Media

Education

For-Profit Philadelphia Schools Show Gains

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2009

A new study by Paul Peterson and Matthew Chingos finds that the Philadelphia public schools contracted out to for-profit operators showed significant gains in student achievement. Specifically, the…

Media

Gov. Rendell, you’re wrong too!

• February 10, 2009

I posted a blog over at Capital Domes, “Mr. Specter, You’re Wrong!”, on the argument being put forth by Pres. Obama and our senior state senator that “nearly all…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How well has more spending worked up until now?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2009

The Morning Call’s John Micek makes a joke on his blog about the effectiveness of tax cuts in stimulating the economy: Hardcore GOPers, asked for their alternative,…

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Taxes & Economy

With All Due Respect, Mr. Specter

• Nathan Benefield
• February 9, 2009

“The country cannot afford not to take action,” Senator Arlen Specter writes in the Washington Post justifying support for the “stimulus” package, mimicking the statement by President Obama “There…

Media

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Legislature’s growing girth

• Nathan Benefield
• February 9, 2009

Robert Swift has a good article on the “professionalization” of the Pennsylvania legislature, including  breaking down the cost of a legislator:   At $78,314, the annual salary…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How Government Created the Financial Crisis

• Nathan Benefield
• February 9, 2009

John Taylor in the Wall Street Journal on how Government created the financial crisis: Monetary excesses were the main cause of the boom. The Fed held its…

Media

Education

The Great College Hoax

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2009

Forbes has an excellent article on the merits of college – and taxpayer subsidies of higher ed – even as Governor Rendell proposes legalized video poker to put…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Libertarian ideas to stimulate economy

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2009

Jeffrey A. Miron has a list of libertarian proposals to stimulate the economy (I would expect most self-described “conservatives” would agree with 8 of the 9 proposals): Repeal the…

Media

Please No More Taxes Video Contest

• Nathan Benefield
• February 6, 2009

Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please No More Taxes” video contest and win up to $2,500! Go to PleaseNoMoreTaxes.org for contest rules.

Media

Taxes & Economy

The GOP Has a Dumb Mortgage Idea

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2009

In the Wall Street Journal, Ed Glaeser rips the US Senate GOP’s plans to underwrite mortgages and offer an additional tax credit for home-buyers More criticism of this…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Commonwealth Foundation Launches Please, No More Taxes! Campaign

• February 5, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today announced the launch of the Please, No More Taxes! campaign, a public education effort aimed at the elimination of wasteful state spending and…

Press Release

Education

Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the Deaf

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2009

There has been a lot of public outcry against Governor Rendell’s proposal to close the Scranton School for the Deaf, as well as the Scotland School…

Media

Education

The School District Consolidation Myth

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2009

As part of his budget, Governor Rendell proposed creating a commission on consolidating PA school districts (and it turns out, he may intend to do so even if the legislature…

Media

Education

Economists Against Governor Rendell

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2009

In his budget address, Governor Rendell cited “conservative” economists who support the stimulus package and his spending proposals, even though they don’t. Here is Rendell: Economists from…

Media

State Budget

Commonwealth Foundation Statement on Gov. Ed Rendell’s Budget Address

• February 4, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Rendell’s 2009-10 Budget Address: “Gov. Rendell’s reliance on one-time federal…

Press Release

State Budget

PA Budget by the Numbers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2009

The 2009-10 budget is $28.97 billion, rather than the $26.6 billion as is being reported. The difference being that it relies on $2.4 billion in one-time federal “stimulus” money. That…

Media

State Budget

PA budget address liveblog

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2009

I’ll be live blog-tweeting Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 today you can follow the action here.

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…

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