Media

Pension Payout

• February 21, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2010

Rick Dreyfuss has a new article for the Mackinac Center in Michigan, where lawmakers are floating the idea of Pension Obligation Bonds to help fill their pension gap.  Of…

Media

State Budget

Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2010

The Pennsylvania Senate’s new Cost Study Commission met for the first time on Friday, discussing the cost of the state fleet – which currently maintains 16,000 vehicles, half of…

Media

Consumers encouraged to push for beer reform

• February 21, 2010

Media Hit

Global Warming on the Hot Seat

• February 21, 2010

Media Hit

New Budget Process

• February 19, 2010

Media Hit

Education

Pennsylvania School District Sued for Spying on Children

• February 19, 2010

In a story that sounds like a George Orwell novel, the Lower Merion School District is being sued for using laptops to spy on children. The school district gave…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

New PA Task Force on Prison Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• February 19, 2010

Following testimony that inmates might riot if the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections didn’t a funding increase, the state House Appropriations Committee decided to create a task force to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

When Alternative Energy Subsidies End . . .

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 19, 2010

Jim Panyard from the PA Independent reports on Rep. Scavello’s plan to secure $26 to $54 million in stimulus funding for residents who own Thermal Storage Unit heating systems.

Media

Government Accountability

Where has PA Stimulus Money Gone?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 19, 2010

I’ve gotten a couple requests for information on where Pennsylvania’s stimulus money has gone. The Pennsylvania stimulus site is here. …

Media

State of debt

• February 18, 2010

Media Hit

State Budget

PA’s Biggest Porkers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 18, 2010

Taxpayers for Common Sense has a new database on FY 2010 earmarks by Congress. As a state, Pennsylvania ranks 6th in value of earmarks, getting $366 million from 457…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Some Stimulating Numbers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 18, 2010

On the one year anniversary of the “stimulus”, OpenMarket.org has some numbers on how well the stimulus has worked: * The unemployment rate has increased since the stimulus bill…

Media

State Budget

The Unemployment Compensation Hole

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 17, 2010

Yesterday, Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandy Vito testified before the House Appropriations Committee in the usual round of budget hearings. She reported that the unemployment compensation fund is $2.2…

Media

Leading the Way

• February 17, 2010

Media Hit

Organization backs PSU

• February 17, 2010

Media Hit

Climategate Debate Continues

• February 17, 2010

Media Hit

Government Accountability

The True Purpose of Lobbyist Disclosure

• Nathan Benefield
• February 17, 2010

I have recently learned the true motives behind Pennsylvania’s recent lobbyist disclosure law — as I, and everyone else on staff who registered with the state as a lobbyist has…

Media

Sheetz rallies for beer sales

• February 17, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

Free Our Beer!

• February 17, 2010

With the debate over Pennsylvania’s liquor laws heating up, new legislation would finally allow consumers to purchase six-packs of beer at their favorite local grocery store or distributor. Introduced by…

Media

Taxes & Economy

There PennFuture Goes Again!

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 16, 2010

This morning on Harrisburg’s NPR station WITF (audio), Commonwealth Foundation adjunct scholar Andrew Langer debated Jan Jarrett of PennFuture.  Afterward Jarrett slammed us…

Media