Media

State Budget

We Can’t Spend Our Way to Prosperity

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2009

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

State Budget

Cronyism Undermines Cargo Airport

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2009

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

Education

PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play Poker

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2009

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

Health Care

Try to Reform Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2009

• February 3, 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

State Budget

Even more reasons to oppose the stimulus

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall Climbs

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2009

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

Education

Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer Funding

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2009

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

Education

More Subsidies for Higher Education

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 2, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

Should government get bigger, or smaller?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2009

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…

Media

Taxes & Economy

501 added to Pa. payroll since state hiring freeze

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. Pittsburgh

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2009

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

Regulation

PA Judge Overturns State Mercury Rule

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2009

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

Health Care

Stimulating Government

• Nathan Benefield
• January 30, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

Rendell previews budget plan

• Nathan Benefield
• January 30, 2009

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

Education

Adam Smith Courses

• January 29, 2009

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

Pennsylvania Auditor Finds Millions Wasted in Medicaid

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2009

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…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA Business Groups Offer Budget Ideas

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2009

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…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Layoffs coming for Pennsylvania state workers?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 28, 2009

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

Regulation

Endorsement for Pension Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• January 28, 2009

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…

Media

Taxes & Economy

200 Economists Against a Stimulus

• Nathan Benefield
• January 28, 2009

In defiance of President Obama’s proclamation that every agrees we need more government spending to “simulate” the economy, the Cato Institute has put together a list of 200 economists…

Media