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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.

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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…

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Taxpayers could bear cost of pension plans’ ‘noncrisis’

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2007

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

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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.

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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.”…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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…

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Milton Friedman Special

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2007

In honor of Milton Friedman Day PBS station will be airing the special The Power of Choice on Friedman’s life and influence. Unfortunately the blasphemers at WITF Harrisburg…

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Ethanol Makes Gasoline Costlier, Dirtier

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2007

Analysis of the effect of ethanol subsidies and mandates from the Cato Institute.

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Push to privatize turnpike reflects shift in thinking

• Nathan Benefield
• January 29, 2007

Post-Gazette article on a potential turnpike lease. Geoff Segal of the Reason Foundation and adjunct scholar with Commonwealth Foundation (incorrectly identified with Reason magazine) scoffs at the fear of…

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