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Taxes & Economy

Senate Votes on Natural Gas Tax (HB1950)

• February 8, 2012

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 31-19 margin with 26 Republicans and 5 Democrats FOR it and 4 Republicans…

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Taxes & Economy

Don’t Feed the Sharks!

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 8, 2012

Many Republicans, who once opposed raising taxes, are justifying their anticipated vote to increase taxes on the natural gas industry (it’s not a FEE to pay for uncompensated costs…something…

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Will These House Members Honor Their Pledge?

• February 8, 2012

That is the question Pennsylvanians are asking this afternoon, as 30 House members who signed their name and pledged to the people of the commonwealth not to raise taxes, are being asked to…

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Governor’s Proposed Budget Means Cuts for Education & Welfare

• February 7, 2012

Media Hit

Corbett’s budget mostly holds line on school spending

• February 7, 2012

Media Hit

Education

Budget Cuts Do Not Equal Tuition Hikes

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 7, 2012

Last year we highlighted waste in public higher education, such as Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s golf simulator with 52 different golf courses and Penn State’s decision to construct new…

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State Budget

Stop the Fiscal Inferno!

• February 7, 2012

Burn, baby, burn, it’s a fiscal inferno! Okay, perhaps that’s not exactly how the old disco song goes, but that’s certainly how some politicians are singing it in Harrisburg.

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Taxes & Economy

Stop the Job-Killing Marcellus Tax!!!

• February 7, 2012

A job-killing Marcellus Shale tax is being rammed through the legislature right now! With great speed and little transparency, House Bill 1950 was turned into a job-killing tax, littered with…

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Will Gov. Corbett cut public education in budget again?

• February 7, 2012

Media Hit

Pennsylvania to Vote on Permitting Counties to Tax Natural Gas

• February 7, 2012

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Job-Killing Marcellus Energy TAX Emerges

• February 6, 2012

A new TAX on Marcellus Shale appears on the horizon. Below is a summary of the behind-closed-doors deal struck by a handful of legislators and staff, according to a memo…

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Welfare

Even Big Government Advocates Understand the Welfare Trap

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 6, 2012

Big government lobbyists and CF don’t agree on much with welfare, but funnily enough, even they acknowledge that Pennsylvania’s welfare system keeps people in poverty. It [a food…

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Taxes & Economy

Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated their employment data by state through the end of 2011 (subject to revision). Looking at December job data (“not seasonally adjusted”) over…

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Inmates collect unemployment from behind bars

• February 3, 2012

Media Hit

Criminal Justice Reform

Is State Corrections Spending Sustainable?

• February 2, 2012

The chart below shows the unsustainable growth in Pennsylvania state corrections spending and inmate population. The criminal justice system’s goal shouldn’t be to simply lock up as many people…

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Welfare

Yes, Welfare is for Poor People

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2012

The Department of Public Welfare announced its plan to impose an asset test for food stamp recipients. The proposal would limit food stamps to most households with under $5,500…

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Education

Happy Digital Learning Day

• Priya Brannick
• February 1, 2012

Today is national Digital Learning Day, during which groups across the country will commemorate how technology is changing education for the better. So what exactly IS digital learning? Digital…

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Experts disagree on impact of gambling revenue on school tax bills

• February 1, 2012

Media Hit

Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reforms to Reduce Spending & Crime

• February 1, 2012

Change is on the horizon for Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections – now the third-largest state agency in the General Fund budget – which along with state debt, pensions…

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Regulation

Corporate Welfare Not Needed to Get a Cracker

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2012

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing a special tax deal to attract a “cracker” plant to the state. The proposed Shell cracker—which breaks down natural gas…

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Education

Not a Joke: Learn from Louisiana

• Charles Mitchell
• January 31, 2012

Here in Pennsylvania, we like to think we’re better than states like Louisiana.  Those folks used to have slaves, but our founder was a Quaker.  They’re poor, but we’re rich. …

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