Media

Education

Dormitory Construction Boom

• Nathan Benefield
• March 16, 2009

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…

Media

Vouchers Improve Public Schools

• Nathan Benefield
• March 16, 2009

A new review of studies by Greg Forster of the Friedman Foundation finds that public school systems have benefited from voucher programs: “Contrary to the widespread claim that…

Media

Education

Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law

• Nathan Benefield
• March 16, 2009

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon.  I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We…

Testimony

Regulation

State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded Trips

• Nathan Benefield
• March 13, 2009

Team 4 has an amazing exposé of taxpayer-funded travel by Pennsylvania state employees, in particular the gaming control board–after a travel ban was implement.  Here are some of the…

Media

Education

Funding for Cybers up For Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Quick Trivia Question

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2009

From Mark Perry – what do the 8 states states with the lowest January unemployment rates have in common? Answer – the are all Right to Work states.

Media

State Budget

Obama’s Budget: More of the Same You Can Believe In

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2009

The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards has the latest Tax and Budget bulletin, with an updated analysis of spending by president. The bulletin reiterates what Cato has been saying…

Media

The Next Bailout – LexCorp?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2009

Lex Luthor makes the case as to why he is deserving of a federal bailout on Funny or Die.  My favorite part is “Superman just flew backwards around…

Media

State Budget

Sanford to Refuse Stimulus Funds – Example for Rendell

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2009

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced he will reject much of the federal stimulus dollars coming to his state.  Like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, he recognizes that…

Media

Education

Upcoming Opportunities for Students

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 11, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…

Media

Stimulus Money to be used as Political Reward

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2009

From Pennsylvania Avenue (via Capitol Ideas), Congressman Brady thinks Governor Rendell should use stimulus money to reward Democrats who voted for the bill. Did you think the stimulus…

Media

Public Union Democracy

The Attack on the Secret Ballot

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2009

Tom Gies has an article in The American on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check, which would do away with the secret ballot in union…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2009

Chuck Ardo – spokesman for Gov. Rendell – has an op-ed in Sunday’s Patriot News about what a great success Gov. Rendell’s economic policy has been.  This taxpayer-funded propaganda…

Media

Health Care

Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2009

Governor Rendell announced a number of new proposals increasing the number of people in Adult Basic health care, shifting funds to help with mortgage assistance and home heating cost.

Media

Taxes & Economy

On Specter’s Economic Remarks

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2009

Roxbury News has posted video of Arlen Specter’s remarks yesterday (part II here) at the State Capitol.  Three things really bother me regarding his defense of his vote…

Media

Regulation

Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopoly

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2009

The quote of the day does to Joe Conti, head of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who said in a story about customer service training for LCB clerks,…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and Sweet

• March 9, 2009

Warren Buffett bluntly expressed his views on card check during CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning, saying that “the secret ballot is pretty important in this country.” Buffett adds his voice…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Money Squanderers

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2009

Brad Bumsted has an excellent op-ed on why Pennsylvania lawmakers’ Bibles, gifts from the speaker, legal fees, and the like are just a few among many…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Freedom in Pennsylvania and the 50 states

• Nathan Benefield
• March 9, 2009

The Mercatus Center has a new report ranking freedom – both personal and economic – in the 50 states.  Overall, they rank Pennsylvania 20th. See a related story…

Media

Harrisburg Tea Party Pics and Videos

• Nathan Benefield
• March 7, 2009

We had over 1,000 folks (some estimates higher, some a bit under 1,000) at today's Harrisburg Tea Party. Not knowing how many people to expect, I have to say…

Media

What does a trillion dollars look like?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 7, 2009

Since it is extremely difficult for most people to grasp enormous dollar amounts that government spends, e.g. $1 Trillion, we often have to resort to gimics, such as “spending $1…

Media