
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