Media

Health Care

Obama and the Slacker Mandate

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2010

In his health care rally in the Philadelphia area earlier this week, President Obama touted a proposed regulation that insurance companies would have to allow children up to age 26…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Could Municipalities Provide Cheaper Electricity?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 12, 2010

Last week the State House Committee on Consumer Affairs held a hearing on legislation which would allow municipalities to act as electricity aggregators for residents, unless they opt-out for another…

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Regulation

State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2010

A new survey from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics looks at the total employer costs for workers in both the private and public sector. While wages for…

Media

Government Accountability

Need for an Independent Fiscal Office in PA?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2010

A new Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office was the subject of a recent legislative hearing this week, with several lawmakers arguing the need for the office (which was included in…

Media

Tolling I-80: The real toll

• March 11, 2010

Media Hit

State Budget

Reckless Driving With Taxpayer Dollars

• March 11, 2010

Pennsylvania’s move towards big government is many ways mirrored by the fleet of cars it has amassed over the last three decades. The number of cars increased from 5,700…

Media

Public knows plenty

• March 10, 2010

Media Hit

Regulation

Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAIL

• Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2010

Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development. Much of what it outlines is simply political rhetoric –…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Time to Act on Medicaid Fraud

• Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2010

The Heartland Institute put out a compilation of resources on reducing fraud in Medicaid and Medicare.  In Pennsylvania, Auditor General Jack Wagner has found fraud and errors in Medicaid…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Is Minimum Wage the Panacea or the Disease

• March 10, 2010

A new report by the Bureau of Business Research at Ball State University found that the recent minimum wage increases account for 550,000 fewer part-time jobs. According to the…

Media

Now, That’s Talking “Tax-Free”

• March 10, 2010

Media Hit

Health Care

Obamacare and Deficits

• March 10, 2010

In campaign-mode fashion, President Obama held a rally at Arcadia University on Monday to sell his plan for health care reform. Filled with the usual rhetoric and emotional, Obama made…

Media

Regulation

PA State Troopers Raid Philly Bars

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2010

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that dozens of Pennsylvania state troopers raided some Philly bars for selling unregistered brands of beer: Although the bar owners had bought the beer…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Sign the Petition for an Independent Investigation of Dr. Mann

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 9, 2010

Penn State YAF’s (Young Americans for Freedom) petition for academic integrity is now online! On February 12th almost a hundred students and citizens gathered to demand a fair and thorough…

Media

Opposition Rising to Philadelphia’s Soda Tax

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2010

Opposition has been rising to Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed tax on sugary drinks in Philadelphia – often referred to as a “soda tax” (but never a “…

Media

Regulation

Will History Vanish Without State Spending?

• March 9, 2010

It is an oft-disseminated lie that the government is the needed guardian of our historic sites and museums. Just as the private sector has begun to save our…

Media

Rendell Proposes Pension Plan, No Game Plan

• March 8, 2010

Media Hit

Health Care

Buying Insurance Across State Lines

• Nathan Benefield
• March 8, 2010

John Goodman summarizes the issue of interestate competition for health insurance: Every state has mandated health insurance benefits. These are laws requiring insurers to cover services ranging from…

Media

Distributors respond

• March 8, 2010

Media Hit

Government Accountability

Debating a Constitutional Convention

• Nathan Benefield
• March 8, 2010

Following Jack Wagner’s announcement that he supports a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention (he is, I believe, the only candidate for PA Governor to yet endorse a Con Con) has cause…

Media

Pennsylvania’s EITC Highlighted in School Choice Yearbook

• March 8, 2010

PA was among those states in which educational opportunity was jeopardized, according to Alliance for School Choice’s yearbook for 2009-10. The report indicates that 2009 brought setbacks, particularly…

Media