Media

Re-examining public welfare spending

• October 7, 2009

Media Hit

State Budget

House Democrats Help Identify More WAMs

• Nathan Benefield
• October 6, 2009

PA House Democrat leader Todd Eachus and Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans sent a letter to Gov. Rendell decrying the inclusion of $12 million in WAMs in the latest Senate…

Media

Government Accountability

The ACORN Hangs From Many Branches

• October 6, 2009

The U.S. House Republican Committee on Oversight and Government Reform recently released an in depth investigative report on the activities of the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, more…

Media

State Budget

The Totally Different Pennsylvania Budget Deal

• Nathan Benefield
• October 6, 2009

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Senate decided they were going to go their own way on the state budget, angered at House Democrat’s…

Media

State Budget

Realities of Severance Tax

• October 6, 2009

On Friday, the Pennsylvania House passed a tax bill with numerous tax hikes (and a few cuts).

Media

It’s Time To Re-examine Public Welfare Spending

• October 6, 2009

Media Hit

Anger at impasse brings budget ideas

• October 6, 2009

Media Hit

Regulation

Arnold Kling’s Diagnosis of the Financial Crisis

• October 6, 2009

In his paper titled NOT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND: A History of Policies that Produced the Financial Crisis of 2008, Arnold Kling provides historical context and analysis to…

Media

State Budget

The Best And Worst Ways To Eliminate A Budget Deficit

• Matthew Brouillette
• October 5, 2009

John Nothdurft of The Heartland Institute wrote this last February…  Anybody listening in Harrisburg? Legislatures in at least 39 states will have to take steps by the end of…

Media

Education

Charter School Students Outperform Peers

• Elizabeth Stelle
• October 5, 2009

The results of a recent study by a Stanford economist strengthens the case for charter schools by debunking the myth that charter school student outperform traditional students because…

Media

State Budget

PA House Approves More Debt for Pork

• Nathan Benefield
• October 5, 2009

Lost in the shuffle over the Pennsylvania state (operating) budget was a vote over the weekend over the state capital budget, which was approved by the Pennsylvania House. The…

Media

Health Care

NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project

• October 5, 2009

The National Taxpayers Union has recently announced a new video project aimed at letting the American taxpayer have their say in the healthcare debate. Entitled the “Special Delivery Project”, NTU is encouraging Americans…

Media

State Budget

“Big Helicopter” and Big Hollywood

• Nathan Benefield
• October 3, 2009

While debating their myriad of tax increases (which was eventually approved by the chamber), Pennsylvania House Democrats continued to demonize “Big…

Media

Education

Calls to Action on Protecting School Choice in Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2009

As reported earlier, the tax bill put out by Pennsylvania House Democrats would cut the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit by…

Media

Another state budget proposal collapses

• October 2, 2009

Media Hit

State Budget

What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2009

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House Rules Committee approved a “gut-and-replace” amendment to HB 1531 – which had previously been a bill to extend tax relief for military families – which…

Media

State Budget

Pennsylvania Revenue Collections Fall Short Again

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released their revenue estimates for September.  The collections were $119 million below estimates for the month, and $300 million less than collected one year…

Media

State Budget

October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax Hikes

• Matthew Brouillette
• October 1, 2009

I’ve just received word that Democrats are planning to rush a tax increase vote in the state House of Representatives tomorrow! Specifically, House Democrats are going to hold a vote on legislation…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Tax Cuts, Not Government Spending, Good for Economic Growth

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2009

There is a good piece in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal on the effect of government spending on economic growth.  The conclusion is that government spending does not “stimulate” the…

Media

Regulation

Why State Government Shouldn’t “Invest” Taxpayer Money

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2009

There have been countless examples of failed corporate welfare under Governor Rendell, and Governor Ridge before him. The latest example coming from Lebanon, PA: Lebanon Daily News, August 14,…

Media

State Budget

Governing “Responsibly”

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2009

Lowman Henry has another good commentary on the Pennsylvania state budget “deal” over at PA Town Hall: I find it interesting that when Democrats stick to…

Media