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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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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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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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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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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Government Accountability

Q&A on Open Records

• Nathan Benefield
• February 22, 2008

FAQ on the new Open Records Law from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

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Regulation

Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobs

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2008

A new study and press conference today by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) takes credit for helping to “create” 186,000 jobs in PA from 2003 through…

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Taxes & Economy

The Running Total Of Our Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• February 21, 2008

One blog I have been following is Taxation With Representation, in which “Danny” keeps a running total of the total taxes his family has paid – income, Social Security,…

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