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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
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
Education
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Education
New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
Read More: New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
Tax relief is illusion, panel says
The Morning Call reports on the phenomenon that is occuring all across Pennsylvania as school boards are forced to consider tax shifting. One member of the Northampton…
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National Health Care? We’re Halfway There
New York Times article highlights that fact that almost half of all Americans are covered by government health care (through Medicare, Medicaid and related program, and government employee’s health…
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Critic: Select house leader openly
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on the need for transparency in leadership elections.
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Amtrak service between Philly, Harrisburg trying to improve on ‘beyond pathetic’
The Morning Call reports that the $145 million taxpayer grant to Amtrak for “high speed rail.” Not only was this project not worth the benefit (See here), but…
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Increasing Dependence on Government
In a new report, the 2006 Index of Dependency, the Heritage Foundation concludes that Americans are growing increasingly dependent on government in the areas of housing, health care, education,…
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‘Moderate,’ from a liberal’s perspective
Dimitri Vassilaros of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reminds us of how those who fought for Independence and against slavery and for women’s suffrage were not moderates, but “extremists”. But that’s…
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Kid’s coverage shortfalls
Stateline.org reports that many states Children’s Health Insurance Programs (S-CHIP) face multi-million dollar shortfalls, and hope that the federal government will bail them out. The article notes that states…
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Can 600 economists all be wrong?
Greg Mankiw blogs on some economists “support” for a minimum wage increase. Some economists see the “modest benefits” outweighing the “modest adverse affects”. But unlike Governor Rendell and his…
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Ousted legislators’ nest eggs
Tracie Mauriello of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette advises “Don’t feel badly for state Rep. Mike Veon just because voters booted him out of office. … he’ll have free health insurance…
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New Accounting Rules to Identify Unfunded Pension, Benefit Liabilities
…in the Heartland Institute’s Budget and Tax News.
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Local Lawmakers Collect Thousands Before Leaving Office
WGAL’s Ben Simmoneau reports…. “After he gave himself a pay raise last year, the voters tossed Lebanon County state Rep. Pete Zug out of office on May 16. Dauphin…
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Pennsylvania Pay Scandal Keeps Rolling
Discussion of the judicial ruling on the pay raise in this month’s Budget and Tax News from the Heartland Institute.
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Read More: Pennsylvania Pay Scandal Keeps Rolling
Populist pap
Alan Reynolds column on the mainstream media’s replacement of “liberal” with “populist” when describing the advocates of big government.
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The Promise of Education Tax Credits
Acton Institute Commentary on the benefits of education tax credit programs, spotlighting Pennsylvania’s EITC as the model.
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A Parting Shot At Taxpayers?
Ben Simmoneau at WGAL found departing lawmakers are cashing in on the taxpayers as they leave office. Watch WGAL tonight at 6:00!…
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Chicago Nixes ‘Nativity Story’ Ads Over Fears of Offending Non-Christians
FOXNews.com story. Unfortunately, the Chicago Department of Censorship of Offensive Material was far less vigilant when they allowed thousands of ads for Gigli to be posted on “El” platforms.
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State Legislatures Compared
The Empire Center in New York has compiled a few tables looking at legislative pay and budgets. What is most troubling as Pennsylvania is concerned is not…
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Republican Rehab
Wall Street Journal article on the US Senators who are actually fighting against pork-barrel spending.
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Another Veon deal: Turf from nowhere
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on soon-to-be-former legislator Mike Veon.
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Real change this time, say lawmakers
Everyone is a reformer now. At least that is how they are TALKING. But we’ll have to wait and see if they start WALKING it.
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Read More: Real change this time, say lawmakers
Pensions for pols to cost a bundle
From the Morning Call: Lawmakers’ pension payments differ greatly from the private sector, whichhas largely turned to ”defined contribution” retirement packages such as401(k)s, Koc said. In…
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