Media

Health Care

Stateline: Socialized Medicine = Fiscally Conservative

• Nathan Benefield
• March 17, 2008

Stateline.org has an interesting article on health care funding in the states. The headline reads “On health care, govs are tightening belts.” Here are some examples of “belt-tightening”:…

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Taxes & Economy

PA Ranks 45th in Tort Liability

• Nathan Benefield
• March 17, 2008

Pacific Research Institute has published their State Tort Liability Rankings for 2008. Pennsylvania ranks a lowly 45th, but is very close to 44th – we have your number, Rhode…

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Regulation

PUC goes after Amish transport

• Nathan Benefield
• March 17, 2008

The Pennsylvania Utility Commission is cracking down on individuals giving rides to the Amish, read the Lancaster Online story and the WGAL story. The Post-Gazette also covered…

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Government Accountability

Capitol staffers get their own pay raise

• Nathan Benefield
• March 17, 2008

Jan Murphy in the Patriot has a look at big pay increases, and big salaries for some legislative staffers following the end of bonuses. While Eric Epstein points…

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Taxes & Economy

Defending Free Trade

• Nathan Benefield
• March 15, 2008

The Economist has an editorial defending NAFTA – and the need for the US (and presidential candidates) to drop NAFTA bashing. (HT: The Foundry). On a related front,…

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Health Care

Why aren’t you dead?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 15, 2008

John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog wonders why more people are being poisoned by restaurants – noting how inept public health inspectors are: What keeps you alive is the…

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Taxes & Economy

Litigating for Liberty

• Nathan Benefield
• March 15, 2008

Reason Magazine has a great interview with Chip Mellor, co-founder of the Institute for Justice, on why he believes is “litigating for liberty” – defending parents’ rights to…

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State Budget

Pigfoot Evicted from Jack Murtha Fundraiser

• Nathan Benefield
• March 14, 2008

Video of CAGW’s Pig being tossed from Congressman Jack Murtha’s fundraiser while trying to present him with the prestigious “Porker of the Year” award.

Media

State Budget

Porkers win the day, again

• Nathan Benefield
• March 14, 2008

A few days ago, I remarked that the DeMint-McCain earmark moratorium was likely to pass the Senate, as both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had signed on.

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Regulation

Economic Impacts of the Climate Change Bill

• Nathan Benefield
• March 14, 2008

A new study by the Science Applications International Corporation and sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capital Formation looks at the economic impacts…

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Regulation

Smoking Bans Redux

• Nathan Benefield
• March 13, 2008

Brad Vasoli in the Evening Bulletin has an article on the proposed state smoking ban, featuring comments from yours truly (a non-smoker). Here is more information on smoking bans…

Media

Government Accountability

A Conservative Approach To Universal Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• March 13, 2008

Forbes article on the NFIB’s proposed health care agenda which includes allowing individuals to purchase health insurance coverage over state lines, tax deductions for individually purchased insurance, tort…

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Health Care

PA House Rejects Real Health Care Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

The Pennsylvania House passed an amendment (and is expected to pass the bill) that would enact the House Democrats’ “Pennsylvania ABC,” or as I call it, RendellCare 2.0,…

Media

Government Accountability

Opportunities with the Commonwealth Foundation

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation is looking for a Research Associate, a Communications Associate, and a Development/Marketing Associate through the 2008-09 Koch Associate Program! If you’re interested, in working the the Commonwealth…

Media

State Budget

Video: Jim DeMint on Earmark Moratorium

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina gives a masterful speech on the need for earmark reform in Washington (the same could be applied to handouts in Harrisburg).

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Government Accountability

Twenty-two disgraced governors

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

Stateline.org has the complete list of governors to leave office (resigned or impeached) because of scandal or legal problems.

Media

Government Accountability

State paid law firms $111 million for advice

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette reports that Pennsylvania taxpayers have paid law firms $111 million for legal advice to state government under the Rendell administration (note: I believe this…

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Government Accountability

Fumo to retire

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

Senator Vince Fumo, the subject of many PolicyBlog stories will reportedly be retiring; read the Pennsyltucky Politics blurb.

Media

Phyrillas on property tax hikes

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2008

Over 100 school districts have applied for exemptions to increase property taxes above the Act 1 index, notes Tony Phyrillas. He points out that this is fewer than last…

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Health Care

A Short Course in Brain Surgery

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2008

Video from FreeMarketCure on how government run health care, like that in Canada, is hazardous to your health.

Media

Education

Teachers Unions Exposed

• Nathan Benefield
• March 11, 2008

TeachersUnionExposed.com is a new website (from the Center for Union Facts) focusing on teachers’s unions role in blocking education reform, bargaining away quality, and protecting bad teachers. They…

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