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Education
VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2024 — Some political pundits say Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would provide the Democratic presidential ticket a boost in a critical battleground state. That will only be…
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Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
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Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
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Education
New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
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Save up your quarters for I-79
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the House GOP plan to turn interstates 78, 79, 80, 81 and 95 into toll roads. Further, to place those roads under control of the Turnpike…
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Masch on “Irreparable Harm” by spending limits
Budget Secretary Michael Masch issued a news release decrying all the “vital services” that would be cut, had the state implement spending limits in past years. Masch’s demagoguery obscures…
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Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease
The Reason Foundation has a new version of their response to the leading criticisms (and questions) about a potential lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Tariff
Andy Roth of The Club For Growth on a US Senate vote to keep a tariff on ethanol imports. If lawmakers believe ethanol is good for the environment (the…
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Rohrer proposes to limit prevailing wage
Rep. Sam Rohrer has introduced legislation to eliminate prevailing wage limitations on road and bridge construction. Click here for more on the cost of prevailing wage laws for…
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Commonwealth Foundation YouTubing
We are now on YouTube! Visit the Commonwealth Foundation’s YouTube Channel for our latest videos; we will be adding more from past events soon.
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Turnpike proposes new funding plan
The Turnpike Commission modified their plan for new funding for roads – eliminating the “congestion tax”, but still proposing:– New Bonds tied to the gas tax– Turnpike…
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New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan
Dwight Evans and other House Democrats apparently have their own plan for funding transportation, which includes: Certificate of vehicle title, now $22.50, would increase by $6.50, to $29…
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Giving small businesses options
Reps. DePasquale (D) and Mackereth (R) introduced legislation allowing small businesses to pool resources into association plans to provide health insurance to employees. This is one of the…
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The Oil Tax: Gross results
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the Oil Company Gross Profits Tax.
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Protecting government agencies
Today state House Democratic lawmakers unveil legislation to protect taxpayers government agencies and workers unions. Among the legislation they propose would be to “require any employee terminated due to…
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Fumo wants to expand Turnpike Commission
To the suprise of no oneVince Fumo has supported the plan of the Turnpike Commission to expand their authority – raising tolls, taking over (and tolling) I-80, and issuing…
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Government’s Hedge Funds
Capitolwire.com’s Pete DeCoursey (subscription) calls Governor Rendell’s corporate welfare proposals for what they are – a hedge fund. Talking about Rendell’s proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund and alternative energy…
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Morning Call columnist on LCB privatization
Paul Carpenter writes about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s booze business.
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Holding taxpayers hostage over mass transit
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans plans to force a shutdown of state government if Harrisburg doesn’t give mass transit an ATM card to taxpayers’ bank account. He wants a dedicated…
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Public schools hate competition
There’s a great bumper sticker that says, “Don’t Steal. The Government Hates Competition.” The public schools are no different. They hate competition too, and that’s why they want to reduce…
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School District Consolidation Report
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) issued their report on the fiscal benefits of consolidating school districts. Their findings were that districts with 2,500 to 3,000 spend somewhat…
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Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers
The US Supreme Court ruled today that states could require unions to get their members consent to use their dues for political purposes. Previously, a lower court had ruled that…
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Lancaster New Era endorses Taxpayer Protection Act
Lancaster New Era (registration required) editorial supporting the Taxpayer Protection Act, along with the Commonwealth Foundation’s Diet Plan.
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Somewhat slimmer budget passes Senate Appropriations
Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the floor an amended budget which includes very few of the Governor’s new programs, cuts some of the corporate welfare from DCED, and promised…
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Super-majority on tax increase legislation proposed
Senator Eichelberger (along with co-sponsors) today introduced legislation (SB 975) which would offer a Constitutional Amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers to pass any tax increase. This…
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