Media

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…

Media

Welfare

Welfare cuts [or welfare EXPANSION by Rendell] have counties scrambling

• February 10, 2006

Philadelphia Inquirer story “Welfare cuts have counties scrambling” are missing THE major reason that counties like Bucks and Montgomery will be raising taxes — the dramatic increases in welfare…

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell the Benevolent Job Creator

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2006

You may have heard Governor Rendell’s 2006-07 Budget Address, in which he once again touted his role in “creating jobs”. By using selected statistics, crediting any job growth in…

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Report card time: Rendell gets an F minus

• February 8, 2006

Tony Phyrillas on the Liberty Index in The Mercury.

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State Budget

Rendell’s Budget vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act

• February 8, 2006

MEMORANDUM DATE: February 8, 2006TO: All Republican SenatorsCC: Capitol NewsroomFROM: Erik ArnesonSUBJECT: Rendell 06-07 Budget Proposal vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act Gov. Rendell today claimed that his…

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Government Accountability

How a Bill Becomes a Law … PA style

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2006

In an effort to settle a dispute between some shareholders of Philly-based Sovereign Bank, as reported by the Patriot News, some “ghost voting” ocurred in the Senate. The bill,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Absurd logic used to support minimum wage

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2006

Yet another example of the limitless rhetoric used to support a minimum wage increase. This time, Rep. Josephs calls out other female legislators, demanding that they support a minimum…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Spend more now, raises taxes later

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2006

The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards reports that many states (like maybe Pennsylvania) are following the same mistakes of the late 90s in Busting the State Tax-Revenue Boom. When state…

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Taxes & Economy

Mentality of Minimum Wage Supporters

• February 6, 2006

The Morning Call is reporting that House Republicans may be the only barrier between Rendell and his labor union buddies’ artificial increas in the labor costs in PA. One…

Media

Mid-Term Grades

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2006

Liberty Index coverage in the Post-Gazette suggests some lawmakers may need to stay “after class”.

Media

Lawmakers report card

• February 2, 2006

Liberty Index coverage in the great Northwest. Read The Bradford Era story here.

Media

How to reduce property taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2006

An Americans for Tax Reform study on property tax reform in New Jersey and Massachusetts. While New Jersey attempted to reduce property taxes by creating an income tax with…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Taxing telecommuters

• Nathan Benefield
• February 1, 2006

New study from the The Tax Foundation on how New York, Pennsylvania, and two oather states attempt to penalize telecommuters who choose not to live there. However, rather than…

Media

State Budget

Rendell to propose business tax cuts

• January 31, 2006

Attempting to reshape himself as a “pro-business” Democrat after 3 years of punishing job creators, Gov. Rendell gave a sneak peek into next week’s budget address. Remember, this is after…

Media

Government Accountability

#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking

• January 31, 2006

Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…

Media

Government Accountability

Rep. Metcalfe on the Liberty Index

• January 31, 2006

From a news release from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe… Rep. Daryl Metcalfe: Metcalfe tops Liberty Index for second year in a row. HARRISBURG — Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) is again the…

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Government Accountability

Liberty Index in Lancaster

• January 31, 2006

Democratic Rep. Mike Sturla’s response to his F- grade in the Intelligencer Journal is classic: “[T]hese are people who never bothered to drive, or get prescription drugs for their…

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Taxes & Economy

House fails to override veto of tax cut

• January 31, 2006

Patriot-News story on yesterday’s action in the House where many Democrats who originally supported tax cuts renegged on their suppport.

Media