Media

Spending is still supreme in the Pennsylvania budget

• February 16, 2010

Media Hit

Government Accountability

Biennial Legislatures

• Nathan Benefield
• February 16, 2010

NCSL has a new podcast discussing biennial legislatures – i.e. states where the General Assembly meets for a limited session every two years.  There have been a handful of…

Media

Health Care

Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

• Nathan Benefield
• February 16, 2010

The Virginia House of Representatives passed SB 417, sending it on to Gov. McDonnell, who is expected to sign it.  The legislation would state, in defiance of health…

Media

Regulation

Tracking the Bailout Money

• Nathan Benefield
• February 16, 2010

Propublica has a good tool tracking all the money the federal government has given out in both the TARP bailout and the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Media

Re: alcohol control (Letter to the Editor)

• February 15, 2010

Media Hit

Tea Party survival strategy

• February 15, 2010

Media Hit

Do as We Say, Not as We Do

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 15, 2010

Public sector unions argue that “defined-benefit” pension plans are necessary to attract and retain good government workers. They also argue that we must pay people equitably — i.e., we…

Media

Regulation

Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

• Nathan Benefield
• February 15, 2010

RiShawn Biddle has a good article at American Spectator on how public school pensions and health care benefits are a huge cost burden in many states. New Jersey is…

Media

In Recession, States Bet On Nanotech

• February 15, 2010

Media Hit

The corrections Rendell’s budget needs

• February 15, 2010

Media Hit

Government Accountability

The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

• Nathan Benefield
• February 15, 2010

State Rep. Frank Oliver announced he will be retiring at the end of his term.  This retirement – along with those of Sen. Bob Mellow, Sen. Barry Stout, and…

Media

Regulation

Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

• Nathan Benefield
• February 15, 2010

The lobbyist group Triad Strategies has a new blog focusing on Pennsylvania policy and politics, which features a recent post by George Wolff that calls for taxpayers to…

Media

Schools make out well in Rendell’s 2010-11 budget proposal

• February 14, 2010

Media Hit

Raising the hiss-to-pluck ratio

• February 14, 2010

Media Hit

‘Nonessential’ state workers still get paid for snow days

• February 14, 2010

Media Hit

Mellow would retire with six-figure pension

• February 13, 2010

Media Hit

Rendell’s Taxpayer Snow Job: No-Work Pay-Day

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 13, 2010

The Patriot-News reported that when Gov. Rendell closed down state government for the recent snow storm, state workers would receive full pay for not working — costing the taxpayers…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2010

Toll Roads News reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is seeking bids for consultants for the conversion of the highway to a toll road. The four contracts would each…

Media

On the pros and cons of giving corporations and individuals equal voices

• February 12, 2010

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2010

Here is a video listing the 74 items currently exempt from the Pennsylvania sales tax that Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing – set to the introduction of Star Wars…

Media

Education

Climategate is an Embarassment

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2010

Penn State sophomore Samuel Settle pens a letter on why he is embarrassed of professor Michael Mann’s behavior, and his school’s white-washing of an investigation. Click here for our…

Media