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Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Commonwealth Foundation’s new report analyzes the success of DoorDash’s Portable Benefits Pilot Program in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 2025 – DoorDash unveiled its portable benefits pilot…
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Education
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Read More: Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Prosperity
Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Read More: Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Pillaging and Plundering of PA Public not a Plus for Pittsburgh
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…
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Read More: Pillaging and Plundering of PA Public not a Plus for PittsburghTaxes & Economy
The U.S. ‘Jobs Spill’
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…
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Read More: The U.S. ‘Jobs Spill’Taxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their Spoils
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…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their SpoilsState Budget
Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise Taxes
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…
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Read More: Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise TaxesTaxes & Economy
Subsidies For Me But Not For Thee
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…
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Read More: Subsidies For Me But Not For TheeRegulation
Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to Rise
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…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to RiseRegulation
More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”
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),…
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Read More: More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”Health Care
“Explaining” ObamaCare
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…
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Read More: “Explaining” ObamaCareTaxes & Economy
The A-Team View of Taxes
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…
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Read More: The A-Team View of TaxesTaxes & Economy
Speech Pathologist Goes On Taxpayer-Funded Spending Spree
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…
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Read More: Speech Pathologist Goes On Taxpayer-Funded Spending SpreeRegulation
Philadelphia’s Blogger Tax
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…
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State: Off-hour road work 30 percent costlier, but drivers benefit
Media Hit
Read More: State: Off-hour road work 30 percent costlier, but drivers benefitRegulation
Pennsylvania Guzzles PLCB Advertising
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.
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Read More: Pennsylvania Guzzles PLCB AdvertisingTaxes & Economy
How to Write Leading Poll Questions
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…
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Read More: How to Write Leading Poll QuestionsTaxes & Economy
Propaganda Without Logic
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…
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Happy Cost of Government Day 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…
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Read More: Happy Cost of Government Day 2010Regulation
Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMs
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…
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Read More: Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMsTaxes & Economy
Alternative Energy Mandates Remain Costly
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
Read More: Alternative Energy Mandates Remain CostlyPublic Union Democracy
How Could this Not Increase Costs?
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…
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Read More: How Could this Not Increase Costs?State Budget
“Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy
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,”…
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Read More: “Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy PolicyEducation
Who Got PSEA Money?
The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) remains one of the most powerful special interest groups in Harrisburg, whether it be fighting school choice and merit pay for teachers,…
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Read More: Who Got PSEA Money?