Taxes & Economy

Environmental Protection Need Not Cause Economic Stagnation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 22, 2010

As more natural gas wells are drilled, environmental groups, and now lawmakers, are decrying the technology as unsafe or responsible for contamination. Even the EPA announced it is conducting…

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Health Care

Will the Health Care Bill Hold Up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 22, 2010

Ronald Reagan once said, “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.” Last night’s vote on health care reform was heralded by supporter as a “historic vote” which will…

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Government Accountability

An Annual or Biennial Pennsylvania Budget?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 22, 2010

Cross Posted at The Triadvocate House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) argues that “a two-year budget is impractical in our modern world” and that the current annual budget cycle…

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Health Care

Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 21, 2010

Eric Telford (Twitter handle JoeTaxpayer) has started to round up Congressmen who change their health care vote after getting big grants for their districts: …

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Taxes & Economy

Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 19, 2010

The Economist has a story on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal mess, which has been years in the making. Thanks to an irresponsible city council, Harrisburg is still…

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Government Accountability

CF Blog Roundup

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 19, 2010

It’s time for another edition of the CF Policy Blog Roundup. Capitol Ideas keeps the link love coming by pointing to our post on the NTU’s rating of PA’s…

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Regulation

Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax

  • March 19, 2010

According to a recent op-ed by Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a 2007 cigarette tax is having an adverse effect on the Free State’s economy. While…

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Regulation

Private Historical Sites are More Popular

  • March 18, 2010

Unfortunately, the ability of non profit groups, private philanthropy and individual entrepreneurship have to preserve our historic sites and natural resources is largely overlooked. The perception that privately run…

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Education

Establishment Continues to Attack Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 18, 2010

At a hearing yesterday, Pennsylvania School Boards Association touted additional proposals to cut off funding for cyber charter schools. One of these proposals would be that cyber schools would…

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Government Workers Won’t Be Screwed by 401k Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 18, 2010

Capitolwire has a story (subscription) on a recent hearing regarding switching from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution (401k) plans for state and school employees.  I was asked to respond to…

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State Budget

More Opposition to Rendell’s Sales Tax Expansion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2010

The Post-Gazette sums up additional opposition to Gov. Rendell’s proposed expansion of the sales tax – this time from the computer services industry. The article also notes how Gov.

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Taxes & Economy

Gas Bags Scare Off Gas Investor

  • March 17, 2010

In an interview with CNBC, Larry Nichols, CEO of the highly-successful Devon Energy, claimed his company will not be seeking a share of the Marcellus Shale gas reserves anytime…

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