Education
Here’s some friendly advice to the new Pennsylvania general assembly
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania lawmakers swore their oath of office in Harrisburg, and a new legislative session is upon us. As two former…
Read More: Here’s some friendly advice to the new Pennsylvania general assemblyThe 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
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and the Growth of Government
Americans for Prosperity has a new analysis of taxpayer-funded lobbying of the federal government. I don’t want to point out the obvious, but this taxpayer-funded lobbying is almost all…
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78-Group Coalition Demands Greater Bailout Transparency
The Commonwealth Foundation has joined 77 other organizations in calling for greater transparency for taxpayers in the numerous bailouts being handed out with little oversight. From the news release:…
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Open government should save taxpayers, not cost them
The Tribune Review has a scathing editorial about Governor Rendell’s decision to charge citizens for the cost of retrieving open records about the government. In contrast, consider Texas,…
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Transparency: Increase Government Efficiency for Free
The House Democratic Caucus has demonstrated fiscal responsibility by rejecting this year’s COLA’s. Maybe Dr. Stilp got through to them. But the bigger question is how much did Eachus…
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Cut Legislature First
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorializes that the first item to be cut from the budget should be the legislature’s budget, noting this is the source of funding for bonuses, no-work…
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We’re Number One! In Teacher Strikes…still
The Allegheny Institute, one of our sister think tanks, posted a brief about teacher strikes. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania maintains its reputation of being the “teacher strike capital” of the world.
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PA Lawmakers, Executives, Judges Get Pay Raise
Patriot News story on the 2.8% cost of living increase that Pennsylvania lawmakers will get beginning Dec. 1, and state judges and executive branch officials will get the raise…
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Open Records Are Not Optional
Editors of The Morning Call criticize Allentown mayor Ed Pawlowski for attempting to keep the cost of police contract negotiations secret despite the city’s home rule charter which specifically…
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Full-Time Legislators still not the norm
The National Council of State Legislatures has some new data on occupations of state legislators. Here in Pennsylvania, 77.5% reported their occupation as “full-time legislator” (even though PA…
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Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and more
Our friends at the Sam Adams Alliance have something called The Sammies awards (with cash prizes) to encourage bloggers and citizens to get involved in political action. Here…
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Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunities
Some good opportunities to earn money working for liberty for college students, recent graduates and young professionals, and young journalists to pass along:Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow…
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Shed a little light on your government
ShowMeTheSpending.com, a project of the National Taxpayers Union (with a coalition of groups) has relaunched as a wiki (like Wikipedia) as part of the Sunshine Review…
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Corruption and Potential for Reform in State Contracts
Chris Freind has a five part series in The Bulletin on conflicts of interest, corruption, and the inability to get reforms passed in how state contracts are awarded. The…
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Speaker Franklin Award Dinner Video
Coverage of our Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner will air on PCN at 4:10 today. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel and below. Gov.
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Statement on the Passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll
The Commonwealth Foundation is saddened by the loss of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. We will fondly remember her unsurpassed dedication to her roles in public service, her compassion and…
Press Release
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RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll
As many readers are aware, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll passed away last night. Here is the Patriot News Story. John Micek has posted reactions from…
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Bailout Transparency Fading Fast
The Tribune-Review reports Bloomberg News has filed a FOIA and a federal lawsuit seeking to force the disclosure of recipients who received $2 trillion in emergency loans from…
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Book Review: The Best-Laid Plans
Fans of The Road to Serfdom will recognize the dangers of government planning. Unfortunately, government planning has become even more prevalent in the US since Hayek’s warning. Randal O’Toole’s book…
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Book Review: Income and Wealth
Alan Reynold’s Income and Wealth offers a primer on data on income, taxes, and the economy, and counters some of the most popular myths, usually circulated by left-wing groups…
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Turnout in Pennsylvania Declines
HT to Grassroots PA for this story – Turnout in Pennsylvania not only didn’t break records, it declined (both as a percentage of registered voters and in total…
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Pennsylvania House and Senate Results
Based on elections results from the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Tribune Review: Republicans pick up one seat in the PA Senate. Their current majority will be 29-20, with…
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