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Education
Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentEducation
New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic IneffectivenessEducation
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 FamiliesHealth Care
In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care Woes
Read More: In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care WoesPublic Union Democracy
And you probably thought the Soviet Union collapsed!
The union water-boys at the Keystone Research Center had Paul Krugman in Harrisburg last night, as reported in the Patriot-News. Gotta love Krugman’s solutions for our economic woes.
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Read More: And you probably thought the Soviet Union collapsed!Taxes & Economy
Groups target legislative spending
From the Courier Times: “Asked about the WAMS — legislative grants for economic development — Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, said, “I don’t know any one of them I would…
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Read More: Groups target legislative spendingState Budget
When Fish is Really Pork
A press release from the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) attempts to justify the Fish Fund as a core function of government. However, we maintain our assertion…
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Read More: When Fish is Really PorkPublic Union Democracy
Unions and Politics
A couple of very good reads on teacher unions and education in the Summer 2006 Education Next. In Strike Phobia, Frederick Hess and Marty West look at the…
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Read More: Unions and PoliticsRegulation
Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spending
Public Radio Capitol News on our Piglet Book 2006. Although reporter Damon Baughmer probably doesn’t appreciate the fact that we think his employer (we, the taxpayers) should be funding…
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Read More: Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spendingGovernment Accountability
Reform Needed in PA
Mike Folmer on the primary and the need for reform in Pennsylvania in today’s Wall Street Journal.
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Read More: Reform Needed in PAGovernment Accountability
It wasn’t the raise; it was the lack of Republican principles
Pat Toomy in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the message of May 16, 2006…the Primary Election that will go downin history for ousting 17 incumbents, more than every year combined…
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Read More: It wasn’t the raise; it was the lack of Republican principlesRegulation
Pension problem looming
The Altoona Mirror says “Pennsylvanians need to look past the headlines on legislators because there is a much bigger problem lurking.” We couldn’t agree more!…
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Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Piglet Book in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, the Scranton Times-Tribune, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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GOP targets Rendell budget pork
Despite the misleading title (the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste are not the GOP, just the ask the GOP!), Alison Hawkes writes an excellent story for the…
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Read More: GOP targets Rendell budget porkState Budget
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Pennsylvania Piglet Book in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Download the full Piglet Book here.
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Read More: Piglet Book CoverageRegulation
EDITORIAL | Public servants retire in luxury
Centre Daily Times on how our “servants” have become “masters” at the expense of the public.
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Read More: EDITORIAL | Public servants retire in luxuryRegulation
Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakers
“Voters probably weren’t thinking about it at the time, but when they ousted Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Senate Majority Leader David “Chip” Brightbill, R-Lebanon, they opened…
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Read More: Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakersRegulation
State gaming official arrested
“A state Gaming Control Board investigator arrested outside a South Side bar early Saturday, allegedly after threatening and then trying to run from police, has become the fifth agency employee…
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Read More: State gaming official arrestedTaxes & Economy
Swann plan requires work …
So says our friend Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Dr. Haulk concludes that “it’s still tax-shifting, relies on magic money, wrongly disses property tax…
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Read More: Swann plan requires work …Regulation
Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays
Excellent article from the Centre Daily Times on the coming pension crisis. “It’s a train wreck waiting to happen — it’s barreling down the tracks at us,” said Centre…
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Read More: Pa. lawmakers find retiring paysTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics
The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…
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Read More: Minimum Wages Politics vs. EconomicsRegulation
Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’
An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…
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Read More: Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’Taxes & Economy
Government made bumper stickers
The Pennsylvania Office of Tourism (part of the Department of Community and Economic Development) have started voting for a PA Bumper Sticker. Not only is developing an “official state…
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Read More: Government made bumper stickersTaxes & Economy
Building excise fees will not mean property-tax relief
Read Grant Gulibon’s commentary in the latest News Item.
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Read More: Building excise fees will not mean property-tax reliefRegulation
Perzel takes up state pension issue
House Speaker Perzel names a panel on state pension and retiree medical benefits to study the issues identified in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Pension Study. Perzel even suggests setting…
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Read More: Perzel takes up state pension issue