Taxes & Economy

Tough Questions for Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

  • July 29, 2010

The PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) testified before the Senate Transportation Committee during this summer’s special session on transportation funding. Most senators on the committee expressed concern on several aspects regarding…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 29, 2010

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this issue.  My name is Nate Benefield, I am Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg. We are a…

Testimony

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Education

More on Government Jobs in Recession

  • July 29, 2010

The Rockefeller Institute of Government recently analyzed a Bureau of Labor Statistics report on jobs at this point in the recession. The report finds that with 9.2% unemployment,…

Media

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State Budget

How to Reduce Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Corbett on Death Tax and Farmers

  • July 28, 2010

Governor hopeful, Tom Corbett, has voiced support for phasing out the state’s death tax. At a meeting organized by Farm Families for Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania Agricultural Republicans, Corbett cited…

Media

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Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?

  • July 28, 2010

Harrisburg, PA –  The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) today released Growing Money on Trees: An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan, offering a cost-benefit analysis…

Press Release

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State Budget

What if State Government Hired a Psychic?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

The Tribune Review adds on to the continuing Orie sisters saga, that not only did they seek the advice of a clairvoyant, but that clairvoyant asked for a…

Media

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Regulation

Tax For Soccer

  • July 27, 2010

It’s not soccer players or fans that will be taxed to pay for the Major League Soccer stadium in Chester, but the visitors who patronize bed and breakfasts or hotels…

Media

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Government Accountability

Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2010

In the wake of convictions, indictments, and investigations of Pennsylvania lawmakers and staff, several legislators have called for a new Public Integrity Commission. The Commission would replace the current…

Media

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Regulation

Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”

  • July 26, 2010

Privatization Watch, which warns against privatizing government services, alerts locals that if Pittsburgh parking garages are leased to a private company the per day parking cost would increase by…

Media

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Education

Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

The Fordham Institute, long advocates of national education standards, are celebrating the adoption of the Common Core Curriculum, calling it “national standards conservatives can love”. The basis for this…

Media

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Regulation

Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

Many myths continue about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. One is that the state government would lose annual revenue from liquor sales. See Wendell Young, speaking on behalf…

Media

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Regulation

Reviewing the Financial Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…

Media

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Regulation

State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

Eleanor Chute of the Post-Gazette notes the approval of the pension contribution rates for Pennsylvania school employees (split between school districts and the state). She also notes that the…

Media

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Education

Cyber School Rewarded for Its Effectiveness

  • July 23, 2010

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has renewed the charter for the state’s first cyber charter school to offer all grades K-12. CEO Dr. Nick Trombetta acknowledged this accomplishment:…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Obama Admits Energy Subsidies Distort Economy

  • July 23, 2010

A recent Heritage Foundation article highlights the hypocrisy within the Obama Administration’s approach to energy. The U.S. Treasury Green Book, which details the reasons for changing the tax code,…

Media

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