Public Union Democracy

Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 11, 2008

The Pittsburgh Port Authority has a website detailing the sticking points of the labor negotiation with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. I think the lesson to be…

Media

Read More: Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online

Taxes & Economy

PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

Not suprisingly, given other state rankings, Pennsylvania gets a mediocre grade on the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America report for 2008. PA ranks tied for 26th…

Media

Read More: PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom

Taxes & Economy

Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…

Media

Read More: Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

Public Union Democracy

Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

I’ve seen a few stories about the AFL-CIO using union dues to run ads against John McCain, and wondered a) why are compulsory union dues for explicit political activity…

Media

Read More: Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxes

Regulation

Banned!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

Latest Drew Carey video for Reason.tv looks at the number of things – many of them absurd – that have been banned by governments out of the nanny…

Media

Read More: Banned!

State Budget

Kanjorski Earmark Denied

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

The US Department of Transportation is refusing to fund an earmark put in place by Rep. Kanjorski. The earmark was intended to fund a parking garage near Kanjorski’s monument…

Media

Read More: Kanjorski Earmark Denied

Taxes & Economy

Family friendly reforms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

The NCPA has a new Brief Analysis highlighting “Five Family Friendly Policies” -l abor, tax, and health care reforms providing greater freedom, flexibility, and portablity for workers and employers.

Media

Read More: Family friendly reforms

Rendell losing patience with turnpike commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

Post-Gazette reports that Governor Rendell is fed up with the Turnpike Commission’s stalling on their I-80 tolling application. He says he has been a nice guy about it,…

Media

Read More: Rendell losing patience with turnpike commission

Education

Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

Adam Schaeffer writes on Cato-at-liberty that a recent study of universal preschool only shows what critics of government-run day care have been saying: that they offer only short-term…

Media

Read More: Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits