Taxes & Economy

Federal “Stimulus” Rebate Calculator

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Here is a tool to calculate for federal rebate under the federal “stimulus” package, courtesy of Consumerism Commentary Blog. (You will need to have or know your 2007 federal…

Media

Read More: Federal “Stimulus” Rebate Calculator

State Budget

Borrowing in 2008-09 Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Below is some more analysis of the proposed borrowing in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget – $2.6 billion in debt will be issued in 2008-09. (More on PA’s Total Debt…

Media

Read More: Borrowing in 2008-09 Budget

Welfare

The Lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Fantastic article in the Freeman compares and contrasts Ebenezer Scrooge to the proponents of the welfare state: The treadmill, poor law, and union workhouses to which Scrooge…

Media

Read More: The Lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge

Government Accountability

State bonus probe widens to Senate’s GOP caucus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2008

The Bonus-Gate investigation extends to the Senate GOP, the Patriot News reports. Former staffer-turned-lobbyist Mike Long was one recipient whe defended the bonus process: Long, a former…

Media

Read More: State bonus probe widens to Senate’s GOP caucus

Education

School choice suggested for Pittsburgh

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review discusses how a Milwaukee-like school choice program might work in Pittsburgh, after speaking with former Milwaukee mayor John Norquist. Norquist will be speaking at an event on…

Media

Read More: School choice suggested for Pittsburgh

Taxes & Economy

‘Stimulus’ Nonsense

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2008

Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal on the Stimulus Nonsense of robbing Peter to pay Paul: All of the stimulative effects of the rebate to the recipients…

Media

Read More: ‘Stimulus’ Nonsense

Government Accountability

Rendell: Conservatives don’t like Black people

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2008

Gov. Rendell said today that conservatives (or at least a small, but meaningful percentage) “are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate.” He attributes his margin of…

Media

Read More: Rendell: Conservatives don’t like Black people

Education

Don’t write off vouchers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2008

Robert Enlow in USA Today on the merits of school voucher programs. Enlow is providing the counterpoint to a piece arguing for moving away from the push for…

Media

Read More: Don’t write off vouchers

Government Accountability

Mommy, why is Vince Fumo in our kitchen?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2008

The latest Vince Fumo for Senate ad ends with a little girl asking,”Mommy, why is that man in our kitchen?” Oh, so many punchlines to choose from. I’m going…

Media

Read More: Mommy, why is Vince Fumo in our kitchen?