Commentary

Health Care

The Pension and Healthcare Non-Crisis

• Richard Dreyfuss
• January 29, 2007

Despite the well-documented unfunded liabilities in Pennsylvania’s largest public employee pension plans (PSERS and SERS), the response from Harrisburg to the coming fiscal crisis ranges from denial to paralysis. Following…

Commentary

Health Care

Governor Rendell’s Healthcare Misdiagnosis

• Nathan Benefield
• January 25, 2007

As healthcare costs continue to rise faster than consumers’ ability to pay, it is clear that we need to alter how we pay for healthcare. Recently, Governor Rendell unveiled a…

Commentary

Health Care

Treating the Symptom Rather than the Cause

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 22, 2007

Governor Rendell wants to expand health insurance to 767,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians by increasing taxes on employers and tobacco users, to name just a few. The full costs have yet to…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Public-Private Partnerships: Paying for Our Paving

• January 17, 2007

Pennsylvania is facing a $1.7 billion annual shortfall in funding for roads, bridges and mass transit. The only thing worse than the deficit is the proposed “solution” to this shortfall:…

Commentary

Turnpike Lease is Win-Win for Taxpayers, Lawmakers

• Nathan Benefield
• December 12, 2006

Governor Rendell’s recent announcement that the state would seek “expressions of interest” on a lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a recognition of the potential benefits of public-private partnerships (P3s)…

Commentary

Government Accountability

The Elections Big Winner: Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2006

Did voters reject Republicans and embrace Democrats in the 2006 elections? Of course; the gains in seats held by Democrats (both nationally and statewide) suggest they did. But the reasons…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)

• November 8, 2006

In Pennsylvania and across the United States, taxpayers don’t need to look very hard to find examples of wasteful, unconstitutional, or just plain wrongheaded government spending decisions. One of the…

Commentary

Health Care

Uncovering Cover All Kids

• Nathan Benefield
• October 10, 2006

This past summer, state legislative leaders sent Governor Rendell a letter promising legislation by October authorizing the Governor’s “Cover All Kids” initiative. They included over $2 million in the state…

Commentary

Regulation

Pennsylvanias Unlimited Government Equals Limited Economic Growth

• October 5, 2006

In a few months, the tumultuous 2005-06 session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly will come to a close—and will likely do so without further action on the “Taxpayer Fairness Act,”…

Commentary

Regulation

Getting Out of the Pension Dilemma

• Richard Dreyfuss
• October 4, 2006

(Editors Note: This Commentary was originally published on March 8, 2006) Pennsylvania’s public employee pension plans are facing a looming financial crisis. Regardless of how one looks at the current…

Commentary

Education

Is Our Kids Learning?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2006

Following multiple reports on student test scores, much has been made about how well Pennsylvania students are performing. In August, Governor Rendell delighted in the results from the PSSA—the state’s…

Commentary

Regulation

For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)

• October 1, 2006

In Pennsylvania and across the United States, taxpayers don't need to look very hard to find examples of wasteful, unconstitutional, or just plain wrongheaded government spending decisions.  One of the…

Commentary

Government Accountability

The Incumbents We Need

• Matthew Brouillette
• September 26, 2006

Pennsylvania’s 2006 elections will go down in the history books as one in which citizens overturned the apple cart of many incumbent state legislators. While many career politicians are already…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

What to do About the Transportation Crisis?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 18, 2006

The Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission is currently holding hearings on the funding “crisis” in transportation. From 1995-96 to 2005-06, while inflation increased 28%, transportation spending in the state…

Commentary

Regulation

The Burden of Over-Regulation

• August 28, 2006

Summer’s Best Two Weeks (SB2W) is a non-profit summer camp located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Mountains for children ages 8 to 18. SB2W counselors have led campers on…

Commentary

Health Care

Health Care Mandates No Silver Bullet

• Nathan Benefield
• August 21, 2006

In April 2006, Massachusetts enacted a dramatic health care reform package. Dubbed “Romneycare” after Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, this plan calls for reforms in the health insurance market, a mandate…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

“Back-End Referendum”: No Taxpayer Protection

• August 15, 2006

The recent enactment of Special Session Act 1 of 2006, the so-called “Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act”, came as a disappointment to taxpayers throughout the Commonwealth who are fed up with…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Principles Worth Fighting For

• Nathan Benefield
• August 10, 2006

Though I have watched Braveheart several dozen times, last weekend was the first time that the blood, violence, and men in kilts reminded me of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Unfortunately,…

Commentary

Health Care

The 1% Solution

• Richard Dreyfuss
• August 7, 2006

In the daily travails of state government, it appears the Senate is prepared to take action best described as “self-reform.” According to reports, beginning as early as September, employees of…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Shrinking the Legislature

• Nathan Benefield
• August 1, 2006

Thank you, Chairman Scarnati, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify before you today on the issue of whether or not Pennsylvania should reduce…

Commentary

Regulation

Boeing-Sized Welfare Checks

• July 17, 2006

For the past three and one-half years, the ostensible premise of Gov. Ed Rendell’s “economic stimulus” plan has been that by making “targeted investments” in politically chosen companies and industries,…

Commentary