Government Accountability

Accurate Information About a Part-Time Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 2, 2010

Senator Daylin Leach opined in the Post-Gazette over the weekend, defending the legislature he serves in (previously as a House member) against the Grand Jury report calling for…

Media

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2010

  • June 1, 2010

Following May’s tax collections, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that state General Fund revenues are $1.2 billion below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Tax collections have…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2010

Regulation

Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2010

The Wall Street Journal recently published an interview with Gov. Rendell that highlighted Rendell’s analysis of policy issues – the stimulus, Wall Street/bailouts, and Immigration – at least in…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 1, 2010

This week the student-run Publius Foundation think tank in Pittsburgh released their second study. Looking at the proposed Pittsburgh Beverage Tax, the brief concludes soda taxes harm the economy…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Top Mann Nemesis: He’s Not a Fraud

  • May 28, 2010

The person who was most instrumental in debunking Penn State scientist Michael Mann‘s hockey stick chart, Steve McIntyre of Climate Audit, said at a climate realists’ conference last week…

Media

Read More: Top Mann Nemesis: He’s Not a Fraud

Regulation

Tobacco Tax Fact Check

  • May 28, 2010

The misinformation that comes out of the Policy and Budget Center (PBC) amazes me. Here is the first post of a two-part fact-checking on taxing smokeless tobacco products…

Media

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Government Accountability

On Partisan Legislative Staffers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2010

One recommendation of the Grand Jury report release this week was that the Pennsylvania General Assembly should move from hiring partisan staff for each caucus to having a centralized…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a Flop

  • May 28, 2010

Pennsylvania’s film tax credit program has exhausted its limits for the year, to much moaning from the film industry lobbyists. Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 27, 2010

At a community forum in Luzerne County Scott Perry, Director of Oil and Gas Management for the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) explained how Marcellus natural gas drillers are…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards

Public Union Democracy

CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 27, 2010

The Commonwealth Foundation joined with 50 other organizations in opposing using taxpayer funds to bailout private pensions; see the news release from Americans for Tax Reform. Two separate bills,…

Media

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State Budget

Entitlement Spending Driving Federal Deficits

  • May 27, 2010

The Heritage Foundation has a new 2010 federal budget chart book, full of useful charts and data. For instance, the Obama Administration is spending more on a…

Media

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State Budget

Federal Earmarks Hurt State Economies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 27, 2010

A new study by three Harvard faculty finds that seniority of a state’s congressional delegation does lead to more earmarks and federal aid for the state, it doesn’t improve…

Media

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Regulation

PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2010

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House approved legislation – HB 2399 – to allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to borrow and additional $50 to $100 million for additional “economic development…

Media

Read More: PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare

Taxes & Economy

Who are the Tea Party Members?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2010

Much has been said and made of the Tea Party movement over the past year and especially over the last several months, much by those who have no idea what…

Media

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