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State Budget

CF Assesses Final Budget: Spending is up, WAMs are in, and the Spin begins

• July 16, 2007

HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation provided its perspective on the FY 2007-08 General Fund budget making its way to the governor’s desk. “During Governor Rendell’s first four years…

Press Release

Budget Line Items Revealed

• Nathan Benefield
• July 15, 2007

The budget deal was reported from conference committee tonight (the deal had already been worked out behind the scenes, the conference committee just reported what was handed to them).

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Closed doors & capitulation

• Nathan Benefield
• July 15, 2007

Brad Bumsted on why conservatives and reformers are upset about the budget deal: The deal occured behind closed doors. All the rank and file members were excluded, and what…

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Min. Wage, Jobs, and Unemployment

• Nathan Benefield
• July 15, 2007

In his Weekly Newsletter, Gov. Rendell takes credit for “improving the lives” of workers who received a minimum wage increase. In it the Governor note: “Pennsylvania’s…

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Tolling I-80

• Nathan Benefield
• July 14, 2007

Here is the link to the letter from US DOT to Sen. Madigan we refenced in our letter to the Governor and lamwakers on the legality and merits…

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Taxes & Economy

Transportation Letter to Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly

• July 14, 2007

CF expresses concerns over transportation bill July 14, 2007 The Honorable Edward G. RendellOffice of the GovernorCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PA 17120 Members of the General AssemblyCommonwealth…

Press Release

Idiot Vs. Crazy

• Nathan Benefield
• July 13, 2007

Pennsyltucky Politics asks, “Is it worse to be called an idiot (Matt Brouillette) or crazy (Eric Epstein)?” Current poll results indicate a tight race.

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Wrong Prescription

• Nathan Benefield
• July 13, 2007

Wall Street Journal on RendellCare.

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Morning Call on Energy Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• July 13, 2007

Christina Gostomski from the Morning Call on how Gov. Rendell’s energy plan could end up being financed by higher gross receipts taxes, once electricity rates go up.

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Celebrate the Good Half

• Nathan Benefield
• July 13, 2007

Lowman Henry’s Commentary gets me thinking how much we really need to enact a Taxpayer Protection Act. As much as we have criticized the budget deal, it…

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Legislator Voting with Leader Record

• Nathan Benefield
• July 12, 2007

Democracy Rising PA has put together spreadsheets looking at the percentage that both freshmen and veteran state legislators voted with their party leader on non-unanimous votes. It…

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On Second Thought

• Nathan Benefield
• July 12, 2007

Tony Phyrillas has reconsidered his earlier overly-rosy reading of the budget deal. He used our Good, Bad, and Ugly budget autopsy to back up his coversion, though…

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The TRUTH About Spending Increase

• Nathan Benefield
• July 12, 2007

Before he called us imbeciles, Governor Rendell sent us (along with the PA Club for Growth) a letter calling for us to stop making statements about the…

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At Least We’re Not Cannibals

• Nathan Benefield
• July 12, 2007

After we accurately pegged the tentative budget deal to a 5.3% increase, Gov. Rendell decides to call us imbeciles. As hurt as I was, I think we come…

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How the Pa. budget deal was sealed

• Nathan Benefield
• July 11, 2007

Inquirer Story on how the budget deal was made. If you have a weak stomach, read how sausage is made, that won’t be as sickening as this. “You folded…

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Watchdog’s remark sends Rendell on a tear

• Nathan Benefield
• July 11, 2007

Governor Rendell talking about Rock the Capital’s Eric Epstein to the Philadelphia Inquirer “Eric Epstein,” boiled Rendell, “is about as mentally stable as that guy who ate all…

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Why the Teachers’ Unions are backing Univeral Preschool

• Nathan Benefield
• July 11, 2007

Seeking to Expand Ranks and Increase Salaries, Not Improve Education – from Human Events online…

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5.3% Increase, with No Tricks

• Nathan Benefield
• July 11, 2007

Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire.com tries to explain all the tricks that are being used to disguise the real agreed-to budget increase of 5.3%: Less than 16…

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State Budget

Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars

• July 11, 2007

HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation offered a brief analysis (with apologies to Clint Eastwood) of the tentative Pennsylvania General Fund budget deal that is currently being finalized in…

Press Release

Reader questions about budget

• Nathan Benefield
• July 10, 2007

Questions from a PolicyBlog Reader: Q: What is this $1.6 billion dollar fund referenced in the Post-Gazette? It appears to be slots money which, I thought,…

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Oh yeah – the budget is higher

• Nathan Benefield
• July 10, 2007

The agreed-to budget figure Gov. Rendell reported last night was lower. From Pennsylvania Legislative Services: GOVERNOR ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIABy Kimberly CollinsThis afternoon the…

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