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Regulation

Pension scandal could rival pay-jacking

• February 27, 2006

The Mercury – News on our pension study.

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BIG conflict of interest

• February 26, 2006

Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review uncovers a doozy in Beaver County.

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Regulation

The Pay Raise and Pension Link

• February 24, 2006

Herald Standard story by Alison Hawkes on how “unvouchered expenses” are going to boost pensions for those lawmakers who took the unconstitutional money.

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Regulation

Pension sticker shock about to hit

• February 24, 2006

This Morning Call article by Christina Gostomski begins by looking at how PA’s archaic pension system is going to impact our property taxes.

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Regulation

Think tank sees trouble for Pa. pension funds

• February 24, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette……

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Regulation

Exploding pensions hurting taxpayers, new report claims

• February 23, 2006

Lancaster New Era on our latest report……

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage Reality…

• February 22, 2006

From: John F. BrinsonSent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:19 PMTo: PA General AssemblySubject: Minimum wage———————————————————– Dear Friends in the Pennsylvania Legislature: An increase in the minimum…

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Regulation

Retire the current retirement system

• February 20, 2006

This Daily Item editorial gets it almost exactly right. While the conclusions are accurate that it will be the taxpayers who take it on the chin, the blame is…

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Regulation

Officials differ on slots’ economic impact

• February 19, 2006

Gambling in PA: Economic Development or Political Handout? Although that is not the gist of this Herald Standard story, it is the point I try to make at the…

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Public Union Democracy

Union facts: The ugly truth

• February 18, 2006

“The Leftist agenda, the racketeering, the fines, the convictions, the magnificent, unearned salaries for union bosses. It’s all here. “ Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial.

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State Budget

The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich

• Nathan Benefield
• February 16, 2006

Fascinating analysis by the Heritage Foundation on how the Bush administration – attacked by critics for “cutting spending for the poor while cutting taxes for the rich” – has…

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Education

How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• February 15, 2006

Article on USATODAY.com explores how health care and other benefits promised to public teachers’ unions will cost school districts a fortune over the coming years. Anyone who thinks…

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Regulation

The War goes on with no end in sight

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2006

The war on Wal-Mart, that is. Now Wal-Mart is under orders from Massachusetts to sell “morning-after” pills. It seems that in not stocking the notorious morning-after pill, Wal-Mart was…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The race for governor: Rendell’s ruse – PittsburghLIVE.com

• February 14, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on “economic development.” Citing the Allegheny Institute, the Trib writes that “Government subsidized “economic development” — a classic example of misallocating of resources — does nothing…

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Public Union Democracy

The New Union Label: Closed!

• February 14, 2006

From the New York Times: The Center for Union Facts shot onto the public stage yesterday by running full-page ads in The New York Times, The Washington Post…

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Public Union Democracy

“Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protest

• Nathan Benefield
• February 13, 2006

Teachers’ union rally to protest “20/20” piece (John Stossel’s “Stupid in America,” which details how unions have stood in way of school reform) will occur on March 8.

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Education

Exceptions are rule for Act 72

• February 13, 2006

The Times Leader points out the “referendum in name only” aspects of Act 72…which are also present in the various bills winding their way through the General Assembly. For…

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Regulation

If only your retirement could be this good

• February 12, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Brian O’Neill writes about Rep. Jeff Habay’s prison sentence for stealing from the taxpayers to run his campaign, but points out the bigger scandal: the state…

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Government Accountability

Thinking about running for public office?

• February 11, 2006

The Associated Press provides a good Q&A on what it takes to run for the Pennsylvania Legislatures. Interested? Click here to learn more.

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Government Accountability

City Slickers #1 and #2

• February 10, 2006

This is funny. The Lt. Governor’s office issued this news release announcing that she and Gov. Rendell purchased the first and second fishing license. Talk about two fishies out of…

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Regulation

Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg

• February 10, 2006

This story, “Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg,” from Business Week (you’ll need to register to read it, but it’s free) reveals the shaking ground upon which Pennsylvania’s public pension…

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