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Education
Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Harrisburg, Pa., May 15, 2025 — Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, according to new…
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Energy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable BenefitsTaxes & Economy
Proposed PA Budget Details
For all the budget watchers and number-crunchers out there, here are some additional budget resources: Spreadsheet with all the line items from the proposed General Fund Budget (Microsoft Excel…
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Is Rendell Nuts?
Pennsylvania governor confuses taxpayers with leprechauns HARRISBURG, PA — In Gov. Ed Rendell’s FY 2008-09 budget address, he called for higher and new taxes that, if passed by the…
Press Release
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Video from Budget Biopsy Luncheon
Watch Below or here…
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Are You Nuts Governor?
Governor Ed Rendell goes ballistic on KDKA reporter Jon Delano, asking “Are you nuts, Jon? Are you nuts?” (watch the incredible Video Clip) Delano’s sanity is in question…
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Change in plan to cut tax angers Pa. business owners
Governor Rendell’s budget calls for another slowdown of the Corporate Stock and Franchise Tax phaseout. While this isn’t technically a tax increase – rather represents less of a reduction…
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Read More: Change in plan to cut tax angers Pa. business ownersHealth Care
Cover A Few Pennsylvanians update
A few weeks ago, we put out some quick facts about the few Pennsylvanians that would be covered by “Cover All Pennsylvanians.” Based on the new Governor’s budget, we…
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Read More: Cover A Few Pennsylvanians updateGovernment Accountability
Liberty Index released and GrassrootsPA relaunched
The Liberty Index, now produced by the Conservative Reform PAC was released today, rating all state legislators and Governor Rendell on legislation through the end 2007. Hat Tip…
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Read More: Liberty Index released and GrassrootsPA relaunchedTaxes & Economy
Grow the Economy, Not Government
Rendell misplaces his faith in government to stimulate the economy HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation expressed disappointment in Gov. Ed Rendell’s FY 2008-09 budget proposal that would…
Press Release
Read More: Grow the Economy, Not GovernmentHealth Care
Rendell still pushing RendellCare
Within the last few weeks, three state health care proposals fundamentally similar to Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Pennsylvanians” added to my “bad ideas pile” California legislators overwhelming rejected…
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Turnpike leasing gets another look
Editorial in the Lancaster New Era on a Turnpike lease takes to task the fearmongers opposing the idea: Are opponents skeptical, or fearful, of turning the turnpike over…
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Read More: Turnpike leasing gets another lookRegulation
Rendell’s Stimulus
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced his wealth redistribution scheme, which he calls “economic stimulus”. His plan includes Cash welfare payments: Rendell is proposing spending $130 million (borrowing it from the…
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Read More: Rendell’s StimulusGovernment Accountability
“Groundhog day” on Open Records
The Open Records bill (SB 1) is expected to be voted on in the House this week, after passing the Senate last week. See the press release from Common…
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Read More: “Groundhog day” on Open RecordsEducation
Budget Preview
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story previews Rendell’s budget proposal, including “Rebuilding Pennsylvania”, involving a three-year, $860 million ($287/year average) in new spending on infrastructure, mostly through new borrowing. He also promises…
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Read More: Budget PreviewHealth Care
Equity and Health Care
Wall Street Journal editorial looks at reforming health care through the tax code. That is, giving individuals the same tax benefits in buying health insurance as employers, along with…
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Read More: Equity and Health CareState Budget
Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?
The Patriot News profiles Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati and it looks like he will be putting the Taxpayer Protection Act as a top priority, and even suggests…
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Read More: Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?Regulation
Specter and the NFL
The response to news that Arlen Specter wants to hold hearing with the NFL over “spy-gate” has been met with universal disdain – see, for instance, Don Boudreaux’s…
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Climate Debate Daily
New website, Climate Debate Daily, features the latest updates on the debate over global warming – what is occuring, why it is occuring, and what to do about it…
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Read More: Climate Debate DailyTaxes & Economy
Understanding the Laffer Curve
Center for Freedom and Propserity provides this video on the Laffer Curve. The key points are that 1)Most tax cuts spur economic growth and provide “feedback” tax revenue. 2)…
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Read More: Understanding the Laffer CurveEducation
Voucher foes hurt poor kids
Editorial in the Chicago Sun Times on President Bush’s “Pell Grants for Kids” and the unions’ mindless rhetoric denouncing school choice.
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Read More: Voucher foes hurt poor kidsGovernment Accountability
Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader
This weekend, sports fans have the ineviable choice of rooting for Luke Skywalker or for Darth Vader in the Super Bowl. Yes, Luke is whiny and obnoxious (read: Eli Manning),…
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Read More: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth VaderRegulation
$47 million for Soccer?
Lowman Henry writes on the Lincoln Blog that $47 million for a soccer stadium doesn’t seem like a good use of tax dollars, and responds to some email comments…
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