Regulation

Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree Benefits

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 18, 2008

The Allegheny Institute has released a report on the mounting costs of OPEB or the public sector retiree benefits for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County employees. Previously…

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Regulation

How far will smoking bans go?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2008

A new ReasonTV video, Just Can’t Quit, looks at government’s addiction to smoking bans. California became the first state to ban smoking in bars a decade…

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Taxes & Economy

No UAW Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2008

IBD Editorials writes that a bailout of the automakers is a misguided idea, aimed only at protecting their current union contracts (which are largely to blame for their…

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Taxes & Economy

Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2008

In a speech to the Manhattan Institute, President Bush defends the free market. Let me parse what I consider to be the key paragraph: History has…

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Taxes & Economy

New Power Lines Reduce Electricity Rates

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 17, 2008

The PUC recently approved a small portion (1.5 miles) of the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, Allegheny Energy is responsible for constructing 37.2 miles of the controversial 240 mile transmission line.

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Government Accountability

Full-Time Legislators still not the norm

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2008

The National Council of State Legislatures has some new data on occupations of state legislators. Here in Pennsylvania, 77.5% reported their occupation as “full-time legislator” (even though PA…

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Taxes & Economy

Trashing Friedman’s Economics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2008

Crain's Chicago Business speculates that “failure of the free market” and “deregulation” will harm the reputation of the University of Chicago's School of Economics and of any influenced by…

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Pennsylvania Senate GOP has Turnpike Lease Study

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2008

An analysis of potential Turnpike lease by Moody’s, commissioned the the PA Senate Transportation Committee, was released yesterday. Their findings are that a Turnpike lease might be beneficial, that…

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Government Accountability

Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and more

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2008

Our friends at the Sam Adams Alliance have something called The Sammies awards (with cash prizes) to encourage bloggers and citizens to get involved in political action. Here…

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