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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 LeadershipState Budget
PA budget address liveblog
I’ll be live blog-tweeting Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 today you can follow the action here.
Media
Read More: PA budget address liveblogState Budget
We Can’t Spend Our Way to Prosperity
John Stossel has an op-ed up on the pork-laden “stimulus” package: President Obama has vowed that no earmarks — special appropriations to benefit particular congressmen — will…
Media
Read More: We Can’t Spend Our Way to ProsperityState Budget
Cronyism Undermines Cargo Airport
It appears the Hazleton Airport project is now dead in the water, after Rep. Todd Eachus (the local sponsor and now Majority Leader) has dropped his support after…
Media
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PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play Poker
Sen. John Eichelberger unveiled a proposal today to issue a moratorium on “earmarks”, the legislative-controlled WAMs and other items. The proposal also calls for a review of all…
Media
Read More: PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play PokerHealth Care
Try to Reform Health Care
The Senate Republican’s unveiled their caucus’s plan on health care, which is largely the same as they had last year, and thus my criticism of that plan still…
Media
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Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2009
Updates on Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the January revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.08 billion short for the…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2009State Budget
Even more reasons to oppose the stimulus
NTU’s blog has a long list (via Tom Coburn) of wasteful spending and bad policy in the federal “stimulus” bill, including: $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen,…
Media
Read More: Even more reasons to oppose the stimulusTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall Climbs
The PA Department of Revenue released the January Revenue Collections this afternoon. We’ll have the full “Deficit Watch” up on the website tomorrow, but here are the quick…
Media
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Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer Funding
NYTimes article (registration required) looks at how much of the federal “stimulus” money would go to school spending, particularly for school construction. Critics and supporters alike…
Media
Read More: Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer FundingEducation
More Subsidies for Higher Education
Governor Rendell is proposing an increase of $128 million in tuition aide for students at PASSHE schools. There’s no question that skyrocketing tuition is hitting families hard, but throwing…
Media
Read More: More Subsidies for Higher EducationTaxes & Economy
Should government get bigger, or smaller?
Richard Rahn has a commentary for the Cato Institute on the “optimal size of government”. He takes the premise that we need some level of government (to protect our…
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501 added to Pa. payroll since state hiring freeze
AP story on the 501 employees hired since the hiring freeze, including several over $100,000 (former legislator Dan Surra, for whom a new $95,000 position was created, just missed…
Media
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The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. Pittsburgh
Harold Miller has an interesting blog post, featuring a few graphs, comparing the economic growth of the Pittsburgh region to the Phoenix region – the two hometowns for tonight’s…
Media
Read More: The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. PittsburghRegulation
PA Judge Overturns State Mercury Rule
A Pennsylvania judge ruled that a state-specific regulation on mercury emissions (one that was put into place by the Department of Environmental Protection over the objections of many…
Media
Read More: PA Judge Overturns State Mercury RuleHealth Care
Stimulating Government
The Galen Institute has a new analysis of health care proposal in the propose “economic stimulus”, specifically proposals moving toward greater federalization of health care, which has indeed been…
Media
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Rendell previews budget plan
The Altoona Mirror has a good summary of things to expect when Governor Rendell unveils the budget next week. The problems of a poor economy are compounded by…
Media
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Adam Smith Courses
Our friends at the Wynnewood Institute are hosting a seminar series on the writings of Adam Smith, who is sometimes referred to as the “father of economics.” The series…
Media
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Pennsylvania Auditor Finds Millions Wasted in Medicaid
Auditor General Jack Wagner has a new finding that $3.3 million was spend on Medicaid benefits for those inelligible (HT Tony Phyrillas). That $3.3 million figure (on 1,648…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Auditor Finds Millions Wasted in MedicaidTaxes & Economy
PA Business Groups Offer Budget Ideas
A coalition of business association and groups unveiled their recommendations for reforming Pennsylvania’s budget process and improving the business climate: Oppose increasing taxes on the job creators, including…
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Layoffs coming for Pennsylvania state workers?
Governor Rendell’s latest statements about the state budget are that 1,000 to 2,000 state workers could be laid off (or have unfilled positions eliminated). The head of the AFSCME…
Media
Read More: Layoffs coming for Pennsylvania state workers?Regulation
Endorsement for Pension Reform
The Courier Expess expresses support for moving Pennsylvania state and school district employees to a 401(k) model defined contribution retirement plan. Specifically, they mention the proposal put forth…
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