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Public Union Democracy

Texas v. Ohio

• Nathan Benefield
• March 3, 2008

Wall Street Journal article contrasts the economic fortunes between Texas (good) and Ohio (bad), and explores some of the reasons behind this – namely taxes (Texas=low, Ohio=high and increasing)…

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Taxes & Economy

NAFTA, Foreign Trade, and jobs

• Nathan Benefield
• March 3, 2008

Cato’s Dan Griswold writes that “Ohio Needs More Foreign Trade” as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama denounce NAFTA in Ohio: Ohio workers would pay a heavy price for…

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Regulation

Union wants pension backing for roads

• Nathan Benefield
• March 3, 2008

Financial Times article on public sector unions pushing for public pension funds to invest in roads and other infrastructure. Of course, as noted, many public pension funds (the California…

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Taxes & Economy

An Upside for the Middle Class

• Nathan Benefield
• February 29, 2008

Interesting Washington Post article on the middle class: Items once considered luxuries — dishwashers, central air conditioning, video cameras — are now common. The average size of new…

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Regulation

How to Shrink an Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• February 29, 2008

Penn State Altoona econ professor John McGinnis writes on how Pennsylvania’s “economic development” spending shrinks our economy – first by taxing to pay for this corporate welfare, then by…

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Government Accountability

After returning raise, LaGrotta took it back

• Nathan Benefield
• February 29, 2008

Another bizarre twist in the payraise debacle was uncovered in the Frank Lagrotta case. Former Rep. LaGrotta was recenlty convicted and sentenced, and more recently face a ruling that…

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State Budget

PA Budget Historical Numbers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 29, 2008

I’ve received a couple of requests for historics Pennsylvania state budget numbers, so I thought I’d post the data here. The figures represent actual final spending from 1970-2007, while…

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Taxes & Economy

Daylight Saving Wastes Energy

• Nathan Benefield
• February 28, 2008

A new study show that daylight savings time result in higher energy use, reports the Wall Street Journal, examing the effect of Indiana’s recent move to DST. Daylight Savings…

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Education

Empowering Families

• Nathan Benefield
• February 28, 2008

Ken Blackwell commentary on the mistakes states are making by continuing to push for taxpayer-funded state-run preschool – to the detriment of educational choice and parental control.

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Government Accountability

RIP William F. Buckley

• Nathan Benefield
• February 27, 2008

Roundup of obituaries, blogs, and other comments on conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr., who passed away at 82 today. National Review OnlineWashington Post ObituaryReason…

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Taxes & Economy

Wages Are a Price, Too

• Nathan Benefield
• February 27, 2008

A good chart of wages vs. inflation on the CARPE DIEM blog, along with a criticism of today’s Wall Street Journal article on inflation (and a humorous transposition…

Media

Act 1 Indexes

• Nathan Benefield
• February 27, 2008

Allegheny Institute Blog looks at Act 1 “Indexes” for 2008 – the level each school district can increase property taxes without referendum, before exemptions are included. The complete list…

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Taxes & Economy

Bio-Foolish Behavior

• Nathan Benefield
• February 26, 2008

IBD Editorial on the lack of common sense in pushing for additional bio-fuel mandates and taxpayer subsidy: In 2005, America used 15% of its corn crop to replace…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Broad Based Coalition Supports Davis-Bacon Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• February 26, 2008

News release from the Alliance for Worker Freedom on coalition of organizations (including the Commonwealth Foundation) supporting Davis-Bacon reform: According to James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation, “In…

Media

Turnpike Ad Campaign Opposes Lease Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• February 26, 2008

KDKA TV story on the PA Turnpike’s use of toll revenue to fund a $300,000 advertising campaign to defends its fiefdom, while highlighting their excesses and recent…

Media

Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 26, 2008

Video – Matt Brouillette vs. Joe Brimmeier (and other guests) on leasing the Turnpike and tolling I-80.

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Education

Study: Milwaukee school choice program saves taxpayers money

• Nathan Benefield
• February 25, 2008

A new study released by the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas, demonstrates how Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program saves Wisconsin taxpayers money, as voucher amounts are…

Media

Health Care

Obama v. McCain on Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• February 25, 2008

Cato Daily Podcast with Michael Tanner on the differences between McCain and Obama – and the constrast of market-based reform vs. expansion of government – on health care.

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Laffer Curve, Part II

• Nathan Benefield
• February 25, 2008

Second part in the video series on the Laffer Curve – this video looks at real examples of how tax cuts result in economic and revenue growth.

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Health Care

Semonizing on RendellCare

• Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2008

Morning Call article and Post-Gazette piece on the planned “CAP Sunday” and campaign to use sermons to promote RendellCare. (HT: GrassrootsPA) I’ve written on Jesus and…

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Government Accountability

Odds of Dying by Cause

• Nathan Benefield
• February 22, 2008

Interesting data from the National Safety Council on Odds of Dying for non-natural causes of death. Surprising figures The “safest way to travel” appears to be by streetcar, followed…

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