Media

Tolling of I-80 Denied

• September 11, 2008

Federal government rejects Turnpike proposal to toll I-80 drivers HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the decision of the Federal Highway Administration to reject the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC)…

Press Release

Health Care

State Mandates Result in High Price Tags

• September 10, 2008

A recent news release from the National Center for Policy Analysis underscores the reason for soaring health coverage costs across the nation: state mandates and no national competition. The…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Extending Rate Caps is Not the Answer

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 10, 2008

Yesterday, Govenor Rendell declared he would have “no choice” but to support an extension of the rate caps if the legislature fails to act on rising electricity rates. This…

Media

State Budget

Who opposed the Bridge to Nowhere?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 9, 2008

NTU sums up the “Bridge to Nowhere” opposition: Sarah Palin has declared she said “thanks, but no thanks” on the Bridge to Nowhere. And it’s true, that she stopped…

Media

Government Accountability

As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending Continues

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 8, 2008

Senator Vince Fumo's trial began yesterday with the first day of jury selection. In the days leading up to the trial the senator was doing what he does best:…

Media

Taxes & Economy

More comments on the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac takeover

• Nathan Benefield
• September 8, 2008

Cato’s Ed Crane writes Fannie and Freddie: Socialist from the Start. His colleague, David Boaz, notes:…

Media

Government Accountability

Past Time to Clean Up Harrisburg

• Nathan Benefield
• September 8, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a couple of stories on corruption in the Capitol.  One is a query about the $10 million in taxpayer grants directed to the Beaver…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Avoiding the Next Big Mistake

• Nathan Benefield
• September 8, 2008

As the feds propose a government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Heritage Foundation has a new WebMemo on what to do an what not to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New Facts and Resources on Transportation Funding

• Nathan Benefield
• September 7, 2008

We have revised our PolicyPoints on Act 44 and Transportation Funding More Resources: Turnpike Lease/BidTurnpikeFacts.comFull Concession Agreement – Governor’s OfficeSynopsis of Lease Requirements/Limits…

Media

Government Accountability

Does Government Need to Fund R&D?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 5, 2008

An interesting query on the role of government in research and new technologies from OpenMarket.org. The insight is relevant both for topics like bio-fuel research and stem-cell research, but…

Media

Health Care

McCain and Obama on Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• September 5, 2008

While health care policy won’t get the level of media coverage as Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter or Barack Obama’s crazy pastor, some people might be interested in looking at the candidates proposals…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Todd Palin is Bankrolling Efforts to Defeat His Wife

• Nathan Benefield
• September 4, 2008

If you saw this blog title and thought there was something out whack, as I did, well you are right, but not because Todd Palin is deliberating undermining his wife.

Media

Education

Schools failing, but don’t give students choices

• Nathan Benefield
• September 4, 2008

Tribune-Review article highlights chronically failing schools in the Pittsburgh area (see our report on school perfomance for more how schools are doing), and the No Child Left Behind mandate…

Media

Taxes & Economy

End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 4, 2008

The Allegheny Institute writes that a court ruling, disallowing a referendum on the Allegheny County drink tax, will likely be overturned on appeal, because is so shoddy. Pittsburgh…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Compare the Presidential Candidates Tax Plans

• Nathan Benefield
• September 3, 2008

The Tax Foundation has a tool offering side-by-side comparisons of tax proposals Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader. For all you policy wonks, you can also…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure

• Nathan Benefield
• September 3, 2008

Patriot News editorial notes that the proposed Turnpike lease deal would make PA a model for the nation. It’s not that the public-private partnership concept being pushed…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Offshore drilling to being on October 1?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 3, 2008

A Heritage Foundation webmemo articulates the fact that all Congress needs to do allow offshore drilling is not extend the moratorium – set to expire on Sept. 30.  They…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission Triples Act 44 Debt from $14 Billion to $44 Billion

• September 2, 2008

Unpaid debt increases from $0 to $73 billion under PTC’s revised plans  HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation presented an analysis of the proposed debt under the Pennsylvania…

Press Release

Regulation

Corporate Welfare 101

• Nathan Benefield
• September 2, 2008

Philadelphia Inquirer story on how the Lancaster Convention Center project has spun out of control – with dramatic cost increases (from an initial $30 million to over $100 million),…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Can the Feds Save the Housing Market?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 2, 2008

He is a good read from The Freeman offering a primer on how the US housing market came to be in such bad shape, and why federal bailouts is…

Media

Government Accountability

Push for reform coming up short

• Nathan Benefield
• September 1, 2008

Here is one of the most disheartening articles I have read about reform in Harrisburg. (HT: Grassroots PA). Not only do some Pennsylvania lawmakers think that the…

Media