Media

Taxes & Economy

Fact Check: Oil Companies Profits Tax

• Nathan Benefield
• August 4, 2010

For claiming he’s “not a crazy tax guy”, Gov. Rendell sure does propose a lot of new taxes. His latest plan regurgitates his 2007 idea to tax Big…

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Health Care

Missouri Voters Reject Obamacare

• Nathan Benefield
• August 4, 2010

Last night, Missouri voters passed Proposition C. The initiative would prevent the state from enforcing any mandate on individuals to buy health insurance. The measure was opposed by every…

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Regulation

Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 4, 2010

Virtually everyone knows that Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP) are costly – at least those who know what it is – but now the City of Philadelphia has some hard…

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Government Accountability

You Can Be Gov. Rendell’s Speechwriter

• Nathan Benefield
• August 3, 2010

Want to write Gov. Rendell’s next speech? Just fill out the form below. Write…

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Taxes & Economy

More Sparks Fly in PennFuture Scandal

• August 3, 2010

It’s been amusing to watch the defenders of PennFuture “fire” their pop-guns on the editorial pages of the Patriot-News since our report about their hypocritical and…

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Education

Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released

• August 3, 2010

Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s bonus. (If you missed “Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry,” click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though…

Media

Integrity panel isn’t fix we need

• August 3, 2010

Media Hit

Nearly half of municipal pension plans in York County ‘distressed’

• August 3, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

DEP is Successfully Regulating Gas Drilling

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 3, 2010

Environmental drilling opponents have jumped all over a new report by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association identifying almost 1,500 violations by 43 Marcellus Shale drilling companies by the PA…

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Can Tom Corbett keep his no-tax pledge?

• August 3, 2010

Media Hit

State funding for Scranton ballpark a mystery

• August 3, 2010

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Fact Check: PA Transportation Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• August 3, 2010

Gov. Rendell starts his “Tax You More” bus tour today, heading around Pennsylvania to call for more taxes to fill the “transportation funding crisis”. Here are some facts…

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Education

Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 2, 2010

The New York Times reports on some research – HT to Greg Mankiw – on the value of kindergarten improvement, and teachers, on earnings later in life. However,…

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Government Accountability

Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t Compute

• August 2, 2010

The PA Revenue Department’s main computer system was installed in 1975. The outdated system’s technological language, COBOL, is not even taught in universities anymore, narrowing the number of applicants…

Media

The Muni-Bond Debt Bomb

• August 2, 2010

Media Hit

State Budget

What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money

• Nathan Benefield
• August 2, 2010

Gov. Rendell is supposed to meet with lawmakers today to discuss options if Congress doesn’t approve the $850 million in federal FMAP funds. Pete DeCoursey (subscription) breaks down the…

Media

Sober alternative

• August 1, 2010

Media Hit

Can Tom Corbett keep his ‘no tax’ pledge?

• August 1, 2010

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Physics Supports Fracking Safety

• July 30, 2010

When the head of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management says, There has never been any evidence of fracking ever causing direct contamination…

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CF Blog Roundup

• July 30, 2010

Check out CF’s recent mentions in the blogosphere: Keystone Conservative highlighted a CF post on the harm ObamaCare could bring about in Pennsylvania. Capitol Ideas and…

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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…

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