Media

Former Gov. Leader: Common sense can cut Pa. prison costs

• May 22, 2012

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

• Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
• May 21, 2012

Laura Olson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pensions, and Gov. Corbett injecting pension reform into the budget discussion: Even with…

Media

Education

Cal U Waste Begs for Higher Ed Reform

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 21, 2012

The Senate’s budget included more funding for state universities than Governor Corbett proposed, but new discoveries of wasteful spending should give lawmakers pause. Gov. Corbett proposed a 30 percent cut…

Media

Gov. Corbett adds pension reform to budget agenda

• May 21, 2012

Media Hit

Despite control, fractious state GOP allows reform to languish

• May 20, 2012

Media Hit

Privatizing liquor shops divides politicians

• May 20, 2012

Media Hit

An alternative to property taxes? Don’t celebrate just yet

• May 19, 2012

Media Hit

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)…

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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

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…

Media

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

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

Coalition seeks to streamline Pa. corrections

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

Group questions spiraling costs of prisons in Pa.

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

Panel Talks Corrections Reform in Pennsylvania

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

Group gets behind corrections reforms

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

Broad coalition sets broad goals for prison reform

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

Bipartisan group calls for PA prison reform to save money

• May 15, 2012

Media Hit

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…

Media

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

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