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Taxes & Economy

Tax Lessons from Michigan

• Nathan Benefield
• May 28, 2008

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,…

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Government Accountability

Fumo makes Reader’s Digest list of corrupt pols

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2008

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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‘Pike lease is good option for state road needs

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2008

The Morning Call has joined the media outlets endorsing the idea of a Turnpike lease.

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Taxes & Economy

Republicans Are in Denial

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2008

Tom Coburn in the Wall Street Journal writes on how “Compassionate Conservativsm” destroyed the Republican Party, and how the GOP’s problem isn’t “messaging”, its following through on principles. His…

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Government Accountability

Big government to blame for out-of-control lobbyists

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2008

Amanda Carpenter raises the point that lobbyists, for all their flaws, are not to blame for the corruption in Washington (or Harrisburg), but rather, it is unlimited government that…

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Leasing the Turnpike: Questions & Answers

• May 26, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation address common concerns regarding a Public-Private Partnership on Pennsylvania’s toll road HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation…

Press Release

Education

Home Skool Stoodents Spel to Gud

• Nathan Benefield
• May 26, 2008

I found this story (HT to Michelle Malkin) interesting, mainly because of the irony. Subway is holding an essay contest which excludes homeschoolers—who have…

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Taxes & Economy

Federal Taxes and Household Income

• Nathan Benefield
• May 26, 2008

The Congressional Budget Office has a new data page which shows the distribution of federal income taxes. Hat Tip to Government Bytes.

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Education

PA 12th in ranking of charter school laws

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2008

The Center for Education Reform issued a ranking of charter school laws by state. Pennsylvania earns a respectable 12th, earning a ‘B’, but has room for improvement.

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Taxes & Economy

Gas Taxes By State

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2008

Mark J. Perry posted this map showing gas taxes by state. Note Pennsylvania is a red state on this map. The data source is API…

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Taxes & Economy

Economic “stimulus” to deliver?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 24, 2008

Bloomberg.com reports most economists think the “job creation” from the economic stimulus package are greatly overstated – if there will be any at all. Oh, now you tell us.

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Taxes & Economy

How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 24, 2008

The Tax Foundation has put their Tax Freedom Day calculations into an eight-hour workday: How Long America Works to Pay Taxes in…

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Regulation

Take Us Out to the Ball Game

• Nathan Benefield
• May 23, 2008

Reason TV has a new video on whether sports stadiums are really worth it. Nick Gillespie notes that stadium subsidies are just another example of the Edifice…

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Taxes & Economy

Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not

• Nathan Benefield
• May 23, 2008

Dan Flynn writes that the “Conservative Movement” is dead: Eurocommunism is gone and party conservatives now openly question the utility of even limited government rhetoric in 21st-century America.

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Turnpike Lease to Save Taxpayers $87 Million

• Nathan Benefield
• May 23, 2008

As I pointed out last month the Pennsylvania Turnpike continues to receive taxpayer subsidy (even while making payments to PennDoT) to the tune of $120 million per year. In…

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Climate Change Bill to Hurt PA Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• May 23, 2008

The Heritage Foundation has a new report on the economic costs of the Lieberman–Warner climate change bill. They have also provided an analysis for each state. The estimated…

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Taxes & Economy

Scarnati’s Transportation Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2008

Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has announced his own transportation funding plan – which he promised to do in January, including a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (he backtracked…

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State Budget

How Bad is the Farm Bill

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2008

In light of today’s front page commentary on the federal Farm Bill Fiasco, here are some more links describing how awful this legislation is. Citizen’s Against Government Waste…

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Taxes & Economy

Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2008

Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA offers a commentary on the League of Women Voters lawsuit against former justice Ralph Cappy and Chief Justice Castille’s threats against…

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Turnpike Lease Editorials

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2008

The Patriot News editorializes that a Turnpike lease appears to be the best option. The Philadelphia Inquirer offers no definite verdict, only noting concerns over “giving up control”…

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PA Turnpike Concession: Gaining control, not losing It

• Nathan Benefield
• May 21, 2008

Len Gilroy writes on Reason’s Out of Control blog how a Turnpike Lease agreement actually gives the state, and the taxpayers, more control over how the Turnpike is operated.

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