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Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
HARRISBURG, PA., July 24, 2024 — At a press conference Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Commonwealth Foundation has “spent years and millions and millions of dollars attacking me.” Shapiro’s…
Read More: Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Education
VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentState Budget
Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet
The Burden of Taxes In 2008, the average working Pennsylvanian will labor 111 days just to pay his or her federal, state, and local taxes—the equivalent of working January 1…
Press Release
Read More: Put Pennsylvania on a Spending DietEducation
Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
A New Study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that choice schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have substantially higher graduation rates than the Milwaukee public schools. Furthermore, as…
Media
Read More: Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike Lease
Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (the Abertis-Citi consortium that won the bid on the Turnpike lease) has a new website along with 12-page briefing book on the lease deal. On…
Media
Read More: New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike LeasePublic Union Democracy
Dad declares war on teachers union
Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes is profiled in the Courier Times…
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Read More: Dad declares war on teachers union
Tolls a good way to fund roads
My letter to the editor in the Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online: The May 21 editorial on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease calling Interstate80 drivers/rural…
Media
Read More: Tolls a good way to fund roadsEducation
School boards fall prey to Edifice Complex
Several PA school boards put their Edifice Complex on display this past week. The Danville School Board voted to renovate three elementary schools, rather than save…
Media
Read More: School boards fall prey to Edifice ComplexRegulation
Privatizing the State Liquor Stores
State Senator Rob Wonderling talks about divestiture of the state liquor stores (MP3 file). More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and…
Media
Read More: Privatizing the State Liquor StoresTaxes & Economy
Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per Household
Mark Perry on the Carpe Diem blog offers some highlights of a new report on investment and retirement savings in the US. The growth of participation in mutual…
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Read More: Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per HouseholdTaxes & Economy
How many pay no taxes?
The Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data finds that nearly one-third of those filing tax returns in 2005 paid no income tax. The return info itself in interesting –…
Media
Read More: How many pay no taxes?Regulation
PA’s Corporate Welfare Line
Patriot-News Editorial on how Harrisburg is handing out taxpayer money to big businesses (this time, Amazon) that should not be getting special treatment at all. This corporate welfare comes…
Media
Read More: PA’s Corporate Welfare LineRegulation
Surprise! Stadium Predictions Flawed
David Boaz comments on reports that the taxpayer-subsidized baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals isn’t paying dividends. But then, we already knew that, and Boaz cites a slew of…
Media
Read More: Surprise! Stadium Predictions FlawedGovernment Accountability
No Lame Duck Session in 2008
The PA Senate Republican leadership announced they will not be a lame duck session in 08. Bob Regola, prime sponsor of a Constitutional Amendment banning lame duck sessions, offers…
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Read More: No Lame Duck Session in 2008Taxes & Economy
REAL ID in PA update
Miss Behavin writes about Pennsylvania lawmakers efforts to respond to REAL ID, and specifically on the latest hearing. More info on the REAL ID backlash here.
Media
Read More: REAL ID in PA updateGovernment Accountability
Cerberus keeps another reform in Limbo
Tracy Mauriello of the Post-Gazette reports that House State Government Committee chair Babette Josephs (who I termed the Cerberus of the General Assembly) tabled a bill on redistricting…
Media
Read More: Cerberus keeps another reform in LimboHealth Care
Fixing Health Care in the States
The Wall Street Journal has two articles about health insurance reform in other states. First, from Florida, where the state has enacted a law that will allow low-cost, mandate…
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Read More: Fixing Health Care in the States
US Transportation Sec. Peters likes Turnpike lease deal
US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters expressed support for the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease deal on the department’s blog. Toll Roads News has the coverage. Peters notes: “If the…
Media
Read More: US Transportation Sec. Peters likes Turnpike lease dealTaxes & Economy
Taxing Porn Back in Vogue
For the 2nd time in a year a Pennsylvania lawmaker has proposed taxing strip clubs, this time it is Rep. Paul Clymer. (HT Grassroots PA) The Tax Foundation…
Media
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Is the Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80?
Congressman Peterson seems to think so, as the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports, and I have already assumed as much. For the record, here is the Act 44 timeline: –…
Media
Read More: Is the Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80?Education
Homeschooling saves taxpayers
This analysis from the Heritage Foundation (it was released in April, but I missed it until the hullabaloo over Subway and homeschoolers) finds than homeschooling saves American taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Homeschooling saves taxpayersTaxes & Economy
Tax Lessons from Michigan
Michigan’s recent experience in tax policy, summed up in today’s Wall Street Journal, should offer a lesson to other states. After raising taxes to fill in a budget shortfall,…
Media
Read More: Tax Lessons from MichiganGovernment Accountability
Fumo makes Reader’s Digest list of corrupt pols
Congratulations are in order for Senator Vince Fumo, who was named “one of the most crooked politicians in America” in this month’s Reader’s Digest, based on his 272…
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Read More: Fumo makes Reader’s Digest list of corrupt pols