Media

Health Care

Conservatives should care about health care

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2008

Philip Klein has a must read article about why conservatives should care about health in the The American Spectator. He makes the case that it is not enough to…

Media

Government Accountability

BonusGate update and questions

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2008

The Democracy Rising PA Newsletter raises some interesting points about a pronouncement by Attorney General Tom Corbett that he wouldn’t make announcements about indictments leading up to Nov.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Indiana newspaper reflects on toll road lease

• August 29, 2008

Editorial from The Indianapolis Star citing Pennsylvania’s consideration of leasing the Turnpike. Here’s the last five paragraphs with some of [OUR COMMENTARY] included: Indiana’s lease has enabled…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Media Coverage of the Turnpike Family Tree

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 29, 2008

Here is a roundup of news coverage of our Turnpike Family Treeand video: Mark Scolforo has the AP Story, with a retort from Joe Brimmeier:…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission to owe $30 to $70 billion after Act 44

• Nathan Benefield
• August 29, 2008

In our news release and media briefing yesterday, highlighting the patronage, power, and politics at the Turnpike Commission, we mention the exorbitant amount of debt the Turnpike Commission…

Media

Education

SAT Scores by State

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2008

EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board released their 2008 College Bound Seniors report which details SAT scores. Click here for a…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Why the Turnpike Commission Can’t Respond

• August 28, 2008

With the release of the Turnpike Commission Family Tree video and poster at TurnpikeFacts.com, PTC CEO Joe Brimmeier doesn’t have much of a response. We figure he…

Media

Turnpike Commission Family Tree has Deep Roots

• August 28, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation provides visuals of the power, patronage and politics of the PTC HARRISBURG, PA — As Pennsylvania policymakers await a decision from the Federal Highway Administration about the…

Press Release

State Budget

Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2008

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste released their 2007 Congressional ratings, ranking members on their votes on pork-barrel spending. Among the Pennsylvania delegation, only Joe Pitts scores above…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Indiana has benefited from toll road lease

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2008

An anonymous comment on a recent post accused me of not mentioning the Indiana Toll Road deal because it was “not so good, a bad move”.  Of course, we…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Does the public control the Turnpike?

• August 27, 2008

TOLLROADSnews.com comments on the Wall Street Journal frontpage article on the PA Turnpike lease. But it’s the last couple of paragraphs that smash yet another Turnpike Commission myth…

Media

Government Accountability

Thomas Jefferson: Blogger

• Nathan Benefield
• August 27, 2008

While I thought we had the most influential blog around (or at least number 7), this Jefferson guy from Charlottesville seems to be quoted quite a bit.

Media

Taxes & Economy

How Do You Define “American-Made”?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 27, 2008

Mark Perry poses the question about how you define “American-made” cars.  Does it depend on where the car was assembled?  Where the corporate headquarters is?  What percentage of the…

Media

Government Accountability

Transparency: A Priority in the Senate?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 27, 2008

In early July, the State Treasurer’s office revealed the new PA Contracts e-Library as required by the recent Open Records law. The database posts government contracts and grants in…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania could become policy innovator with turnpike lease

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2008

The Wall Street Journal had a fairly lengthy cover story on the proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Among the points addressed 1) Other states are looking to PA…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2008

Don Chance has an editorial on IBDeditorials.com on how drilling now – or even threatening to – will reduce price of oil immediately. Essentially it encourages those storing oil…

Media

Government Accountability

Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2008

A large group of college presidents have launched an initiative to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to18. Their argument is that 18 to 21 year…

Media

State Budget

He’s not Santa Claus

• Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2008

The Herald Standard has an editorial about all of Governor Rendell’s taxpayer-funded “gifts” to Pennsylvania. While they don’t claim that any of these expenditures are misguided (though we pull…

Media

Education

The Competitive Impact of School Choice

• Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2008

A reader asks, in response to a post about a study show school choice in Ohio had a competitive benefit to public schools, Do you have…

Media

Government Accountability

16 days of work in six months may tire House

• Nathan Benefield
• August 25, 2008

Eric Heyl, with a hint of sarcasm, suggests that the 16 days the PA House (and the 10 days for the PA Senate) is scheduled to be in session between July…

Media

Education

Is PHEAA reformable?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 24, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questions whether PHEAA can be reformed, as the Auditor General suggests, given that the legislators who dominate the PHEAA board don’t think legislators should vote to…

Media