Media

Pennsylvania’s card shark in chief

• August 27, 2010

Media Hit

Pillaging and Plundering of PA Public not a Plus for Pittsburgh

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 27, 2010

The Allegheny Institute highlights another failure of corporate welfare to stimulate economic growth. Back in 1998, the politically-appointed RAD board voted to force taxpayers to contribute $809 million towards…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The U.S. ‘Jobs Spill’

• August 26, 2010

Today the American Energy Alliance released a video about how tax policies on U.S. energy development drive jobs overseas. Included in the piece is…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their Spoils

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2010

The Patriot News today reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) are arguing over how much money the PTC has to pay…

Media

State Budget

Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2010

Terry Madonna and Michael Young have a new column asking why Pennsylvania lawmakers are so loath to raise taxes: This response differs dramatically from past practice. Throughout most…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Subsidies For Me But Not For Thee

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2010

Advocates of the natural gas jobs tax constantly argue large drilling companies aren’t paying their “fair share”. Now the tax-me-more folks are taking it one step further — attacking the…

Media

Regulation

Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to Rise

• Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2010

As reported at KDKA, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) will be raising fees on bottles of liquor beginning in January. The fee increase is expected to generate…

Media

Regulation

More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”

• Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2010

After we noted earlier this week Philadelphia’s forcing of any blogger with blogging income to pay the city’s business privilege license ($50/year or $300 for lifetime),…

Media

Health Care

“Explaining” ObamaCare

• Nathan Benefield
• August 24, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a piece up on Forbes.com on why ObamaCare needs explaining…to those who voted for it. The report also says, “It is critical to reassure seniors…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The A-Team View of Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• August 23, 2010

As a kid growing up, I used to love watching the A-Team every week. Each week the A-Team would find someone in trouble, usually due to a violent gang of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Speech Pathologist Goes On Taxpayer-Funded Spending Spree

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 23, 2010

The Daily Review reports that Towanda Speech Pathologist Peter Ferrulli admitted to submitting false Medicaid claims totaling more than $365,000. Ferrulli routinely double-billed the program, and used the extra…

Media

Regulation

Philadelphia’s Blogger Tax

• Nathan Benefield
• August 23, 2010

In case you missed it, the city of Philadelphia is demanding local bloggers pay a $300 business privilege license, as reported by the Philadelphia City Paper, despite not making…

Media

State: Off-hour road work 30 percent costlier, but drivers benefit

• August 22, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

Pennsylvania Guzzles PLCB Advertising

• August 20, 2010

Snazzy Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) internet ads are making a splash, and the “largest purchaser of wine and liquor in the United States” has a slick new website at FineWineandGoodSpirits.com.

Media

Taxes & Economy

How to Write Leading Poll Questions

• Nathan Benefield
• August 20, 2010

Gov. Rendell continues to push for higher taxes and fees for transportation, this time by commissioning a poll — paid for with campaign funds (which are legally only to be…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Propaganda Without Logic

• Nathan Benefield
• August 20, 2010

I previously highlighted a state-run newsletter on Marcellus Shale, which basically represents taxpayer-funded lobbying. But the latest Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Examiner would really blow Mr. Spock’s mind. The…

Media

Happy Cost of Government Day 2010

• August 19, 2010

Today is Cost of Government Day, a date on your calendar you probably won’t want to celebrate. Americans for Tax Reform calculated the date Americans collectively have earned enough…

Media

Regulation

Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMs

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 19, 2010

During yesterday’s press conference, Roxbury News reported Gov. Rendell saying, “Opportunity Grants are not WAMS.” Really? Forget the numerous failures of Opportunity Grant recipients, like the $750,000 awarded to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Alternative Energy Mandates Remain Costly

• August 19, 2010

This month, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) report evaluating the state’s alternative energy mandates surfaced, a mere two years overdue. Undoubtedly, pressure from the press for…

Media

Public Union Democracy

How Could this Not Increase Costs?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 19, 2010

The Tribune Review writes today about a project labor agreement (PLA) that Allegheny County Chief Executive (and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate) Dan Onorato is taking some flak for. Amazingly, a…

Media

State Budget

“Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy

• Nathan Benefield
• August 18, 2010

Gov. Rendell announced that to balance the Pennsylvania state budget — after getting $250 million less from Congress than predicted — he would be ordering cuts of 1.9% “across-the-board,”…

Media