Jesus: Roman Empire Should Provide Universal Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2007

Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? Well, Governor Rendell says it is there: Rendell…

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SCHIP Articles

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2007

MSNBC.com article on how richer states are pushing for the SCHIP Expansion. Also Greg Mankiw posts a explanation of Bush’s position on SCHIP – a good overview, but…

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Preschool for All!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2007

National Review article (from Free Library) on the push for government-run “universal preschool”: The irony is that early education is already an American strength. The National Center for…

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Energy Snapshot Powerpoint

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2007

The PowerPoint summary of the various energy plans from today’s luncheon can be found here as a slideshow and here as a PDF file. If you missed the…

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Bonus Ban Measure Passes State Government Committee

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2007

John Eichelberger’s Bonus Ban Bill – banning all bonuses in state government, PHEAA, legislative staffers, executive branch, etc. – cleared its first hurdle today.

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Interest to lease turnpike is broad

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2007

Philadelphia Inquirer on the interest in leasing the Turnpike. List of companies completing RFQ is included (several companies entered joint proposals – thus there are 34 companies listed, but…

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No time for energy conservation when PR is at stake

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2007

Rendell’s energy plan calls for a whole host of subsidies and tax credits to end our “dependence on foreign oil”. Cutting taxpayer-funded bus tours to promote his energy plan…

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FHWA responds on I-80 tolls

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2007

Toll Roads News posts and analyzes a letter from the Federal Highway Administration to the Turnpike Commission on tolling I-80. The letter doesn’t say much other than the…

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Federal Energy Tax Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2007

This research paper from 2006 offers a good summary of current federal tax policy – taxes and tax credits – toward energy. Things I learned reading it include:…

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RIP John Berthoud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2007

John Berthoud, president of the National Taxpayers Union, died yesterday at 47. John was a long-time defender of taxpayers and a champion of liberty. NTU ask anyone wishing to pay…

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A Law Best Left Behind

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2007

Wall Street Journal looks at the No Child Left Behind Act – facing reauthorization – noting how the adminstration has not enforced or pushed the school choice provision. Under…

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PHEAA CEO to get $360,000 annual pension

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2007

Jan Murphy on the pension retiring PHEAA CEO Dick Willey will receive. The pension is so elevated because his $180,000 bonus counts toward the pension calculation. Of course, he…

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Do we need Special Session on Baseball Bats?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2007

Philadelphia Inquirer story on the controversy over a bill to ban metal bats in baseball and softball from Little League through High School. The claim is that balls come…

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Wal-Mart Reduces Cost of Prescriptions; State Increases Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2007

Wal-Mart press release indicates they saved Pennsylvania residents $18 last year on prescription drugs through their “$4 prescription drug” program. However, state law doesn’t let Wal-Mart sell their drugs…

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Do Green Mandates and Subsidies Create Jobs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2007

Testimony of Dick Armey on the economic impacts of energy mandates and subsidies. Needless to say, he doesn’t agree with Governor Rendell that taxpayer-funded handouts to politically selected companies…

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SCHIP Information Center

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2007

New Website from the NCPA provides a collection of information on the SCHIP program, including recent research, commentary, and blogs.

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Push for “Distracted Drivers” legislation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2007

Legislation to ban hand held cell phones and text messages – aimed at curbing “distratcted drivers” – is being pushed as a top priority by House Democrats. In the…

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