Latest Content
Education
PA House Democrats Threaten Thousands of Cyber Charter Students with New Bill
Harrisburg, Pa., June 3, 2025 — This week, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed House Bill (HB) 1500, which would slash funding for cyber school students, out of the Education Committee. …
Read More: PA House Democrats Threaten Thousands of Cyber Charter Students with New Bill
Energy
PRESS Passes Out of Committee, Threatening Another Hike in Electric Bills
Read More: PRESS Passes Out of Committee, Threatening Another Hike in Electric Bills
Energy
New Poll: Pennsylvanians Demand Energy Affordability
Read More: New Poll: Pennsylvanians Demand Energy Affordability
Energy
New Report: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Energy Proposals Will Double Electric Bills
Read More: New Report: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Energy Proposals Will Double Electric Bills
EBay sellers pushed to get auctioneer licenses
In an absurd extension of state power, the Board of Auctioneer Examiners in the State Department is trying to shut down EBay sellers (those selling on behalf on others). See…
Media
Read More: EBay sellers pushed to get auctioneer licenses
State Small Business Climate Ranking
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released its state rankings on Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship. Pennsylvania ranks a middling 24th (1 is best). The rankings incorporate several taxes, government…
Media
Read More: State Small Business Climate Ranking
Where do judges come from?
Paul Jacob on Townhall.com on “merit selection” of judges in Missouri. So, just who makes up the Appellate Judicial Commission? How are they chosen? Good questions. The…
Media
Read More: Where do judges come from?
Colossal Waste of Tax Dollars for Useless Education Study
Allegheny Institute Policy Brief on the “costing out study”. To further illustrate the wrongheadedness of the study, consider its recommendation for two Southwestern Pennsylvania school districts that…
Media
Read More: Colossal Waste of Tax Dollars for Useless Education Study
More Resources on Costing Out Studies
Courtroom Alchemy – Education Next: We reviewed results from professional judgment studies in eight states released from 2001 to 2003. All eight studies were conducted by…
Media
Read More: More Resources on Costing Out Studies
State’s Debt Totals More Than $105 Billion
Evening Bulletin article on our brief analysis of state debt.
Media
Read More: State’s Debt Totals More Than $105 Billion
Leave commenting on PA Politics to me, Sandra Day O’Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor disses Russ Diamond in today’s Wall Street Journal, along with calling for appointing judges and government-run campaigns: These three reforms [I’ll discuss below] will help,…
Media
Read More: Leave commenting on PA Politics to me, Sandra Day O’Connor
Commonwealth Foundation honors Scaife’s contributions
Story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the 2007 Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner.
Media
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation honors Scaife’s contributions
Costing Out Study – Quick Numbers
I haven’t had a chance to look at the “costing out study” yet, which said we need spend $12,067 per-pupil to achieve an “adequate education” but here is the key…
Media
Read More: Costing Out Study – Quick Numbers
Thursday at 9 PM – Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner on PCN
PCN will air the Speaker Franklin Awards dinner – including speakers John Stossel, Ed Feulner, and Award recipient Richard Mellon Scaife – Thursday night at 9 pm. Future airings are…
Media
Read More: Thursday at 9 PM – Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner on PCN
Pa. House Dems force out 7 top aides
The Bonus-Gate investigation has apparently claimed the jobs of several Pa. House Democratic staffers. Bill DeWeese isn’t saying much, other than in his press release: “As Majority…
Media
Read More: Pa. House Dems force out 7 top aides
Don’t Look to Government to Cool Down the Planet
If you can’t make it to our dinner tonight in Pittsburgh, here is just a taste of what you are missing – John Stossel’s latest column on TownHall.com.
Media
Read More: Don’t Look to Government to Cool Down the Planet
Recipients of Corporate Welfare like Corporate Welfare
Shocking news release from the Governor’s Office: Businesses that Governor Rendell wants to give taxpayer grants to support Governor Rendell’s plan to give them taxpayer grants.
Media
Read More: Recipients of Corporate Welfare like Corporate Welfare
States’ “Universal” Health Care plans not delivering
Mandates and government-run health insurance programs have failed to provide “universal health care” in Maine: Maine’s uninsured rate did not improve significantly between 2003 and 2006 despite…
Media
Read More: States’ “Universal” Health Care plans not delivering
Cyber 101 Day
From the Reach Foundation: Cyber 101 day will be held next Tuesday in the Capitol. Lawmakers looking at proposals to limit funding for cyber shools (which represent less…
Media
Read More: Cyber 101 Day
America is still the land of Opportunity
A number of pundits on the left cite rising “income inequality” as a cause for alarm (and justification of new government programs). A new treasury department study reveals these claims…
Media
Read More: America is still the land of Opportunity
PA’s Debt: $110 Billion
In response to a question from one of our readers, here is a analysis of Pennsylvania state and local government outstanding debt (the latest data for local governments from the…
Media
Read More: PA’s Debt: $110 Billion
A Conversation with Milton Friedman
Dallas Fed posts previously unreleased Conversation with Milton Friedman. Both audio and video available.
Media
Read More: A Conversation with Milton Friedman
Ethanol Backlash
Wall Street Journal article on how Congress is rethinking the negative effects of subsidizing and mandating use of ethanol. I don’t usually call on the PA General Assembly to…
Media
Read More: Ethanol Backlash
New life for turnpike-lease plan
Commonwealth Foundation’s Brouillette and Reason Foundation’s Gilroy in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer on the alternative to tolling I-80.
Media
Read More: New life for turnpike-lease plan
Peterson calls out Scarnati on I-80 tolling
The Bradford Era covers the tiff between Congressman Peterson and Sen. Scarnati.
Media
Read More: Peterson calls out Scarnati on I-80 tolling