Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady Activities
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new webpage dedicated to exposing the myriad of shady actions that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has engaged in…
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady ActivitiesThe state government is ultimately held accountable to the people through the electoral process—but that should not be the only line of defense against government overreach or waste. Taxpayers deserve a transparent government that works for them. Reforms are needed to reduce corruption and limit the scope of government to its constitutional authority. Additionally, reforms that ensure a transparent budgeting process, a fair electoral process, and a streamlined regulatory process should be pursued to increase the government’s integrity.
Government Accountability
Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 Million
State Rep. Curt Schroder has unveiled a number of legislative proposals which, by his estimates would save Pennsylvania taxpayers well over $600 million annually. House Bill 1056…
Media
Read More: Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 MillionGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit Racket
The Wall Street Journal has a scathing piece on pay-to-play politics in Harrisburg, specifically in relation to Gov. Rendell and his ties to another law-firm (HT John Lott):…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit RacketGovernment Accountability
PA House GOP Leader Offers Gov’t Reform Plan
Pennsylvania House Republican leader Sam Smith unveiled a 12-point government reform plan which he calls Pennsylvania’s Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg (PATH). The proposals are: No staff…
Media
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Repeal Salary Increases?
As of Friday, 89 members of House and 31 members of Senate have either given back their 2.8% pay increase to the Treasury Department or to charity. Senate Majority Leader…
Media
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Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Board
John Micek has the list of appointees (sans the GOP caucus appointments) to Gov. Rendell’s Stimulus Oversight Commission. Unfortunately, the panel includes no representation by taxpayers, with the exception…
Media
Read More: Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight BoardGovernment Accountability
“Full-Time” Lawmakers Earn Plenty of Outside Income
Team 4 Reports uncovers that Pennsylvania legislators, who earn about $80,000 per year in salary for their full-time job, also earn plenty of outside income (HT Grassroots PA).
Media
Read More: “Full-Time” Lawmakers Earn Plenty of Outside IncomeGovernment Accountability
Veon Fallout: An End to WAMs
Yesterday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced additional charges against former Rep. Mike Veon and staffer Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink for their role in directing state funds to the Beaver Initiative…
Media
Read More: Veon Fallout: An End to WAMsGovernment Accountability
Do Campaign Finance Laws Authorize Banning Books?
From the Las Vegas Review Journal: Astonishingly, Malcom Stewart, deputy solicitor general of the United States, replied in the affirmative “if the book contained the functional equivalent of express…
Media
Read More: Do Campaign Finance Laws Authorize Banning Books?Government Accountability
Tea Party Food Drive
Our office is abuzz with preparations for the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party. We can’t wait to see you all on April 15th! We wanted to let you know…
Media
Read More: Tea Party Food DriveGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend Fumo
ABC 27 has a story on the amount of OPM – “other people’s money,” i.e. taxpayers – used to defend former Sen. Vince Fumo, who was convicted of illegally…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend FumoGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend Fumo
ABC 27 has a story on the amount of OPM – “other people’s money,” i.e. taxpayers – used to defend former Sen. Vince Fumo, who was convicted of illegally…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend FumoGovernment Accountability
More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and Marketing
I’m not sure if readers are aware of this, but Congress recently passed something called a “stimulus” bill a few weeks ago. In order to publicize the stimulus funding,…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and MarketingGovernment Accountability
Term Limits Needed in Pennsylvania
John Baer writes that the recent Vince Fumo conviction – the latest in a long history of corruption by long-time Pennsylvania lawmakers – is another reason why Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Term Limits Needed in PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
Transparency on PA’s Stimulus Money
Governor Rendell announced his ideas for “oversight” of the funding Pennsylvania will receive from the federal stimulus (related story here), and unveiled a new website – recovery.pa.gov…
Media
Read More: Transparency on PA’s Stimulus MoneyCriminal Justice Reform
Reforming State Corrections
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on a Pew study on the cost of incarceration/corrections in states. There is little question that the cost of our prisons…
Media
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Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?
State Senator Mike Brubaker has a proposal to create greater oversight over how Pennsylvania spends its transparency money (HT: John Micek at Capitol Ideas). The proposal has two…
Media
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PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist Records
Here is an AP Story on the ruling by Pennsylvania House and Senate have ruled that lobbyist contact is not covered under the new Open Records law (HT…
Media
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Pay to Play Culture in Harrisburg
ABC 27 has a story/video highlighting the “pay-to-play” cronyism in Harrisburg, specifically the $11 million in outside legal fees (despite hundreds of lawyers on staff) going to Ballard Spahr…
Media
Read More: Pay to Play Culture in HarrisburgEducation
School District Consolidation is a Red Herring
In the movie Men in Black, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) carries a small device that flashes, allowing him to make people forget meeting him (or seeing aliens). Gov. Rendell…
Commentary
Read More: School District Consolidation is a Red HerringGovernment Accountability
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…
Report
Read More: Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009Government Accountability
An end to cronyism in state government?
The Pennsylvania House GOP has unveiled several proposals to end “pay to play” – including cracking down on the ability of the administration to award of no-bid contracts. In…
Media
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