Why are taxpayers still subsidizing the Turnpike?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2008

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is objecting vigorously to the notion that they are among the least efficient toll roads, along with touting their subsidies to the state (which are…

Media

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Education

Edifice Complex at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2008

In our report, Edifice Complex: Where has all the Money Gone we looked at the fastest growing cost for school districts, and what is driving property taxes…

Media

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PA Turnpike’s Operating Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2008

In the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on Reason’s report that the PA Turnpike is one of the least efficient toll roads in the nation (see here), the Turnpike Commission…

Media

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Regulation

Benevolence of the Trucker

  • April 10, 2008

Land Line Magazine’s coverage of the Public-Private Partnership (P3) forum that I moderated on Monday ran with the headline, “Panelists say profit motivates infrastructure investment.” (As an aside,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA’s “liberal” population shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2008

The Philadelphia Inquirer has an article remarking on Pennsylvania’s demographic changes, noting that the state is gaining population in the eastern part and losing population in the west –…

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Taxes & Economy

Another Mediocre Rank for PA Business Climate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2008

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has new report on Business Tax Index 2008, look at the best tax climate for small businesses. Pennsylvania, as has been a recurring…

Media

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Government Accountability

“Per Diems” Add Up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

RocktheCapital has analyzed and released expense reports for one lawmaker, David Argall of Schuykill County, finding that he collected $15,000 in “per diems” (compensation above and beyond salary, ostensibly…

Media

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Health Care

When is a college basketball game “over”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

If you like sports and you like math then Bill James’s calculator to determine when a college basketball game is out of reach should be interesting (if not, then…

Media

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Education

Mapping Graduation Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

Education Week has an interactive tool to map the graduation rates of states and school districts (based on the recent analysis by America’s Promise Alliance). Here is the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Eminent Domain post-Kelo

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

The Cato Daily Podcast for today covers state eminent domain reform reforms since Kelo. For more visit the Castle Coalition, and their report on state eminent domain…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Congressional Ratings from National Taxpayers Union

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2008

The National Taxpayers Union has released their 2007 Congressional Rankings. As for the PA Delegation: Pitts A 87% (“Taxpayers’ Friend”)Shuster B 74% (“Good”)Peterson C+ 62% (“Satisfactory”)…

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Taxes & Economy

“No Cardboard Checks”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2008

One of my favorite sources for the inside scoop from the Capitol is Senator Eichelberger’s blog. In his latest post, he describes his refusal to participate in handing out…

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Education

The Real Cost of Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 7, 2008

Andrew Coulson has an article in the Washington Post and a more detailed version on the Cato-at-liberty blog contrasting public school spending ($24,000 per pupil) and private school…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Big Oil vs. Big Ethanol

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 7, 2008

Everyone in Pennsylvania (save the Amish, who are also unlikely to be reading this blog) must have heard or seen the Barack Obama, anti-“Big Oil” ad dozens of…

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State Budget

The Merits of Pork Barrel spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 7, 2008

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette has a story on the state capital budget, covering some of the projects in the Pittsburgh area. The Rendell administration tries to take…

Media

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Health Care

Why McCain has the best health-care plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2008

Fortune Magazine article on the health care proposals of the presidential candidates, along with the overarching question of whether we should move to government-run insurance or offer consumers greater…

Media

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Government Accountability

Brouillette to moderate forum on P3s in transportation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2008

Matthew J. Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation will moderate a forum on public-private partnerships and the potential role they can play in helping Pennsylvania meet its transportation…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Electricity deregulation a success in Texas

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2008

Dallas Morning News story on a report showing how competition flourished and prices declined once Texas Electrity Deregulation took effect in January of last year. The full report…

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Government Accountability

Join us on Facebook

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation has a New Page on Facebook. If you are a Facebook user (or want to sign up to see what all the kids are…

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