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School Enrollment vs. Staffing

• Nathan Benefield
• June 23, 2007

A reader requested more info about some data in our Fat Facts of the Week on public school staff vs. enrollment. Here is the latest data from the…

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Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on Monday

• Nathan Benefield
• June 22, 2007

Post-Gazette on the House Democrats Transportation plan (also see Philadelphia Inquirer story) – done by gutting and replacing existing legislation. The proposal to get more money from taxpayers…

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State Budget

Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending Diet

• June 21, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation applauds WAM-free, low-growth budget HARRISBURG, PA — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a 2007-08 budget in the spirit of the Taxpayer Protection Act. This $27.0 billion budget…

Press Release

Save up your quarters for I-79

• Nathan Benefield
• June 21, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 21, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 21, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 20, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 19, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 19, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the Oil Company Gross Profits Tax.

Media

Protecting government agencies

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2007

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

• June 15, 2007

Paul Carpenter writes about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s booze business.

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Holding taxpayers hostage over mass transit

• June 15, 2007

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

• June 15, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2007

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

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2007

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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