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Public Union Democracy

Keep Harley in PA – Pass Right to Work

• May 20, 2009

Last week, Harley Davidson announced the possibility of relocating their York County manufacturing plant to a state with better long-term economic competitiveness. (Spokesman Bob Klein stated that all alternate…

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Taxes & Economy

Who Watches the Watchmen?

• May 19, 2009

From Plato’s Republic to…well…The Watchmen (2009), the question of “Who watches the watchmen?” has remained unanswered. This problem continues with the government’s stimulus plan with its…

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Health Care

Obama’s Health Care Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• May 19, 2009

A good article in The American on health care costs, The initial tax hikes on the quarter-million-dollar club are projected to raise $318 billion over ten…

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Regulation

The Case for Privatizing State Parks

• May 18, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced they would have  to close at least 35 state-controlled parks due  under the proposed Senate budget plan. According…

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Taxes & Economy

Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 18, 2009

The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…

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State Budget

Video: “Driving” Federal Debt

• Nathan Benefield
• May 18, 2009

Here is a great video explaining the growth in federal debt in an easy to understand metaphor – i.e. how fast presidents are driving. George W. Bush “drove” faster…

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Taxes & Economy

High Costs of State Regulated Electricity

• May 15, 2009

Like many states, Montana experimented with restructured electricity markets. However, at the bidding of Public Service Commissioner Ken Toole, the state re-regulated the industry. Now, the Commission is expected to…

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Education

Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 15, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder asking, “Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?”   The short answer is NO.  For the long answer, they examine universal preschool programs…

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Government Accountability

Follow Pennsylvania State Government on Twitter

• Nathan Benefield
• May 14, 2009

Twitter is a good way to keep tabs on what is happening in Harrisburg on the state budget and other policy issues.  For those who are unfamiliar with Twitter,…

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Regulation

Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate Welfare

• Nathan Benefield
• May 14, 2009

Harley Davidson’s announcement that they may shut down their plant in York illustrates the problem with taxpayer funded corporate welfare. For starters, Harley Davidson has received $4.3 million…

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Taxes & Economy

PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade

• Nathan Benefield
• May 13, 2009

The Vice Chairman and two other Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission sent a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation in opposition to proposed cap and trade legislation.  …

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Taxes & Economy

Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”

• Nathan Benefield
• May 13, 2009

Robert Samuelson has an outstanding piece in the Washington Post, exposing many of the myths exposed by Obama’s plan to crack down on “corporate loopholes”.

Media

The Worst Bailout in the World?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 13, 2009

Ultra left-wing demagogue Keith Olbermann has a segment in which he calls out the “Worst Person in the World” – usually anyone speaking out rationally against Olbermann’s views will win…

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Government Accountability

Paying for Criminals’ Pensions

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 12, 2009

Yesterday, the PA House passed an amendment making it illegal for public employees to request lump-sum pension payments after they have been convicted of a crime related to their…

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Taxes & Economy

U.S. Government: Forcing Behavioral Changes through Excise Taxes Since 1791

• May 12, 2009

Even though President Obama previously promised not to raise taxes on the majority of Americans, he supported the federal tax hike on cigarettes, and now, the Senate is pushing…

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Education

PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support

• Nathan Benefield
• May 12, 2009

Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…

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Health Care

Obama’s Health Care Quackery

• Nathan Benefield
• May 12, 2009

Shikha Dalmia has a piece on Reason.com  discussing the falacy that “universal health care.”  The Obama plan would in fact, move the US closer to European countries, Canada, and…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell

• Nathan Benefield
• May 11, 2009

Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…

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Regulation

Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.

• Nathan Benefield
• May 11, 2009

Township Supervisors in Cromwell Township (Huntington County) are fighting a mandate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install a public sewer system.  The supervisors claim such a system…

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Regulation

What Cap and Trade Will Cost

• Nathan Benefield
• May 11, 2009

A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that proposed “Cap and Trade” legislation will cost the average American family $3,900 per year. The chart to the left compares the cost…

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Health Care

Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada

• Nathan Benefield
• May 8, 2009

John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care.  The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…

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