Taxes & Economy

Bush Revises Stimulus Deal to ‘Rebate All of It’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 24, 2008

Great fake news from ScrappleFace “It just makes sense,â€? said White House spokesman Dana Perino, “that if $800 per person would stimulate the economy, then giving back…

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Education

Good day for school choice in PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 24, 2008

The Commonwealth Court ruled that Chester-Upland school district could not limit the number of students enrolling in charter schools. Read the Philadelphia Inquirer story. About 40% of Chester-Upland student…

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“Profit” ins’t a dirty word either

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 24, 2008

We received an email in response to the “‘Foreign’ is not a Dirty Word” Commentary. I won’t print that whole email, but the essence was that a private company…

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Regulation

Plan would bar linking bonuses to pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2008

Rep. Sean Ramaley proposes ending the pension bump from bonuses. Currently a bonus (or other compensation, such as “unvouchered expenses”) increases the salary used to calculate pensions for state…

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‘Foreign’ is not a dirty word

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2008

Great Op-Ed in the Post-Gazette by Todd Malan on the issue of “foreign” companies bidding on the Turnpike: Finally, if the bidding process is robust, the likely…

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Rendell offers toll parameters for Turnpike Lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article covers Governor Rendell’s statements on a potential lease, with the headline that “Turnpike fare increases will be regulated”. The idea that a Turnpike lease would result…

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Taxes & Economy

How important are elections?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2008

Here are a couple of good commentaries on the importance of politics and elections. Though they draw the opposite conclusion, they follow a similar theme, and I find myself agreeing…

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Education

(Not) A closer look at Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2008

IssuesPA has a new article on Cyber School Funding. They claim to provide “a closer look at the ongoing debate”, but don’t look any closer than quoting what some…

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Bill for Turnpike Lobbying: $700,000

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2008

Joe Grata in the Post-Gazette with a look at the Turnpike Commission’s $700,000 in lobbying contracts for 2007 ($396,000 at the federal level and $316,000 for Harrisburg lobbyist –…

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