Media

Government Accountability

Merit Selection Not so Meritorious?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2008

Intriguing article in the Wall Street Journal on merit selection of judges, and John Grisham’s latest novel, (HT to PA Clean Sweep), that is timely given…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Higher Fuel Taxes Won’t Help Anything

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2008

John Hood editorial in Investor’s Business Daily on fuel taxes – pointing to both the absurd earmarks that the federal gas tax funds and the need to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 21

• Nathan Benefield
• March 26, 2008

The Tax Foundation released their annual report on Tax Freedom Day today. The national Tax Freedom day will be April 23 – the number of days it takes for…

Media

Education

Lobbying by State Universities

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2008

The blog, “Left of Centre,” has some details about lobbying by PA’s state universities, following up an article in the Daily Collegian. Of interest to those following lobbying…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Book of Charts – Federal Revenue and Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2008

The Heritage Foundation has released their “Book of Charts” on federal taxes and spending, and other data, for 2008.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Trade and National Defense

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2008

Don Boudreaux has an interesting discussion over at Cafe Hayek about the controversy over foreign companies contracting with the US Department of Defense (i.e. Airbus). His dismisses most of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Which states give retirees the best deal?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2008

MSN Money quantifies which state is the best for retirees – in terms of taxes paid. Their assumption is a couple earning $60,000 – all from retirement income/pensions –…

Media

State Budget

The “Ed McMahon” Syndrome

• Nathan Benefield
• March 25, 2008

The Republican Herald discusses Rep. Tim Holden’s earmarks, which his challenger, Toni Gilhooley labels “Ed McMahon” syndrome because of his desire to hand out large cardboard checks (a phrase…

Media

Health Care

State Legislators’ Guide to Health Insurance

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2008

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) and American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have published a 2008 version of their guide to health insurance solutions, including recommendations and a…

Media

Education

Wisconsin’s Virtual Schools Could Close this Summer

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2008

Intriguing piece in School Reform News on how the Wisconsin teachers’ union is also working to undermine cyber schools – rather than targeting funding, they are going after cyber…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Stimulating the Economy with Tax Cuts

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2008

Click here for a PDF version of Rep. Mike Turzai’s presentation at last week’s forum on “Stimulating the Economy: Tax Cuts vs ‘Rebates'” Here is video from the…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Dynamic Effects of Tax Policy

• Nathan Benefield
• March 24, 2008

Part 3 in a series of videos on the Laffer Curve, from the Center for Freedom and Propserity, this one covering dynamic modeling of tax changes. (Click here for…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Neat Charts on Unemployment Claims

• Nathan Benefield
• March 20, 2008

I read the latest coverage of the unemployment insurance claims and how this is the “worst report” since 2005 and the most payroll jobs lost since 2003. I noticed…

Media

Regulation

Stimulating the Pennsylvania Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2008

Here is video from yesterday’s luncheon on “Stimulating PA’s Economy: Tax Cuts v. ‘Rebates'”. Click here for more videos from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Media

Health Care

Are “Large Health Savings Accounts” the Answer?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2008

Michael Cannon has a paper on “Large Health Savings Accounts” in the Forum for Health Economics & Policy (registration required). Also listen to his Cato Podcast on the…

Media

Turnpike Lease Resources

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2008

More information on many of topics I addressed in my testimony on a Turnpike Lease Free analysis of costly Turnpike study PolicyPoint: Act 44…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Concerns About Turnpike Lease Misguided

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2008

Testimony before the PA House Transportation Committee Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research…

Testimony

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania has 2nd highest corporate tax – in the world

• Nathan Benefield
• March 18, 2008

A new report from the The Tax Foundation finds that Pennsylvania’s combined federal and local corporate income tax rate is higher than any other industrialized nation, and trails only…

Media

POLL: Informed Voters Support Turnpike Lease

• March 18, 2008

Pennsylvanians prefer lease to higher taxes, new tolls, and more bonded debt HARRISBURG, PA — Informed registered voters in Pennsylvania say leasing the turnpike to an “experienced, qualified private sector…

Press Release

Regulation

Smoke Freedom Day

• Nathan Benefield
• March 18, 2008

WHP CBS 21 has a story on a quasi-protest of the looming smoking ban. Watch Ryan Shafik go all V for Vendetta on legislators, though his reasoned explanation…

Media

Turnpike study called one-sided

• Nathan Benefield
• March 18, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article exposes the potential bias of authors of a recent Turnpike lease “study”: The study commissioned by state House Democrats was authored by Harvard professor John…

Media