Media

PA House Rejects Cell Phone Ban

• Nathan Benefield
• April 22, 2009

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would ban (subject to a $50 fine) using hand-held cell phones while driving, follow a debate of several hours.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 22, 2009

Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”

• Nathan Benefield
• April 22, 2009

President Obama has told his cabinet he want to them to cut $100 million from the federal budget to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.  While $100 million is certainly a lot…

Media

Taxes & Economy

School Board Transparency Recognized

• April 21, 2009

Carlisle School Board member Fred Baldwin wins award for Commonwealth Foundation project promoting open school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA — Fred Baldwin, manager of the Commonwealth Foundation’s School Board…

Press Release

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009

• April 21, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the April revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $2.55 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell had estimated…

Press Release

Government Accountability

Big Government, Big Corruption

• April 21, 2009

Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity links the connection between government growth and corruption in this clip. He notes that rather than promoting honest dealings,…

Media

Government Accountability

Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus Oversight

• Nathan Benefield
• April 21, 2009

Auditor General Jack Wagner believes Pennsylvania is ill-suited to provide transparency and oversight on the stimulus money coming to the state in a letter he sent to the federal Government…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Energy Facts and Myths

• Nathan Benefield
• April 21, 2009

The Manhattan Institute has release an new edition of their publication, Energy and the Environment: Facts and Myths. A great tool for both interested citizens and for policy makers,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Polling on Tea Parties

• Nathan Benefield
• April 21, 2009

Rasmussen has an interesting poll on people’s attitudes toward recent tea parties (top line results), finding that 51% of respondents have favorable views of Tea Parties (vs 33%…

Media

State Budget

Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha Airport

• Nathan Benefield
• April 20, 2009

This has been making the rounds, but the Washington Post has a detailed article about how Congressman Jack Murtha has gotten hundreds of millions of dollars over the years,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Latest Pennsylvania Job Numbers (March 2009)

• April 20, 2009

According to the State Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania lost 30,500 jobs in March alone. The data indicate that since the recession began – officially in…

Media

Regulation

Privatizing PA’s Liquor Stores

• Nathan Benefield
• April 20, 2009

State Sen. Rob Wonderling is starting again to push for the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. Here is Sen. Wonderling’s commentary on privatizing the state stores from…

Media

Ted Nugent Headlines San Antonio Tea Party

• April 17, 2009

Ted Nugent accompanied Glenn Beck at the San Antonio Tax Day Tea Party held in front of the Alamo on April 15th. Nugent provided the soundtrack…

Media

Government Accountability

Government Spending Databases are Cheap

• Nathan Benefield
• April 17, 2009

The Mercatus Center has a new analysis on the cost of state spending databases showing that it typically costs far less to produce online websites tracking government spending than…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Wage Tax Increase in Philadelphia

• April 17, 2009

Three of the four legislative caucuses in Harrisburg have taken opposition to Philadelphia’s council move for a wage tax increase. Although Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia opposes a wage tax increase,…

Media

Government Accountability

Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 Million

• Nathan Benefield
• April 16, 2009

State Rep. Curt Schroder has unveiled a number of legislative proposals which, by his estimates would save Pennsylvania taxpayers well over $600 million annually. House Bill 1056…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Even more on taxes, spending, and the stimulus

• Nathan Benefield
• April 16, 2009

Americans for Tax Reform has a new fact page on “Tax Bites” – showing how much taxes take up for the cost of goods and services we buy, from…

Media

Health Care

Facts About the Uninsured

• Nathan Benefield
• April 16, 2009

Keith Hennessey has a great post breaking down the number of people lacking health insurance, finding that only a small number of the reported 46 million uninsured are those…

Media

Taxes & Economy

More on Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• April 16, 2009

The Tax Foundation has released a recent poll on voters’ attitudes toward taxes.   Not surprisingly, 56% say that taxes are “too high” (vs. 2% saying they are too low). …

Media

Taxes & Economy

Harrisburg Tea Party Attracts Estimated 2000

• Nathan Benefield
• April 15, 2009

An estimated 2,000 protesters showed up for the tea party in Harrisburg. Not only was the crowd impressive, but the number of food items collected for Bethesda…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Thousands Attend Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party to Protest Wasteful Spending in Harrisburg and Washington

• April 15, 2009

One of hundreds of events held across the state and nation Harrisburg, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today hosted the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party on the State Capitol steps. …

Press Release