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Taxes & Economy

That’s our General Assembly

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2008

With a budget deficit and possible tax increase looming, federal denial of I-80 tolling opening up a gap in transportation funding (and the Turnpike Commission borrowing against future…

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Taxes & Economy

Free market groups opposing bailout

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2008

A coalition of 27 organizations, including the Commonwealth Foundation, have signed on to an open letter to US Senators put together by NTU in opposition to the $700…

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State Budget

PA Budget Deficit Growing

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2008

The latest Pennsylvania Revenue Department report indicates that collections were $160 million below estimates in September, and $280 million below for the fiscal year which began in July.

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State Budget

Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later

• October 1, 2008

$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk  HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation renewed its call for Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to take action to prevent a…

Press Release

Regulation

Convention Center no economic savior

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2008

Post-Gazette looks at the failure of the $373 million Pittsburgh convention center to create an economic boom – or even to outdraw the old convention center (HT: Grassroots…

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Taxes & Economy

Not facing a Great Depression

• Nathan Benefield
• October 1, 2008

Here are a couple of good articles on the bailout (and the rhetoric in favor of it) by Cato scholars. Alan Reynolds writes that “saying we’re in for another…

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Taxes & Economy

Never mind the Commission behind the curtain

• September 30, 2008

Our news release today, What Will the General Assembly Do?, focuses on the need to consider the consequences of failing to act on the $12.8 billion bid to lease…

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Health Care

Converting Medicaid into Premium Assistance

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2008

The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder (click here for PDF) on how states can convert Medicaid spending into premium assistance for insurance – a proposal which would…

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Health Care

Bailing Out Massachusetts

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2008

The Foundry Blog of the Heritage Foundation has discovered that the federal government will “bail out” Massachusetts troubled health care plan (e.g. RomneyCare) with a $4.2 billion increase…

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What Will the General Assembly Do?

• September 30, 2008

Turnpike lease opportunity is going away HARRISBURG, PA—The $12.8 billion offer to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike will officially expire today at 5:00 p.m., unless Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (Abertis/CitiGroup) decide…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Root causes of the financial “crisis”

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2008

I attended a conference late last week feature a number of economists, and was surprised to discover a great deal of disagreement about what caused the “crisis” in the financial…

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Government Accountability

Perzel’s Parking Authority

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2008

Here is a funny video in which “Manatee” declares his desire to run the Philadelphia Parking Authority, so that he can work as little as possible, hire all his…

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Government Accountability

Failure of Reform: Who’s to Blame?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 30, 2008

Brad Bumsted in the Tribune-Review reports on the inability of the General Assembly to pass reform legislation this session. The Senate is blaming the House for failing to act…

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout Fails

• Nathan Benefield
• September 29, 2008

In case you missed it, the vote on the bailout failed. GrassrootsPA has the PA Delegation Bailout Vote. The Club for Growth blog has a lot more on…

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Taxes & Economy

Property Taxes by State and by County

• Nathan Benefield
• September 29, 2008

The Tax Foundation has a new analysis of property taxes by state and by county. The state data shows that Pennsylvania ranks 15th in median property taxes ($2,159),…

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Taxes & Economy

No immediate fiscal crisis?

• September 29, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports on the drop in transportation funding due to the rejection of the Turnpike Commission’s I-80 tolling plan. Under Act 44, the Turnpike Commission will borrow…

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout Updates

• Nathan Benefield
• September 28, 2008

Bill Text Side-by-Side Comparisons CNN Summary Sales Pitch Summary Boehner’s Sales Pitch Bush’s Sales Pitch WSJ Summary Rep. Mike Pence: “Republicans…

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Taxes & Economy

Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 28, 2008

Morning Call editorial blasts lawmakers for failing to even consider a lease deal: Once again, the small-idea, under-achieving Pennsylvania Legislature has let down the people they serve. The…

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Taxes & Economy

The case Barlett hasn’t made

• Nathan Benefield
• September 27, 2008

Bruce Bartlett attempts to justify the bailout (“The case Bush hasn’t made”) by explaining that the financial sector is different than other sectors, that a collapse in the financial…

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout Bandwagon – The Rendell Plan

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 27, 2008

As hope for the proposed Turnpike Lease dwindles, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is asking Congress to add $100 billion in transportation money to the $700 billion bailout deal.

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Taxes & Economy

Free Market Alternatives to the Bailout

• Nathan Benefield
• September 27, 2008

Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth hosted a conference a call to discuss the economics of the proposed bailout. Toomey commented that the financial market does not seem…

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