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Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Government unions spent more than $33 million on political causes and only 5.2 percent of PAC contributions went to non-Democratic candidates. Harrisburg, Pa., April 16, 2025 — Government unions…
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Prosperity
Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue Projections
Read More: Independent Fiscal Office Exposes Shapiro’s Overinflated Revenue Projections
Education
Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Read More: Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Commonwealth Foundation Announces Promotion of Elizabeth Stelle to Vice President of Policy
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Announces Promotion of Elizabeth Stelle to Vice President of Policy
Making the same mistakes?
John Fund in today’s Wall Street Journal on the mistakes of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s health care plan — all of the points could equally apply to Gov. Rendell’s proposal. For…
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RendellCare!
AP story on Rendell’s health care proposals, including universal health care (“Cover All Pennsylvanians”). For more details, go to the Governor’s Health Care Reform site. FYI, several months…
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Pork Lovers in Academe on a Diet
Chronicle of Higher Ed article (subscription) on how universities are coping without pork projects for the rest of the fiscal year. For anyone who shed tears over Harry Reid’s…
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Rendell’s Pension Reform Plan?
From the Patriot News report on the state employees contract deal came this tidbit: Rising pension costs also were discussed in negotiations, but Budget Secretary Michael Masch said those…
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State workers have it good in Pennsylvania
Tony Phyrillas in the Pottstown Mercury.
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Tax Shifts Considered
Both the Camp Hill School District and Cumberland Valley School District are considering shifting from property taxes to an income tax (PIT for Camp Hill and EIT for…
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Turnpike readies for battle over sale, lease
Patriot News story on how the Turnpike Commission is busy hiring lobbyists and PR representives to fight a potential turnpike lease – use of public money for lobbying and…
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State worker contract agreement reached
From the Central Penn Business Journal:The contract will increase employee health-care contributions from 1 percent to 3 percent [of salary] in the next four years. It includes pay…
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Lawmakers cash in on way out
Patriot News article on the thousands collected in “per-diems” by local retiring lawmakers; local being emphasized because (particularly in the case of former Senator Chip Brightbill, who collected $17,000…
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State’s with Worst Roads
AOL.com article on states with the worst roads – Pennsylvania ranks 2nd worst among the 50 states, ahead only of hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Just another reason why we should…
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The Box is in at WHP
Sunday’s Patriot News coverage of THE BOX on WHP.
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Earmark Entertainment
Wall Street Journal article on how US Senate Democrats are opposing the earmark reform passed by House Democrats.
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Cost of a Legislator
Someone called our office for this information, and I wrote his email down wrong, so I am posting in here, in case he sees it, and because it is ineresting…
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More on the Minimum Wage
NCPA Analysis points out that a national minimum wage affects some regions more than others – particularly when comparing Red States to Blue States. Specifically, principle supporters Nancy Pelosi…
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House Already Reforming Itself
The PA House Republicans spent much of the past week discussing how best to enact reform – and deciding their first step would be to create a new caucus…
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Minimum Wage vs. EITC
CBO analysis compares the effect of a minimum wage increase vs. an Earned Income Tax Credit Increase for the poor. They find that while most of the benefits of…
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Foie gras ban in Chicago is flouted
Chicago restuarants serve food in direct violation of a ban on foie gras. While I’ve been much for duck liver, this reassures me that no paternalistic big government will…
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Guide to Earmark Reform
Citizens Against Government Waste offers a guide to earmark reform – both the House plan and President Bush’s proposal fail to meet many of the key elements.
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The revenge of the failures
Bruce N. Shortt on how public agencies are trying to “help” homeschoolers by regulating them.
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Leasing the Turnpike
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on a turnpike lease: But there’s resistance in the Keystone State where many people think only the government should operate public infrastructure. Is that because it…
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CA to offer tax breaks for health insurance
Governor Schwarzenegger plans to make health coverage more affordable for Californians by making individually purchased plans tax free (the same way employer provide plans are taken from pre-tax income).
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