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Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Commonwealth Foundation’s new report analyzes the success of DoorDash’s Portable Benefits Pilot Program in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 2025 – DoorDash unveiled its portable benefits pilot…
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Education
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Read More: Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Prosperity
Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Read More: Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union SpendingState Budget
Oink, Oink
Today, Citizens Against Government Waste released its 2009 Congressional Pig Book. The report identifies over 10,000 pork-barrel projects in the federal budget, costing hard-working American’s over $19 billion. Examples…
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Read More: Oink, OinkTaxes & Economy
Twenty-seven Pennsylvania Cities to Host Tea Parties
By my count, 27 cities will be hosting “tea parties” tomorrow, April 15, in protest of high taxes and wasteful government spending (an additional five events will be taking…
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Read More: Twenty-seven Pennsylvania Cities to Host Tea PartiesTaxes & Economy
State Spending Binges
The latest Reason Magazine has a fine article on why state governments needed a bailout and why they will again – overspending. In 2002 the National…
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Read More: State Spending BingesRegulation
Jobs and the Economy
Testimony of Mathew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Pennsylvania House Majority Policy CommitteeApril 14, 2009 Thank you Chairman Sturla for the…
Testimony
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Rendell Announces Property Tax “Relief”
Gov. Rendell today announced an estimated $770 million in property tax “relief” from slots revenue, or about $200 per homeowner. As always, I put “relief” in quotes because the…
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Read More: Rendell Announces Property Tax “Relief”Education
Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
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Read More: Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?Education
Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
Read More: Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?Education
Charter Schools Always Face a Financial Struggle
Kevin Ferris has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on the difficulty that charter schools face funding their facilities. Ferris uses as his case study First Philadelphia Charter…
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Read More: Charter Schools Always Face a Financial StruggleHealth Care
Is Health Care a ‘Right’?
Many advocates of a single-payer, government run health care system use the argument that “health care is a right.” But as John Graham points out on State House Call,…
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Read More: Is Health Care a ‘Right’?Taxes & Economy
Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea Party
The Tribune Review reports that several thousand protesters showed up to the Pittsburgh Tea Party held today (HT GrassrootsPA). Instapundit has more, including a picture…
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Read More: Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea PartyRegulation
Pennsylvania Pie Fight
Wall Street Journal picks up on the fight over government regulation of homemade pies at church bake sales in Pennsylvania. My favorite part of the story is this:…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Pie FightTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)
The AP is reporting that a natural gas firm, previously agreeing to pay $31 million for a lease of lands in the Marcellus Shale formation, has backed out of…
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Read More: Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)Education
Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers Money
Sen. Mike Brubaker this week introduced S.B. 695, proposing a three-year moratorium on the application of Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law to school construction projects. The Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers MoneyTaxes & Economy
PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional Grades
The National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) has released their annual report card for Congress for 2008, giving a record number of members the ignominious title “Big Spender”, including 12 members…
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Read More: PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional GradesTaxes & Economy
Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?
“‘We tried that, and it didn’t work,’ Obama and his partisans sneer in response to arguments that tax cuts are the key to restoring economic growth.” But as Peter…
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Read More: Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?Taxes & Economy
Video: Understanding The Financial Crisis
Great (and frightening) video from Stop Spending Our Future on the costs of “fixing” the financial crisis.
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Read More: Video: Understanding The Financial Crisis
WACO Blames Glenn Beck
Recently, the War Against Conservative Opinion (WACO) blamed Fox News’ Glenn Beck for the shooting deaths of three police officers in Pittsburgh. Even MSNBC’s Keith…
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Read More: WACO Blames Glenn BeckTaxes & Economy
Philadelphia Tries to Stop Tea Party
UPDATE: Victory ‘Thanks for everyone’s help in putting pressure on the city of Philadelphia! The problem has been resolved. They tea party is only required to pay for…
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Former Manager Sues PA Turnpike Commission for Political Firing
A former manager for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is suing the agency for wrongful firing, claiming he was let go because of his lack of political connectaions, the Post-Gazette…
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Read More: Former Manager Sues PA Turnpike Commission for Political FiringEducation
Vouching for D.C.
A new report from the US Department of Education finds the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program has been extremely successful. Matthew Ladner has more in NRO on the reports…
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Read More: Vouching for D.C.Government Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit Racket
The Wall Street Journal has a scathing piece on pay-to-play politics in Harrisburg, specifically in relation to Gov. Rendell and his ties to another law-firm (HT John Lott):…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit Racket