Media

Public Union Democracy

Workers’ Rights Model Legislation

• Nathan Benefield
• January 21, 2008

Evergreen Freedom Foundation has released a new report with model legislation to protect workers’ rights – including paycheck protection, right to work, and others.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Reagan’s Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• January 21, 2008

Spokesman for the Clinton campaign, one-time economist, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman attempts to denounce Barack Obama for even mentioning Ronald Reagan without espousing anger and hatred towards…

Media

Taxes & Economy

U.S. Map of Religions

• Nathan Benefield
• January 19, 2008

This map of most common religious denomination by county from Mark Perry’s blog is fascinating. Only a smattering of counties have a majority of one religion/denomination (with clushers…

Media

Government Accountability

States Resist REAL ID Implementation

• Nathan Benefield
• January 19, 2008

Budget & Tax News update on pushback from states (and in Congress) against the REAL ID, with deadlines looming.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Gas Taxes Are High Enough

• Nathan Benefield
• January 19, 2008

US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in the WSJ on how the gas tax is high enough, and how public-private partnerships can be a solution to transportation funding needs.

Media

Taxes & Economy

No Stimulus Gimmicks

• Nathan Benefield
• January 18, 2008

Following Wednesday’s post about the lack of any economic gains of a short term “economic stimulus” plan, here are a number of recent comments on the subject. A commentary…

Media

Turnpike’s defenders go on offense

• Nathan Benefield
• January 18, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on how the beneficiaries defenders of the Turnpike Commission are stalling, claiming that Turnpike Tolls would be much higher under a private lease, and planning to…

Media

Government Accountability

Are Secret Funding Letters Open Records?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 18, 2008

PassOpenRecords.org asks if letters from Governor Rendell promising state funds to a variety of projects would be considered open records. They are looking for readers to comment on that…

Media

Government Accountability

Lawmakers Spend Hundreds Of Thousands To See If They Misspent Money

• Nathan Benefield
• January 18, 2008

WGAL reports that state lawmakers spent $300,000 (mostly from House Democrats) on legal fees relating to the bonusgate investigation. The headline basically says it all. Props to freshmen Eugene…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA House Passes Tax Cuts

• Nathan Benefield
• January 17, 2008

With a unanimous 197-0 vote, the Pennsylvania House Passed HB 377 which would: Roll back the Personal Income Tax rate to 2.80% over two years Reduce the Corporate Net…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Tax Rebates Will Not Stimulate The Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• January 16, 2008

Heritage Foundation commentary on why neither tax “rebates” nor “ecnomic stimulous” spending would result in economic growth. Critics contend that rebates “inject” new money into the economy, increasing…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike lease and ‘foreign’ companies

• Nathan Benefield
• January 16, 2008

The latest news that Senate President pro tem Joe Scanarti will be introducing a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (Tribune Review story), which appears to be different that Senator…

Media

Study Supports Turnpike Lease

• January 15, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation responds to PSU/Wayne State study HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to a study of traffic diversion due to toll increases on the Ohio Turnpike by authors…

Press Release

Government Accountability

Reform is not a Rendell priority

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2008

So says Tony Phyrillas, in response to Governor Rendell’s put-down of a special session on public integrity.

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Ethanol Fallacy

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2008

Popular Mechanics on The Ethanol Fallacy: So what should the government do? First off: no harm. Instead of trying to mandate specific technologies—and risk locking us into…

Media

Turnpike Lease Promising

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2008

Press Enterprise editorial on Senator Gordner’s Turnpike lease proposal: When looked at from an economic standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Start with this…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Study on “Toll Road Privatization”

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2008

A study by researchers from Penn State and Wayne State makes the claim that toll road privatization will cause several negative impacts. However, they don’t actually study “toll road…

Media

Government Accountability

Integrity in Government Special Session

• Nathan Benefield
• January 14, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation and nine other organizations have asked Governor Rendell to call a special session to deal with integrity in Goverment. Here is the info, courtesy Democracy Rising…

Media

Positions available through Koch Associate Program

• January 14, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation is excited to be a part of the 2008-09 Koch Associate Program!    We’re working with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation to find candidates for a position…

Press Release

Gordner testing the water with tolling repeal bill

• Nathan Benefield
• January 14, 2008

State Senator John Gordner will be introducing a bill to repeal Act 44 (and I-80 tolling) that would also allow for a Turnpike PPP, The Standard-Journal reports. We have…

Media

Government Accountability

Fluid races could make Pa.’s late primary important

• Nathan Benefield
• January 14, 2008

Peter Jackson commentary on the potential “influence” of the PA primary in April. While there has been a push to move the primary up in the calendar so that…

Media