Media

Fiscal Revelation

• Nathan Benefield
• February 6, 2007

Wall Street Journal crunches numbers in the federal budget and national debt.

Media

Bonus recipients gave heavily to campaigns

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2007

More gasoline on the legislative bonuses fire, from Public Radio Capitol News.

Media

A heaping helping of handouts

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2007

Post-Gazette piece on a whole host of corporate welfare grants.

Media

Significant Tax Increase for Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2007

The Tax Foundation assesses Governor Rendell’s plans to raise a host of taxes in Pennylvania.

Media

State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2007

From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…

Media

Taxpayers could bear cost of pension plans’ ‘noncrisis’

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2007

Rick Dreyfuss’s latest commentary in Sunday’s Patriot-News.

Media

Saying No To Teacher Strikes

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2007

The Evening Bulletin covers efforts to stop teacher strikes in PA, focusing on the efforts of Simon Campbell at Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc.

Media

The Case Against Smoking Bans

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2007

Thomas A Lambert in Regulation Magazine on the Case Against Smoking Bans in “public places.”…

Media

Rendell pushes health plan

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2007

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on RendellCare. After quoting my commentary on Rendell’s misdiagnosis of the problem, the article then quotes Rendell saying: “‘It’s important for the Legislature to…

Media

Rendell’s Energy Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2007

From Capitolwire.com: By Christopher LilienthalStaff ReporterCapitolwire HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) – Gov. Ed Rendell outlined an energy independence strategy Thursday that calls for the creation of an $850…

Media

More on Legislative Bonuses

• Nathan Benefield
• February 2, 2007

The Patriot News adds up the total legislative bonuses to $3.6 million over the last 2 years ($1.8 million from the Democratic caucus in 2006). Meanwhile, Bob Jubelirer defends…

Media

Time for another Rendell tax proposal

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2007

From the bad idea factory in Harrisburg comes another proposal for a tax increase to fund another misguided government program. This time, Governor Rendell proposes increasing electricity taxes by $850…

Media

Justice on Trial

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2007

The Commonwealth Foundation is co-sponsoring with Democracy Rising Pennsylvania and several other reform groups a survey of judicial candidates.

Media

Jubelirer’s ex-chief got $95,000 settlement package

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2007

More on the bonuses (and severance pay) paid to top legislator staffers from Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It seems that looking through Jubelirer’s financial reports is like…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Act 1: Who Wins, Who Loses?

• February 1, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation provides guide to Gov. Rendell’s Property Tax Relief Act Harrisburg, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released an analysis of the impact Act 1 of the 2006 Special…

Press Release

Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2007

After last weeks disclosure that several unnamed PA Democratic House staffers were getting taxpayer-paid bonuses for undisclosed activities, the Senate GOP had decided to end their practice of bonuses…

Media

How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2007

A report from the Manhattan Institute examines teacher pay across the nation, taking on the common claim that teachers are underpaid. Generally, author Jay Greene finds that teachers earn…

Media

Patriot News on Taxpayer Protection Act

• Nathan Benefield
• January 31, 2007

The Patriot News has a short story on the Taxpayer Protection Act in their Inside the Capitol segment, unfortunately leading with “A proposed cap on state spending didn’t…

Media

Bush’s Health Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• January 30, 2007

NCPA policy briefs on the Bush Health Plan and answering the Critics of the Bush Plan.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Protecting the Taxpayers

• January 30, 2007

Proposals will help Gov. Rendell make government live within its means HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Senator Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), and other members of…

Press Release

Proposal would cap state spending

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act. Note that the union-backed Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is already advancing the myths of spending limits. Look for…

Media