Media

Taxes & Economy

Lies, More Lies, and Statistics

• November 4, 2009

On Oct 10, Pennsylvania released a preliminary report on received ARRA (i.e. “simulus”) funds.  The study concluded that “$262,592,907.68 has been spent to date and 1,408 direct full-time equivalent…

Media

Regulation

PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing Industry

• November 3, 2009

The Pennsylvania Legislature’s willingness to succumb to special interests has been well documented by the Commonwealth Foundation, but the amount of attention given to the horse racing industry is…

Media

Government Accountability

Transparency and Performance in Government

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 3, 2009

The Mercatus Center has a new working paper on the importance of government transparency. Authors Jerry Brito and Drew Perrault argue that, “Transparency is a means to an end…

Media

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s October Revenues Fall Short

• Nathan Benefield
• November 3, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released October revenue collections.  Once again, the numbers fell short of projections – the state is now $160 short of estimate for the fiscal…

Media

State-run setup’s benefit doubted

• November 3, 2009

Media Hit

Interstate 80 may get tolls

• November 3, 2009

Media Hit

Regulation

Rendell Teaches Obama How to Create Phony Jobs

• November 2, 2009

A report released on Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services shows 7,400 jobs have been either created or retained(Capitolwire Subscription) in Pennsylvania using federal stimulus dollars. Jim…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Drama Continues

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 2, 2009

Turnpike Officials have admitted that a grand jury has been investigating the commission for at least five months. Although this investigation is separate from the shady dealings surrounding the Valley…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How Valuable is I-80 Tolling?

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2009

When the Federal Highway Administration rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s proposal to toll I-80, one of the numerous reasons was there had been no…

Media

Government Accountability

Size Isn’t Everything

• November 1, 2009

Sen. Dave Argall has introduced another attempt to reduce the size of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Pennsylvania is ranked 2nd in the nation for largest state legislator size (totaling…

Media

School taxes in Pennsylvania may soar to pay for pension promises

• November 1, 2009

Media Hit

Lack Of Tort Reform Costing Pennsylvania

• November 1, 2009

Media Hit

State Budget

Spending Limits: Not Special Exemptions

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 30, 2009

Yesterday, Republican state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County introduced legislation to help local governments cope with declining revenues, ever-increasing amounts of regulation and new programs from…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Mandatory Minimum Sentences Increase Costs

• October 30, 2009

A study by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing found that mandatory minimum sentences increase the cost of the corrections system without decreasing crime. Corrections costs are already a major…

Media

Pike County Residents to Vote on $1M Tax Hike

• October 30, 2009

With the county library system running a $19,000 budget shortfall and unable to fund new pet spending projects, the Friends of the Pike County Public Library have gathered 1,500…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Taxpayers Flee High Tax States

• Nathan Benefield
• October 29, 2009

Our friends at the Empire Center for New York State Policy has a new report on the “exodus” of residents from New York to other states. The report is…

Media

Government Accountability

CF Blog Roundup

• Nathan Benefield
• October 29, 2009

Here are some recent CF mentions in the blogosphere.  Reason Out-of-Control notes many of the same concerns we have with giving the Turnpike Commission carte blanche to toll I-80…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How Scary is Global Warming?

• October 28, 2009

Recent empirical data indicates global warming is not the imminent crisis some make it out to be. Christopher Monckton highlights recent trends which buck the U.N. projections.  Of particular…

Media

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Raided by FBI?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 28, 2009

Toll Roads News is reporting that the FBI has raided the PA Turnpike Commission, seizing computers and records (HT Capitol Ideas) We’re informed the FBI “raid” comprised three…

Media

Regulation

$80 Million from Stimulus for Norfolk Southern Freight Rail in PA

• October 27, 2009

With only 25% of the $787 billion dollar federal stimulus package spent thus far, the remaining $593 billion has many states coming to the table for a piece of…

Media

Pa. budget adds up to bankruptcy

• October 27, 2009

Media Hit