Media

State Budget

Welfare Sec. Alexander Discusses Mending the Safety Net on the BOX

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 5, 2012

On the latest edition of The BOX, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander takes time to discuss proposed welfare reforms. Despite accusations of wanting to “throw the…

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Education

I’m Bringing Some Gumbo to the State Capitol

• Charles Mitchell
• April 5, 2012

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal refused to let government unions push him around.  His reward?  A sweet victory not just for himself, but for the taxpayers, parents, and students of…

Media

Regulation

Lottery Contract Could Make Everyone a Winner

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 4, 2012

The lottery is on the minds of those in Harrisburg this week, but it has nothing to do with the $656 Mega Millions jackpot won by three lucky ticket…

Media

Regulation

Schools Get Property Tax Referendum Exemptions for Pension Costs

• Nathan Benefield
• April 4, 2012

Last year, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Gov. Corbett signed, legislation reducing the number of exemptions to the school tax referendum requirement. But as noted this…

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Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale: Pennsylvania’s Manna From Heaven

• April 4, 2012

Yesterday, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council hosted a forum on the benefits of natural gas for Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector. David Taylor of the…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Time for Prevailing Wage Reform | Support HB 1329

• Matthew Brouillette
• April 3, 2012

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may soon vote on legislation that will update the half-century-old Prevailing Wage Law that adds zero value to the taxpayers but costs us a bundle…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA to Copy Missouri’s Failed Land Banking Policy

• April 3, 2012

Pennsylvania is close to adopting Missouri’s 40 year old failed land banking policy. House Bill 1682, which has already passed the House and the Senate’s Urban Affairs and…

Media

Pennsylvania exploring lottery privatization

• April 3, 2012

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Six Ways Prevailing Wage Increases Taxpayers’ Costs

• Priya Brannick
• April 2, 2012

This week, the Pennsylvania House is set (yet again) to consider basic reforms to Pennsylvania’s outdated prevailing wage law, which mandates that union-scale wages be paid on taxpayer-funded construction projects…

Media

State Budget

Human Services Programs Must Deal with Wasteful Spending

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 2, 2012

Last week, you couldn’t swing a dead cat in the state capitol without hitting someone protesting Gov. Corbett’s welfare spending reductions. The governor proposed combining six human service line items, such…

Media

Taxpayers to Unions: We Won’t Get Fooled Again

• April 2, 2012

So Pennsylvania taxpayers, lawmakers and Pete Townshend walk into a bar… ouch! Seriously though, this week in Harrisburg could produce one heck of a punch line as lawmakers…

Media

Conservatives working to repeal prevailing wage law

• April 1, 2012

Media Hit

Health Care

Not Why I’m Here

• Charles Mitchell
• March 30, 2012

“Why am I here?”  That’s an excellent question to ask yourself if you work in Harrisburg.  This week, as I read a piece by Karen Langley in the Pittsburgh…

Media

Education funding article ignores important facts

• March 30, 2012

Media Hit

Unions Nailed on Prevailing Wage

• March 30, 2012

To hear the union boss of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council tell it from his cushy offsite confines, prevailing wage is all about helping local communities…

Media

State Budget

Do Government Programs Grow the Economy?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 29, 2012

While decades of increased government spending have resulted in economic stagnation, many advocates of increasing government spending claim that their favored program will “grow the economy.” They argue that…

Media

Central Pennsylvania residents weigh in on Affordable Care Act: Is it a blessing or curse?

• March 28, 2012

Media Hit

Education

School Choice in Milwaukee Increases Graduation Rates

• Nathan Benefield
• March 27, 2012

The latest analysis of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program finds that students receiving scholarships to attend the school of their choice are more likely to graduate from high…

Media

Union Tactics Killing Teaching Jobs, Raising Taxes

• March 27, 2012

For all you 16th century war buffs, you know a petard was a miniature bomb used to blow breaches in gates or walls.  But because technology wasn’t so hot…

Media

PA, Corbett continue fight against food stamp fraud

• March 27, 2012

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Chart of the Day: Welfare Overlap

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 26, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) encompasses much more than Food Stamps and Medicaid. There are numerous federally-funded and state-only aid programs. In fact, most of the 2.7 million…

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