Latest Content
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…
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
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
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…
Media
Read More: Amtrak service between Philly, Harrisburg trying to improve on ‘beyond pathetic’
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,…
Media
Read More: Increasing Dependence on Government
‘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…
Media
Read More: ‘Moderate,’ from a liberal’s perspective
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…
Media
Read More: Kid’s coverage shortfalls
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…
Media
Read More: Can 600 economists all be wrong?
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…
Media
Read More: Ousted legislators’ nest eggs
New Accounting Rules to Identify Unfunded Pension, Benefit Liabilities
…in the Heartland Institute’s Budget and Tax News.
Media
Read More: New Accounting Rules to Identify Unfunded Pension, Benefit Liabilities
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…
Media
Read More: Local Lawmakers Collect Thousands Before Leaving Office
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.
Media
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.
Media
Read More: Populist pap
The Promise of Education Tax Credits
Acton Institute Commentary on the benefits of education tax credit programs, spotlighting Pennsylvania’s EITC as the model.
Media
Read More: The Promise of Education Tax Credits
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!…
Media
Read More: A Parting Shot At Taxpayers?
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.
Media
Read More: Chicago Nixes ‘Nativity Story’ Ads Over Fears of Offending Non-Christians
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…
Media
Read More: State Legislatures Compared
Republican Rehab
Wall Street Journal article on the US Senators who are actually fighting against pork-barrel spending.
Media
Read More: Republican Rehab
Another Veon deal: Turf from nowhere
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on soon-to-be-former legislator Mike Veon.
Media
Read More: Another Veon deal: Turf from nowhere
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.
Media
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…
Media
Read More: Pensions for pols to cost a bundle
Tax Burden Stifles Economic Growth
New NCPA Study examines the effect of an excessive tax burden on economic growth. The estimate the optimal level of federal, state, and local taxes should be about 23%…
Media
Read More: Tax Burden Stifles Economic Growth
Rendell will explore leasing Pa. Turnpike
Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s forum on Public-Private Partnerships in Transporation Governor Rendell states that he is on board with exploring a lease of the PA Turnpike, according to the…
Media
Read More: Rendell will explore leasing Pa. Turnpike
Money Can’t Buy ‘em Learning
Andrew Coulson on over-spending and under-performing public schools. Coulson writes: So private schools get by with thousands of dollars less per pupil annually than the supposedly underfunded government system,…
Media
Read More: Money Can’t Buy ‘em Learning