Criminal Justice Reform

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 7, 2016

North Philadelphian Carol Johnson* saved $2,000 from her pension checks by storing the money in an upstairs bedroom. One day, the 87 year old's savings vanished in a matter…

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Government Accountability

Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. Pensions

  • Catherine Fitzhugh
  • October 6, 2016

In a recent interview with Stephanie Renee, host of WURD AM’s The Mojo, Nathan Benefield discussed the roots of Pennsylvania’s pension crisis and how to fix it. Pension debt has stacked up…

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Podcast: Matthew Spalding

  • October 5, 2016

All men are created equal. This simple idea—just five words—changes world history, according to Matthew Spalding, author of We Still Hold These Truths and Associate Vice President and Dean of…

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Public Union Democracy

Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 30, 2016

Election season is in full swing, but so is the fall legislative session. This time of year elected officials walk a narrow line to avoid the illegal practice of using…

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Government Accountability

New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ Burden

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2016

New union contracts will make state government more expensive, according to two analyses released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). The IFO projects contracts negotiated by the Wolf Administration…

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Regulation

Fighting for Survival

  • September 27, 2016

Yesterday was an emotional day for many. Hundreds of people from Pennsylvania’s vaping community traveled to Harrisburg to save their livelihoods and their way of life. The rally to repeal…

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Education

Pennsylvania’s Economy is Struggling

  • September 27, 2016

Americans finally got a raise! That's the gist of recent headlines hailing significant economic growth in 2015, but in Pennsylvania the economy is still struggling.  From 1991 to 2015,…

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Public Union Democracy

Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in Court

  • Gina Diorio
  • September 22, 2016

David Smith and Donald Lambrecht were up against a powerful foe: Gov. Wolf and an executive order that granted a sweetheart deal to a union at their expense. In a…

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Education

Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding Suit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2016

As I pointed out earlier this week, Pennsylvania public school spending is at an all-time high. In fact, the state's per student spending is significantly above the national average. James’ analysis…

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Read More: Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding Suit