Education

Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

PA Independent reported on Monday that Pennsylvania school districts’ fund balances reached $3.2 billion in 2011 (they compiled the data from the PA Department of Education’s (PDE)…

Media

Read More: Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

Regulation

Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

Another day, another story of waste at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. ABC 27’s Dennis Owens reports on the PLCB buying extravagant wine, then selling it at a discount…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

Regulation

Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 16, 2012

What's more dangerous, an incompetent barber or incompetent emergency medical worker? Most people would say and EMT, but a barber has to undergo almost nine times the hours of training…

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Read More: Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?

Regulation

Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

  • May 15, 2012

Another day, another alliteration, another wasteful Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board practice uncovered by the media. This time, a hat tip to Ben Simmoneau of CBS 3 Philadelphia for his report…

Media

Read More: Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

Health Care

New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 15, 2012

A bill on the floor of the state House would circumvent consumer freedom when it comes to prescription drugs. Many employers, including the state, encourage employees to buy less costly…

Media

Read More: New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

State Budget

State Budget vs Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2012

Last week, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a budget representing $27.66 in General Fund spending. How does that stack up against inflation and population growth? If…

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Regulation

UnAPPetizing Waste Poured by PLCB…Again

  • May 11, 2012

  Have you heard of the millionaire iPhone app?  It’s called VIP Black and for $1,000 at the iTunes store you get a “premium lifestyle application” that guarantees “heightened…

Media

Read More: UnAPPetizing Waste Poured by PLCB…Again

State Budget

Chart of the Day: General Fund Spending and Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2012

Yesterday, the Pa. Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a budget (the full Senate is expected to vote on it today) that includes $27.65 billion in General Fund spending. Unfortunately, this…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: General Fund Spending and Revenue

Regulation

EXPOSED: PLCB Wine Shrine Uncovered

  • May 9, 2012

Nothing to see here, folks, move along and remain quiet, we are busy protecting your palettes. That’s the dismissive reaction to taxpayers from Pennsylvania Liquor Control boss Joe Conti whose defense…

Media

Read More: EXPOSED: PLCB Wine Shrine Uncovered