Media

Taxes & Economy

Why a windfall tax is bad policy

• Nathan Benefield
• April 25, 2006

Should the federal government create a new tax on profits only for oil companies, as Governor Rendell suggests? This “windfall tax” esentially ensures a limit on the amount of…

Media

Government Accountability

Court says auditor general cannot be made to review Legislature

• April 25, 2006

So much for the Auditor General being the taxpayers’ watchdog! According to the AP: “A state court on Monday rejected a lawsuit by a citizen who wanted thestate…

Media

Government Accountability

The price of gas

• April 25, 2006

Gouging…by government. Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial.

Media

Regulation

2001 pension vote could cost billions

• April 24, 2006

The REPUBLICAN & Herald story on the coming crisis.

Media

Regulation

Pension caps would benefit taxpayers

• April 24, 2006

Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss in today’s Patriot-News.

Media

Education

New Report on High School Graduation

• Nathan Benefield
• April 19, 2006

A new report from the Manhattan Institute, released today, attempts to calculate real (as opposed to reported) high school graduation rates, using a consistent methodology across states. They found…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Cut taxes to attract jobs

• April 14, 2006

Commonwealth Foundation’s Nate Benefield in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

Media

Government Accountability

One Man Collection Agency

• April 13, 2006

John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News on Gov. Rendell’s campaign contributions.

Media

Government Accountability

Voter fraud in Pennsylvania? Gov. Rendell isn’t worried.

• Nathan Benefield
• April 13, 2006

John Fund on Pennsylvania election fraud and oddities in today’s Wall Street Journal…

Media

State Budget

Rendell’s faux budget hides real growth in spending : The Morning Call Online

• April 13, 2006

Read Grant Gulibon’s commentary in today’s Allentown Morning Call.

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act

• April 13, 2006

It is “like throwing gasoline on a fire,” said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reivew. The idea is “definitely…

Media

Regulation

They could have thought of a better title

• April 12, 2006

The Pittsbuhgh Post-Gazette titled their story, “Use casino revenue for school vouchers, group suggests.” I guess that’s better than “Dirty Gambling Money to Undermine the Separation of Church and…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage

• Nathan Benefield
• April 12, 2006

Patriot News “Breaking News” coverage of our Property Tax Relief Scholarship proposal. Get our press release, or download our Policy Brief for more details and district-specific property…

Media

Health Care

Health care for everyone?

• April 11, 2006

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes in today’s Wall Street Journal that he believes he’s found a way to provide health care for everyone, with “no new taxes, no employer…

Media

Education

Philly quadruples number of teachers fired for lack of performance

• April 10, 2006

Before you think there is a major focus on teacher quality in the Philadelphia School District, the quadrupling of the number of teacher fired for performance was from 2 in…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning

• Nathan Benefield
• April 10, 2006

Two Gems from Governor Rendell in The Scranton Times-Tribune: “Rendell says voters have a clear choice between a candidate who talks of cutting taxes and limiting spending – Swann…

Media

State Budget

Are they really “Fake” Republicans?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 10, 2006

OpinionJournal – John Fund on the Trail: “‘The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal’ on spending, Mr. Specter told reporters after a majority of GOP senators…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Rendell caught trying to help union buddies

• April 10, 2006

The Rendell Administration recently made a rules change that he changed again. Gov. Rendell’s Department of Labor and Industry had advised state and municipal governments that they would have to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

“Populism in pursuit of power preservation”

• April 9, 2006

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Colin McNickle has a few thoughts on the House’s passage of the minimum wage bill last week. Here’s an excerpt from today’s commentary, “Stop supporting fake…

Media

Can a black Republican win in a blue state?

• April 8, 2006

Interesting Wall Street Journal article on Maryland’s Michael Steele run for U.S. Senate.

Media

State Budget

CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006

• Nathan Benefield
• April 6, 2006

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released their annual Pig Book yesterday, which indentifies $29 billion of pork-spending (defined as requests by members of Congress for special projects) in the…

Media