Media

Not doing Pennsylvania public’s business

• Nathan Benefield
• July 23, 2008

The Patriot News had a story on Monday about state police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller’s travels at taxpayer expense, featuring a quote by Matt Brouillette stating that Miller was “not…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New analysis of where I-80 tolls will go

• Nathan Benefield
• July 23, 2008

While I have previously posted that I-80 tolls will mostly go to other projects, rather than stay on I-80, the Turnpike Commissions new application for tolling I-80 changes that…

Media

Self-Imposed Ethics Charges

• July 23, 2008

In an “unprecedented move”, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY has filed Ethics Charges…against himself. This was brought about after The Washington Post ran a series of articles raising questions about Rangel’s…

Media

Education

Construction Woes

• July 23, 2008

A few schools in Pennsylvania are experiencing a money crunch–not because property taxes are too low, but because of school boards’ Edifice Complex. The Bethlehem School District and Danville…

Media

Government Accountability

How the left and right differ on reform

• Nathan Benefield
• July 23, 2008

I was in DC on Monday at a conference hosted by the Brookings Institute on reforming Pennsylvania – yes, our state is so bad that we are a great case…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Morality and libertarianism in The Dark Knight

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2008

Review of The Dark Knight on, of all places, the Mises Economics Blog (spoilers). Jeffrey Tucker notes that the movie is awesome (agreed), praises how the movie addresses the…

Media

Government Accountability

Who has contracts with PA Government

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2008

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department has a great new tool for searching state contracts online. A description of the database – what you will find and will not find –…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 Application

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2008

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has resubmitted their proposal to toll I-80 – full application, letter from the Governor, and Appendices A through L are available for download here. Readers…

Media

Regulation

PA Lottery lags overall economic growth

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2008

There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…

Media

Government Accountability

Calls for Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• July 21, 2008

Here is a quick roundup of editorials from across the state calling for a Constitutional Convention and/or a special session (as well as criticizing lawmakers for a culture of corruption,…

Media

State Budget

Congress’s Edifice Complex

• Nathan Benefield
• July 21, 2008

John Fund borrows the epithet Edifice Complex to describe Congressman’s (along with Governor’s) penchant for using taxpayer funds to construct projects named for themselves – e.g. Paul…

Media

Government Accountability

Why have a special session on reform?

• Nathan Benefield
• July 20, 2008

Since the call for a special session for reform, some critics (i.e. Mark Cohen and Governor Rendell) oppose the idea, while others express support, but think it won’t do…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)

• July 18, 2008

On the air today on WHP 580 AM, Matt read a commentary by Edward Inghrim, a school board member from the Saucon Valley School District. It first appeared in the…

Media

Government Accountability

Cerberus’s three heads not speaking to each other

• Nathan Benefield
• July 18, 2008

Rep. Babette Josephs, chairman of the House State Government Committee, and the Cerberus of the General Assembly is calling for a ban to bonuses – her ban.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• July 18, 2008

The state’s move to lease 74,000 acres in Tioga and Lycoming counties for natural gas drilling has inspired some to call for new energy taxes. One suggestion…

Media

Lease the turnpike

• Nathan Benefield
• July 18, 2008

Pennsylvania Transportation Partners has an op-ed in the Post-Gazette on leasing the Turnpike. Here are some key points: Pennsylvania Transportation Partners’ $12.8 billion bid to manage the…

Media

Government Accountability

Harrisburg Political Corruption News

• Nathan Benefield
• July 18, 2008

For everything you ever wanted to know about bonusgate, the Fumo trial, and scandal in Pennsylvania, check out this new blog – Harrisburg Political Corruption News. It looks to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame

• Nathan Benefield
• July 18, 2008

Americans for Prosperity video highlights Nobel Prize/Oscar winner Al Gore showing up with a motorcade, leaving one car running, before giving a speech demanding audience ride bikes home,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

What to do with Fannie and Freddie

• Nathan Benefield
• July 18, 2008

While President Bush and Congress are debating a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (properly the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, which…

Media

Education

PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.

• July 17, 2008

The Board of Directors of PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association) too umbrage with our highlighting that government agency’s misuse and abuse of taxpayer dollars.  Our response is…

Media

Regulation

Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!

• July 17, 2008

PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…

Media