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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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

Government Accountability

Activists, Politicians Push Reform in Harrisburg

• Nathan Benefield
• July 17, 2008

ABC 27 News video from yesterday’s press conference calling for a special session. Get our news release here.

Media

Regulation

Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)

• Nathan Benefield
• July 17, 2008

Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…

Media

Government Accountability

A Call For Reform

• July 17, 2008

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Sen. Jeff Piccola, Rep. Eugene DePasquale, and several other lawmakers and reform groups in calling for a Special Session to address important legislative…

Press Release

Regulation

How much do you work for Government?

• Nathan Benefield
• July 16, 2008

Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…

Media

Government Accountability

Powerful Political Insiders

• Elizabeth Stelle
• July 16, 2008

PolitickerPA released their list of Pennsylvania’s 50 most powerful political insiders. Topping the list is Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president William George. Be warned that the rankings were complied…

Media

Government Accountability

Mark Cohen takes on James Madison

• Nathan Benefield
• July 16, 2008

In Federalist #51, James Madison writes of the need to create laws and instititutions to protect citizens against abuses by ambitious men in government: If men were angels,…

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