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State Budget

Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections

• Nathan Benefield
• March 31, 2009

Following an Open Records request, the PA Office of the Budget provided us the their latest projections for General Fund revenue collections. The number for media, lawmakers, and policy nerds…

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Government Accountability

Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Board

• Nathan Benefield
• March 30, 2009

John Micek has the list of appointees (sans the GOP caucus appointments) to Gov. Rendell’s Stimulus Oversight Commission.  Unfortunately, the panel includes no representation by taxpayers, with the exception…

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Taxes & Economy

Rich State, Poor State

• Nathan Benefield
• March 30, 2009

ALEC has released the 2nd edition of their Economic Competitiveness Index – Rich States, Poor States – which looks at which policies drive economic growth among states, and which…

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Live from the PA Leadership Conference

• Nathan Benefield
• March 27, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation will be at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference this weekend. For those unable to attend, much of the events will air on PCN TV . The…

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Government Accountability

“Full-Time” Lawmakers Earn Plenty of Outside Income

• Nathan Benefield
• March 27, 2009

Team 4 Reports uncovers that Pennsylvania legislators, who earn about $80,000 per year in salary for their full-time job, also earn plenty of outside income (HT Grassroots PA).

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Taxes & Economy

Demint on Charity

• Nathan Benefield
• March 27, 2009

Jim Demint gives some great remarks on why government cannot, and should not, force individuals to be more charitable and volunteer more. More Reading on Charity and Government…

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Taxes & Economy

Dozens of Tea Parties Coming to Pennsylvania

• March 26, 2009

In conjunction with the Tax Day Tea Party Movement, the Commonwealth Foundation is organizing another  Harrisburg Tea Party, to be held on the Capitol Steps at noon on…

Press Release

Tea Parties in Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2009

In conjunction with the Tax Day Tea Party Movement, the Commonwealth Foundation is organizing another  Harrisburg Tea Party, to be held on the Capitol Steps at noon on…

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Government Accountability

Veon Fallout: An End to WAMs

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2009

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced additional charges against former Rep. Mike Veon and staffer Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink for their role in directing state funds to the Beaver Initiative…

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Government Accountability

Do Campaign Finance Laws Authorize Banning Books?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2009

From the Las Vegas Review Journal: Astonishingly, Malcom Stewart, deputy solicitor general of the United States, replied in the affirmative “if the book contained the functional equivalent of express…

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Taxes & Economy

Bush vs, Obama Deficit in Picture

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2009

Here is a frightening picture of the projected federal deficit, courtesy the Heritage Foundation. They go on to comment…

Media

Tea Party Food Drive

• March 25, 2009

Our office is abuzz with preparations for the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party. We can’t wait to see you all on April 15th! We wanted to let you know…

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Government Accountability

Tea Party Food Drive

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2009

Our office is abuzz with preparations for the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party. We can’t wait to see you all on April 15th! We wanted to let you know…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Sen. Specter’s Comments on “Card Check”

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2009

Senator Arlen Specter made news yesterday by saying he would not vote for “card check” because of both the elimination of the secret ballot and the bind arbitration provisions.

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Public Union Democracy

Sen. Specter’s Comments on “Card Check”

• March 25, 2009

Senator Arlen Specter made news yesterday by saying he would not vote for “card check” because of both the elimination of the secret ballot and the bind arbitration provisions.

Media

Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 25, 2009

A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…

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Education

Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 25, 2009

A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Lessons from the Failed PA Turnpike Lease

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2009

The Pew Center on the States has a new report out offering lessons to Pennsylvania and other states on the proposed deal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike (full…

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Health Care

A Bad Deal on Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2009

This AP story reports that AHIP and Blue Cross Blue Shield are willing to “compromise” on health care reform – ending the practice of “charging higher premiums to…

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Regulation

State Regulation of Bake Sales Goes Too Far

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2009

Hat Tip to Tom Shaheen of the PA Family Institute for this story of the weird/big government.  It turns out that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has been…

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Taxes & Economy

State Personal Income and Pennsylvania’s Economic Ranking

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2009

The Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the latest data on personal income by state. For the first time in many years, Pennsylvania grew faster than the nation as…

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