Media

Rendell offers toll parameters for Turnpike Lease

• Nathan Benefield
• January 23, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article covers Governor Rendell’s statements on a potential lease, with the headline that “Turnpike fare increases will be regulated”. The idea that a Turnpike lease would result…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How important are elections?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 22, 2008

Here are a couple of good commentaries on the importance of politics and elections. Though they draw the opposite conclusion, they follow a similar theme, and I find myself agreeing…

Media

Education

(Not) A closer look at Cyber Schools

• Nathan Benefield
• January 22, 2008

IssuesPA has a new article on Cyber School Funding. They claim to provide “a closer look at the ongoing debate”, but don’t look any closer than quoting what some…

Media

Bill for Turnpike Lobbying: $700,000

• Nathan Benefield
• January 22, 2008

Joe Grata in the Post-Gazette with a look at the Turnpike Commission’s $700,000 in lobbying contracts for 2007 ($396,000 at the federal level and $316,000 for Harrisburg lobbyist –…

Media

Government Accountability

Rendell Commits $126 Million in Secret Letters

• Nathan Benefield
• January 21, 2008

Democracy Rising on the fundraising letters sent by Governor Rendell (most during the 2006 campaign) promising taxpayer funding to a variety of corporations.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom and Prosperity

• Nathan Benefield
• January 21, 2008

The Heritage Foundation, in conjuction with the Wall Street Journal, released the Index of Economic Freedom 2008. The rankings have not change dramatically from past years, but what I…

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