Regulation

Should PA taxpayers be subsidizing Hollywood?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2008

Lowman Henry weighs in on the $5.7 million tax credit awarded by Pennsylvania taxpayers to the raunchy comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Henry thinks…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Age of Prosperity Is Over

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2008

Art Laffer in today’s Wall Street Journal on how the bailout mentality is bad news for our economy: Whenever the government bails someone out of trouble, they always…

Media

Read More: The Age of Prosperity Is Over

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Is Driving Its Doctors Away

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 25, 2008

Frederic Jarrett – a Pittsburgh doctor – editorializes in the Wall Street Journal as to how Governor Rendell is pushing doctors out a Pennsylvania by holding MCare abatement (a…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Is Driving Its Doctors Away

Taxes & Economy

Greenspan’s “infinite monkey theorem”

  • October 24, 2008

Did the free market fail? Well, that seems to be what Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve System chairman, said yesterday to Congress. But before we follow the lead…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Rewarding Teachers

  • October 24, 2008

Former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, had a compelling article in the Washington Times yesterday on merit pay for teachers. He commented on the current system: Instead of rewarding…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Where has all the money for bridges gone?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that the federal government has given more money to state for bridge repair than states are actually using, with a special mention of Pennsylvania:…

Media

Read More: Where has all the money for bridges gone?

Education

Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

Cross-posted at Capitol Domes Gov. Rendell has been pushing the idea of a statewide graduation requirement that all students pass a test (his latest gives one of…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Beyond the Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) have a new website: BeyondBailouts.org.  The site is dedicated to exposing the government’s role in creating…

Media

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Government Accountability

One rotten Acorn?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

GrassrootsPA has a roundup of stories on the Philadelphia man, working with ACORN, who was charged with 108 counts related to forgery and fraud in voter registration.  In the…

Media

Read More: One rotten Acorn?

Regulation

No Smoking Sign Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

Little noticed in the debate over Pennsylvania’s new smoking ban was that it also included a smoking sign mandate. The Commonwealth Foundation got our notice (along with a…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Cutting corporate taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

When critics of the US (and Pennsylvania’s) corporate tax structure – like the NCPA, Tax Foundation, and Commonwealth Foundation – point out that the US (and Pennsylvania)…

Media

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Education

Forced Unionism and Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

Video from the National Right to Work Foundation  featuring Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Is the Credit Crunch a Big Lie?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

A short research paper from three economists from the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis find that the so-called credit crunch, which led to the bailout, was based on a number…

Media

Read More: Is the Credit Crunch a Big Lie?

Government Accountability

Another claim that Pennsylvania is full of racists

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

First, Ed Rendell claimed that racist, conservative whites wouldn’t vote for Obama (just like they didn’t support Lynn Swann). Then Daily News columnist Fatimah Ali declared their would…

Media

Read More: Another claim that Pennsylvania is full of racists

Government Accountability

Campaign Finance Reform: Fool’s Gold

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

Imagine if George W. Bush would declare that, as part of the war on terrorism, he proposed the Patriot Act II, which would grant the federal government power to collect…

Media

Read More: Campaign Finance Reform: Fool’s Gold

Government Accountability

Please Spare us from a “Professional” Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

John LaPlante editorializes that states (Minnesota) should avoid the “professional legislature” model (e.g. Pennsylvania): The personal dynamics in professional legislatures also favor increased spending. Professional legislatures offer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Political Incorrect Guide to Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

John Stossel’s latest special on those running for office who think government (or they) can save the world is a must watch.  Stossel outlines the failure of government, and…

Media

Read More: Political Incorrect Guide to Politics

Education

Time for School Board Transparency

  • October 20, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation launches “sunshine” project on school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA —   Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a new project engaging in an effort to provide…

Press Release

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Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell earns a D

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2008

The Cato Institute gives Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell a “D” on its Fiscal Report Card of the Governors. In 2004, Governor Rendell pushed through a $1.5…

Media

Read More: Governor Rendell earns a D

Government Accountability

ACORN Workers Afraid to Fall Short

  • October 20, 2008

An article in the New York Post today describes how ACORN employees in Ohio were pressured and bullied to meet voter registration quotas. Some workers were driven to bribing…

Media

Read More: ACORN Workers Afraid to Fall Short