Media

Regulation

5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing Taxes

• June 23, 2014

State spending is at an all-time high, but calls for even more spending persist, despite Pennsylvania’s precarious fiscal situation. Pennsylvania doesn’t need more government spending to improve the…

Media

State Budget

Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 23, 2014

Pennsylvania has a prioritization problem. Recent controversies about the State Racing Fund and the legislature’s reserve fund provide two examples of why Pennsylvania consistently wrestles with budget crises. Auditor General…

Media

Bob Dick: Pa. Legislature should fix fiscal woes, not raise taxes

• June 23, 2014

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Mailbag: How will SuperPACs Affect Pennsylvania?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2014

A PolicyBlog reader asked if we could explain a recent “SuperPAC” ruling we covered in an op-ed back in April, along with its implications for state and national elections.

Media

Paycheck protection would establish fairness for taxpayers

• June 20, 2014

Media Hit

State budget costs hurt economic growth

• June 20, 2014

Media Hit

The Pa. budget: Susquehanna sausage

• June 20, 2014

Media Hit

Pension Reform in Pennsylvania – An Update

• June 18, 2014

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

End Teacher Bullying with Paycheck Protection

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2014

As most PolicyBlog readers already know, union dues are being used for political action. Moreover, taxpayer resources are used to collect both union dues and union campaign contributions. We at…

Media

Regulation

RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians

• June 18, 2014

What would you do if the government spent your tax dollars on a project that could bankrupt your business? Would you fight back by pointing out the injustice? Hopefully you’re…

Media

Teachers Urge Reform of Pension System

• June 18, 2014

With Pennsylvania’s pension system for public school employees some $33 billion in debt, lawmakers are looking for ways to save a system that could add an additional $900…

Media

Health Care

There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 17, 2014

Last week, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced HB 1492 to accept the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. This move would shift the purpose of Medicaid from caring for vulnerable…

Media

Public Union Democracy

AFSCME Memo Lies About Dues & Politics

• June 17, 2014

Some union leaders are bullying their members to support their political agenda. Don’t believe me? Read this: Each fair share fee payer is a sign of weakness. It tells…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Spreading the Paycheck Protection Message

• June 16, 2014

It’s crunch time in Harrisburg. With lawmakers scheduled to break for summer recess in two weeks, the push for paycheck protection has intensified. To help spread the message of paycheck…

Media

Education

Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students

• Nathan Benefield
• June 16, 2014

Last week we highlighted a California judge who ruled that laws enforcing teacher seniority and tenure were unconstitutional and violated students’ rights to a quality education. But here in…

Media

Union bosses think they’re above lobbying laws. They’re wrong: Matthew J. Brouilette

• June 16, 2014

Media Hit

Education

Politics Threatens Progress in Pittsburgh

• June 13, 2014

Results from Pittsburgh’s new teacher evaluation system were unveiled today, identifying both excellent teachers and those that need improvement. The goal of this new evaluation system is to allow the…

Media

Regulation

Union Lobbyists Not Interested in Solving Pension Crisis

• Nathan Benefield
• June 13, 2014

My latest letter to the editor in the Phoenix Reporter and Item corrects the record, noting that government union leaders have for years denied a pension crisis, supported underfunded pensions for…

Media

Second time’s the charm? W-B Area joins renewed funding fight

• June 12, 2014

Media Hit

Decisions in early 2000s created pension woes for Penn-Trafford schools

• June 12, 2014

Media Hit

Education

A Fair Funding Formula: School Choice

• Jessica Barnett
• June 12, 2014

Although it doesn’t fit the popular narrative of cash-starved school districts, spending on education is at an all-time high. The Pennsylvania Department of Education budget reached $11.2 billion in FY…

Media