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Energy
Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Originally published by The Daily Signal. As Earth Day approaches on Tuesday, climate activists remind us of the importance of cutting carbon emissions. Yet, one inconvenient truth escapes their green-tinged talking…
Read More: Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Prosperity
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Education
Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Read More: Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, Too
Read More: Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, Too
Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania
Once upon a time, "Keystone State" represented more than just a nickname, as Pennsylvania was central to America's economy. Over the past several decades, however, our importance has diminished. Our…
Commentary
Read More: Six Opportunities for PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will start…
Commentary
Read More: Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80Government Accountability
Time for Term Limits Again
Unfortunately, this spirit of civic virtue yielded to self-aggrandizement. Early on, legislators served a few terms in a public office and then returned to private life to live under the…
Commentary
Read More: Time for Term Limits AgainEducation
Mann-Made Global Warming?
Climategate was born in late November 2009 with the release of more than a thousand emails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia…
Commentary
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A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm
Some members of Congress are pushing a third economic "stimulus" in as many years (pundits often forget the Bush stimulus of 2008). Supporters of yet another round of deficit spending…
Commentary
Read More: A Third Stimulus Won’t be the CharmTaxes & Economy
A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The top-heavy PTC, with more than 2,000 employees, is responsible for overseeing an exponentially smaller infrastructure than PennDOT. The PTC manages 537 miles of turnpike highways; PennDOT manages nearly 40,000…
Commentary
Read More: A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionEnergy
Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity
Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…
Commentary
Read More: Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s ProsperityRegulation
Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania
Between 2000 and 2008, Pennsylvania suffered the depletion of one of its most valuable resources - people. During this period, the state lost 56,000 net residents, according to U.S. Census…
Commentary
Read More: Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of PennsylvaniaEducation
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?Government Accountability
Every Generation Needs A Revolution
Pennsylvania's government is a prime exhibition of Lord Acton's well-known admonition that "power corrupts."…
Commentary
Read More: Every Generation Needs A RevolutionRegulation
Bamboozled: Why Government-Run Liquor Stores are Socially and Economically Impractical
Ever since Pennsylvania seized control of wine and liquor in 1932, advocates of state-run liquor stores have touted the supposed social benefits. However, recent research clearly demonstrates that privatization would…
Commentary
Read More: Bamboozled: Why Government-Run Liquor Stores are Socially and Economically ImpracticalPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania: An Unequal Opportunity Employer
Equal opportunity has long been a cherished ideal in America. Yet state government is engaging in unequal contracting practices. Governor Rendell's administration is mandating discriminatory Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania: An Unequal Opportunity EmployerHealth Care
Notes on Health Care Reform
Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…
Commentary
Read More: Notes on Health Care ReformGovernment Accountability
Break Up SEPTA
How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.
Commentary
Read More: Break Up SEPTAEnergy
End Rate Caps to Create Electric Choice and Competition
Concern about potential price hikes in the midst of a recession may motivate some lawmakers to push for legislation to halt or delay that expiration under the guise of consumer…
Commentary
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Tort Reform Key to Reducing Health Care Costs
As Washington continues debating how to curb health care costs, one area largely ignored is medical malpractice reform. Ample evidence from states indicates tort reform is central to overhauling the…
Commentary
Read More: Tort Reform Key to Reducing Health Care CostsRegulation
Punishing the Next Generation: The Rendell Pension Legacy
As the Rendell administration moves inexorably toward its finish line in January 2011, it is reasonable to begin considering the issues awaiting the next governor. Of significant note is Rendell's…
Commentary
Read More: Punishing the Next Generation: The Rendell Pension LegacyRegulation
An Honest Debate About State Spending
Throughout the budget process, Rendell has used this same tactic, called a "Washington Monument" ploy. From claiming education would be set back decades, to asserting state police would have to…
Commentary
Read More: An Honest Debate About State SpendingState Budget
Re-examine Public Welfare Spending
Pennsylvania has, as of this writing, gone 90 days without a budget, longer than any other state. The impasse has been driven by Gov. Rendell's demand for higher spending and…
Commentary
Read More: Re-examine Public Welfare SpendingRegulation
Torts, Taxes Hinder Pennsylvania’s Prosperity
Wrongheaded economic development policies and one of the nation's worst labor climates are serious impediments to Pennsylvania's prosperity. As if those obstacles were not enough, the commonwealth also has saddled…
Commentary
Read More: Torts, Taxes Hinder Pennsylvania’s ProsperityEducation
Reform, Not More Spending, Key to College Affordability
This year's budget debate has generated several silly schemes, including a few related to higher education funding. But Gov. Rendell's proposed video poker tax and House Democrats' ploy to move university appropriations off-budget do…
Commentary
Read More: Reform, Not More Spending, Key to College Affordability