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Education
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Harrisburg, Pa., July 25, 2024—The Commonwealth Foundation today released a new television ad that exposes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership failures and his inability to obtain significant legislative successes.
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Education
Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
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Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
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Education
VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed LeadershipGovernment Accountability
Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?
State Senator Mike Brubaker has a proposal to create greater oversight over how Pennsylvania spends its transparency money (HT: John Micek at Capitol Ideas). The proposal has two…
Media
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Time for Universities to Focus on Education
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s recent suggestion to establish “no-frills” 4-year colleges. The proposal has sparked debate over what constitutes a “frill”. Francis…
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Home Sweet Home
WGAL has a feature on homeschooling. Homeschooling has become a popular alternative for families in recent years: over 1.5 million students across the country are currently taught at home…
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Wisconsin Governor Proposes Eliminating Film Tax Credit
The Tax Foundation points out that at least one governor is proposing eliminating his state’s tax credit for Hollywood films. As we have noted, tax credits for movies…
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Santorum: I’m Proud of My Earmarks
Former Senator Rick Santorum rips the Democrats’ earmarks in the omnibus bill as “payoffs to the folks that support them” and special interests, as well calling Obama a…
Media
Read More: Santorum: I’m Proud of My EarmarksRegulation
Do we need to subsidize our 22nd largest industry?
A news story on Philly.com covers some Republican lawmakers complaints that Governor Rendell budget cuts are too steep, at least in regard to agriculture subsidies (HT Grassroots PA). …
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Bushels of Bibles for Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Mario Cattabiani has a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the cost of new Bibles (and other holy books) for lawmakers to be sworn in on – $13,700.
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Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
A new study from Penn State reveals that local school districts’ assessments, allowed as an alternative to the 11th-grade PSSA exam to demonstrate proficiency for Pennsylvania students before graduating,…
Media
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“Tea Parties” Coming to Pennsylvania
Online conservative activists have rallied to CNBC’s Rick Santelli’s call last for a “Nationwide Tea Party” to protest the economic “stimulus,” bailouts, and erosion of liberty. Here are some…
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Read More: “Tea Parties” Coming to PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist Records
Here is an AP Story on the ruling by Pennsylvania House and Senate have ruled that lobbyist contact is not covered under the new Open Records law (HT…
Media
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Obama’s Mortgage Plan vs. Predatory Lending
A Heritage Insider blog post asks what the difference is between the mortgage plan proposed by Obama and the predatory lending using “teaser rates” that contributed to the rise…
Media
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Fact Check: PA Education Spending
A myth floating around Harrisburg is that the state government used to fund 50% of K-12 education, and has reduced support since then. This was most recently stated by…
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Federal stimulus is a trap for states
The Wall Street Journal today looks at governors considering rejecting the federal stimulus dollars, as it will increase the cost to states. For example, the stimulus expands Medicaid subsidies,…
Media
Read More: Federal stimulus is a trap for statesRegulation
State and local owe enormous obligations to retirees
The Allegheny Institute has a new policy report examining the pension plans of the 10 largest Pennsylvania cities. They find these plans have a combined unfunded liability of $4.5…
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Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis
The American Legislative Exchange Council has released their annual Report Card on American Education. The report is filled with education data – spending, inputs, academic performance – with a…
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Rendell admits “stimulus” may not stimulate
Governor Rendell has acknowledged that he’s not sure the stimulus legislation just passed will actually help the economy (HT PA Watercooler). On the one hand, I’ll like to…
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Policies that Produce Real Growth
Dan Mitchell has another educational video produced by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. He uses the Fraser Institute Economic Freedom of the World (Heritage has a…
Media
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Roots of the Crisis
FreedomWorks has a great looking redesign of their website. They also have a new feature article on the “roots of the financial crisis“, which is full…
Media
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Cutting Governor’s Schools of Excellence is a “Washington Monument Ploy”
The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is an ongoing gag to connect any person to actor Kevin Bacon in under six moves. If news stories count, I am tied…
Media
Read More: Cutting Governor’s Schools of Excellence is a “Washington Monument Ploy”Taxes & Economy
Is tolling I-80 dead?
Some of the Turnpike Commissioners think that tolling I-80 across PA remains a strong possibility, and that the federal government did not “reject” the tolling plan. See the…
Media
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More on the PA Pension “Spike”
A couple of editorials on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis from the Daily Review and the Courier Express. Both called for depoliticizing the plans by moving…
Media
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