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A call to rein in state spending

• Nathan Benefield
• April 27, 2007

Tribune-Review article on Thursday’s hearing on state spending limits. The Commonwealth Foundation’s newest fellow (and former Congresswoman) Melissa Hart testified: “Often elected officials have been unwilling or simply unable…

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Now you can start working for yourself

• Nathan Benefield
• April 27, 2007

CBS 21 on Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania.

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Video from Health Care Reform Luncheon

• Nathan Benefield
• April 25, 2007

Video from yesterday’s Policies and Principles Luncheon on health care reform, featuring Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute is now available online. You can also get more audio and…

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Energy Myths

• Nathan Benefield
• April 25, 2007

Max Schulz offers a series of energy “myths” that are driving flawed public policy – appropriate given a press conference later today will discuss Gov. Rendell’s energy plan. MYTH…

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Is “Fair Share Tax” dead?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 24, 2007

Times Tribune article suggests there is no support in the General Assembly for a payroll tax on businesses to pay for “Cover All Pennsylvanians”. The administration suggested (as they…

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‘Prescription for Pa.’ blasted for overregulation

• Nathan Benefield
• April 24, 2007

Lancaster New Era with coverage of Michael Cannon’s take on RendellCare. Video of Cannon’s presentation today at the Commonwealth Foundation will be available on our website soon…

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Toast to progress

• Nathan Benefield
• April 24, 2007

Post-Gazette editorial on the need to privatize state-run liquor stores.

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Most school districts to limit tax increases

• Nathan Benefield
• April 23, 2007

Martha Raffaele on the tax increases for school districts, noting most will be “limiting” increases within the index. The index allows districts to increase taxes by 3.4 to 5.5…

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Some People Probably Shouldn’t Have Health Insurance

• Nathan Benefield
• April 23, 2007

Michael Cannon blogs on why health care, not health insurance, is a priority at Cato-at-liberty. Cannon will be taking on the rhetoric of health care reform and offerign free-market…

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Rebutal to Keystone Rebutal

• Nathan Benefield
• April 20, 2007

The union-backed Keystone Research Center issued a reply to my income vs wage commentary on their blog. I will add a couple more thoughts: Jobs:The job growth…

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Anti-oil Demagoguery

• Nathan Benefield
• April 20, 2007

In a news release, Governor Rendell Calls on Bush Administration to Investigate Exorbitant Gas Prices. Governor Rendell is simply using demagoguery about the “profiteering oil companies” to justify his…

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Turnpike Xenophobia?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 19, 2007

From Capitolwire (subscription): Will opponents dub turnpike-leasing plan “Dubai, Chapter II?” Some political analysts believe they have found the silver bullet to kill off Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed turnpike-leasing…

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State budget battle looms

• Nathan Benefield
• April 19, 2007

Brad Bumsted in the Tribune-Review on the upcoming budget battle. Bumsted also touches on yesterday’s hearing on privatizing the state liquor stores (see related post here): On…

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Privatize liquor sales

• Nathan Benefield
• April 19, 2007

Patriot News coverage of yesterday’s hearing on privatizion of the state stores. Read our News Release on the hearing and get the full testimony of Reason Foundation experts…

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Eliminate the turnpike commission

• Nathan Benefield
• April 19, 2007

Sen. Jane Orie in the Post-Gazette on the waste in the Turnpike Commission and why it would be more efficient to run the turnpike – or oversee a lease…

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Regulation

Public Benefits from Private Liquor

• April 19, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation joins Reason in call for LCB privatization HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined with privatization experts from the Reason Foundation to discuss the potential divesture of the…

Press Release

Ethanol Vehicles A Health Hazard

• Nathan Benefield
• April 18, 2007

Summary of a research report by Mark Jacoboson: “We found that E85 vehicles reduce atmospheric levels of two carcinogens, benzene and butadiene, but increase two others – formaldehyde…

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Health Care Reform Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• April 18, 2007

New Republic (registration) has a back and forth between Johnathan Cohn, who argues the US needs a single-payer system in the model of France and Germany, and David Gratzer…

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A Tax on Height?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 17, 2007

Greg Mankiw and Matthew Weinzierl propose a tax on height (get the full study here). It has more advanced statistics and a longer literature review than most satire.

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Taxes & Economy

Taxpayer Protections

• April 17, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation applauds efforts to control spending and taxes HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation applauded today’s introduction of a package of proposals designed to reduce the tax burden on…

Press Release

More tax money to ethanol

• Nathan Benefield
• April 16, 2007

Central Penn Business Journal on the announcement of $31 million in taxpayer-financed state grants for “clean energy projects,” primarily going to ethanol and biodiesel companies. Appearing yesterday on the…

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