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Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Harrisburg, Pa., May 6, 2025—Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee approved legislation to establish Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarships. Similar to the popular Lifeline Scholarship proposal, PASS would…
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
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 ReformGovernment Accountability
Accurate Information About a Part-Time Legislature
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
Read More: Accurate Information About a Part-Time LegislatureState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 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 2010Regulation
Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate
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
Read More: Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy DebateTaxes & Economy
Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage Tax
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
Read More: Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage TaxTaxes & Economy
Top Mann Nemesis: He’s Not a Fraud
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 FraudRegulation
Tobacco Tax Fact Check
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
Read More: Tobacco Tax Fact Check
The Real “Special Interest” Problem In PA
Media Hit
Read More: The Real “Special Interest” Problem In PAGovernment Accountability
On Partisan Legislative Staffers
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
Read More: On Partisan Legislative StaffersRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a Flop
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
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a FlopTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards
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 StandardsPublic Union Democracy
CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions
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
Read More: CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions
State pension problems addressed at PEL luncheon
Media Hit
Read More: State pension problems addressed at PEL luncheonState Budget
Entitlement Spending Driving Federal Deficits
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
Read More: Entitlement Spending Driving Federal DeficitsState Budget
Federal Earmarks Hurt State Economies
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
Read More: Federal Earmarks Hurt State EconomiesRegulation
PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare
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
Reforming Pa. legislature to be top priority
Media Hit
Read More: Reforming Pa. legislature to be top priorityTaxes & Economy
Who are the Tea Party Members?
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
Read More: Who are the Tea Party Members?