Regulation

Privatizing Pittsburgh Parking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2010

The Post-Gazette reports the highest bid for a lease of Pittsburgh’s public parking garages came in at $452 million, well above what was expected. While the city of Pittsburgh…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Odd Headline of the Day

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2010

CNN reports, “Stocks rally to 4-month highs after economists report recession ended in June 2009.” Three comments: Are you surprised to learn the recession ended 15 months…

Media

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Regulation

Marcellus Money Yields $88 Million Gift to Penn State

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2010

The Post-Gazette reports that Terry Pegula, who recently sold his company that was drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, donated $88 million to Penn State University to…

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Taxes & Economy

Survey of Marcellus Shale Residents

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2010

The Penn State Cooperative Extension has outlined findings from a survey of residents in the Marcellus Shale region (including New York, which still has a moratorium on drilling). The…

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Taxes & Economy

Which States are Stealing Pennsylvania Residents?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2010

The Tax Foundation has launched a new, awesome interactive tool that looks at IRS data, tracking moves into and out of each state. The bottom line for Pennsylvania is…

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Has Been Collecting Info on Citizens for Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2010

There has been a hullabaloo over the discovery that the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security (under the Emergency Management Agency), has been paying a private company to put together details about protests…

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Education

2010 SAT Scores by State

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2010

EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released the results of the 2010 SAT. We prepared a chart of SAT performance…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA House Democrats Unveil Transportation Tax Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2010

Today, the Pennsylvania House Democrats put forth their proposal to raise taxes for transportation projects, as reported by PA Independent, which also provides a detailed outline of the…

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Education

School Choice Saves Education in New Orleans

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 14, 2010

Just over five years ago, New Orleans was devastated by Katrina, but the city’s education system was in shambles long before the storm. Today, New Orleans has witnessed a…

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State Budget

Rendell Starts State Bailout of Cities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 13, 2010

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced a $4.3 million bailout for the city of Harrisburg. The city, following decades of wasteful spending on things like a Wild West Museum and owning…

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Regulation

Pa. Lawmakers Must Solve Pension Crisis Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 13, 2010

Here is a great video editorial on the need for Pennsylvania lawmakers to address the pension crisis now, from WGAL president Paul Quinn.  …

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Taxes & Economy

Green Jobs? You Can All Go To Shale

  • September 10, 2010

The Marcellus Shale Coalition (that’s the pro-drilling group made up of natural gas exploration and recovery companies) has come up with a great idea — their own…

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Regulation

No Money For Bridges, But Plenty for Luxury Hotels

  • September 10, 2010

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has completed its first luxury hotel at Bald Eagle State Park. While DCNR’s project represents good business sense — reaching out…

Media

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State Budget

Is Harrisburg a Prediction of Things to Come?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 10, 2010

Harrisburg’s inability to pay off massive debts accumulated by years of wasteful spending made headlines in the Wall Street Journal. Last week, Harrisburg skipped a $3 million debt payment…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

“Free” Federal Grants Result in Higher State Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 10, 2010

Over the last several decades, and increasingly in recent years, state and local government leaders have lobbied for, and received, additional funding from the federal government. Though this money…

Media

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