Health Care

Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

New Report on state Medicaid reforms from the NCPA. “At the rate the program is growing, it is on a course to consume the entire budgets of state governments…

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Regulation

Big business loves government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2006

John Stossel column on Townhall.com about the all-too-frequent collusion between big business and big government – from corporate welfare handouts to regulation of competition.

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Taxes & Economy

Cramer Parking/HIA Eminent Domain Case

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2006

The Patriot News reports that the legal standoff between Cramer Airport Parking may be resolved, if the airport agrees to one of three solutions that would allow them to…

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Regulation

PA Pension Plans Underfunded

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2006

Pennsylvania’s public pension plans are facing a potential crisis, according to a Report from the State Auditor. According to the Auditor General: “The General Assembly and the governor should…

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Taxes & Economy

Townhall.com::Wages of Stagnation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2006

Bruce Bartlett Commentary on economic gains of workers and households: “In short, despite all the talk about the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor, the fact…

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Government Accountability

‘Smart Talk’ on pay raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

Alison Hawkes summary of Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of the judicial pay raise: “He said judges needed a pay hike because salaries were slipping compared to other states, although…

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Health Care

States could be overwhelmed by health care burden

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

AP Story on how the cost of health care plans for retired state workers will be enormous across the nation, as preliminary numbers (required by new GASB rules) roll…

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Government Accountability

Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with feds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2006

AP Report that court adminstrators say PA judges pay are now tied to federal judges. While this differs from my reading of the court ruling on cost-of-living-adjustments, and…

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Government Accountability

The Know-Nothing Campaign

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2006

Nick Gillespie column on the absurdity of the McCain-Feingold free speech regulations which bans mentioning of candidates in ads within 60 days of an election. We don’t want voters…

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State Budget

How States are Solving the Tax and Spending Problem

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2006

An overview of the provisions of various tax and spending limit initiatives on the ballot in other states, from the National Taxpayers Union.

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Taxes & Economy

The Invisible Hand at Wal-Mart

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2006

Wal-Mart, the epitome of greed and all that is evil in the world, is doing what government and Medicare part D cannot – make prescription drugs more affordable. Read the…

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Public Union Democracy

New Legislation to End Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2006

Legislation introduced by Rep. Will Gabig would ban teacher strikes similar to laws in Michigan and New York. This legislation is supported by our friends at StopTeacherStrikes, Inc.

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Regulation

The worst bet you can make

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2006

MSN Money article comparing state lotteries to each other and to other gambling ventures. You’re best bets are “skill games” like poker and blackjack, roulette and slots tend to…

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Government Accountability

Lack of evidence to support raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2006

Scranton Times-Tribune editorial takes on Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of a judicial pay raise.

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Education

Editorial: PHEAA should open books or lose monopoly

  • September 20, 2006

DelcoTimes suggests “If PHEAA doesn’t want to open its books, the state should open its doors to competition in the student loan field. Then residents can compare organizations and…

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