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

Public Union Democracy

“The truth is in the toilet”

• April 6, 2006

Michael Smerconish of the Philadelphia Daily News writes about the REAL reason his newspaper is being sold — the labor unions.

Media

Education

PHEAA says receipts would reveal secrets

• Nathan Benefield
• April 5, 2006

PHEAA refuses to disclose what they are spending their money on, the Patriot News reports, citing “trade secrets.” Far be it from me to suggest that taxpayers and…

Media

Government Accountability

Cohen hits the books: $28,200 worth

• April 3, 2006

Rep. Cohen, the #3 leader of the House Dems, is a self-described “voracious reader.” The bad news is that we taxpayers are being compelled to support his habit. According to…

Media

Government Accountability

TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

• Nathan Benefield
• March 31, 2006

If you won’t be able to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, you will still be able to catch it all live on PCN – Pennsylvania Cable Network, starting…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind

• Nathan Benefield
• March 28, 2006

Release from the BEA this morning on State Personal Income 2005. Pennsylvania ranked 37th in personal income growth in 2005, not as low as past years, but below the…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Wages of Politics

• Nathan Benefield
• March 28, 2006

Wall Street Journal on the minimum wage.

Media

Regulation

“That’s the way the system works”

• March 28, 2006

Alletown Morning Call editorial on the “Quiet bump for legislators’ pensions adds to outrage over 2005 pay-grab“: Of the lawmakers retiring, 17 will see their pension benefit improve because…

Media

Regulation

War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

• Nathan Benefield
• March 28, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Best quote: “Wal-Mart is trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.” Those heathens, trying to compete against unionized stores.

Media

Regulation

Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

• Nathan Benefield
• March 27, 2006

Coverage of the pay raise and pension link from Centre Daily Times, citing Rick Dreyfuss and our pension study.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Where does the state rank?

• March 27, 2006

Philadelphia Daily News edits down our commentary.

Media

Education

PSBA takes issue with my referendum commentary

• March 26, 2006

Equal time was given to Tim Allwein of the PA School Boards Association to offer a rebutal to my commentary in last Sunday’s Patriot-News. Fair game. It should…

Media

Regulation

State lawmakers look to boost their pensions

• March 26, 2006

Alison Hawkes in the Herald-Standard on the pension COLA debate. Side-Note: We’re not sure where, when, or why we started being called a “libertarian” think tank (although I think…

Media

Regulation

Ballooning Pa. pension costs could increase taxes substantially

• March 26, 2006

Excellent story on the looming pension crisis by Alison Hawkes in The Herald-Standard. But Rep. Mark Mustio points out the bigger problem: “It’s not like the system’s going to…

Media

Regulation

Raise repealed, but not retired

• March 26, 2006

Philadelphia Inquirer highlights the benefits for retiring lawmakers, most of whom took the “unvouchered expenses” which boosted their pension payouts.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Classy Economist

• March 25, 2006

The Wall Street Journal on Dr. Thomas Sowell.

Media

Regulation

Buying ‘Burgh Votes

• March 25, 2006

“Rendell: Plan ready to build new arena” in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

Public Union Democracy

Union membership continues slide in Pa.

• March 25, 2006

No surprise. It is 2006, not 1926. But, having milked the private-sector cash cow dry, PA AFL-CIO President Bill George is turning to government sector jobs so he can…

Media