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Education

A government big enough to give you everything you want …

• Nathan Benefield
• January 25, 2006

There is a theory (articulate in a piece by Mark Bauerlein) that left-wing academics are engrossed in large scale group think, that when large numbers of the radical left…

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Taxes & Economy

Higher minimum wage will hurt state

• January 25, 2006

The Morning Call reprinted my letter to the governor in today’s newspaper. Also, tune in to WHP 580 AM today from 3-4pm when I will be debating a representative…

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Public Union Democracy

Why Maryland is fighting windmills.

• Nathan Benefield
• January 23, 2006

A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…

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Taxes & Economy

Not so fast, Eddie

• January 22, 2006

Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute further demonstrates the folly of government-directed “economic development.” Indeed, Pennsylvania has been a leader among states in using tax dollars to “create jobs,” yet…

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage; Maximum Ignorance

• January 19, 2006

Gov. Rendell cozied up to his labor union buddies today with his push for an artificial increase in labor costs in PA of nearly 40%. (Remember, Rendell agreed with us…

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The Ducking Swann?

• January 19, 2006

The Commonwealth Foundation was a co-sponsor of next week’s debate among the 3 GOP gubernatorial candidates. However, Mr. Swann has declined to participate in the only schedule debate of the…

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State Budget

How about the people paying the bills???

• January 18, 2006

Well, the Senate released its schedule for the 2006-07 Budget hearings. After Gov. Rendell presents his $24-25 BILLION taxpayer tab in early February to the General Assembly, the Senate has…

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Regulation

Public Pensions Running Wild

• Nathan Benefield
• January 17, 2006

A National Center for Policy Analysis summary of facts about state and local government pensions. The bottom line is that states continue to enhance benefits far beyond private sector…

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Education

PSBA: “Limit School Spending for Cyber Schools”

• Nathan Benefield
• January 17, 2006

The Pennsylvania School Board Association has finally come to agree that school spending should be limited to what it actually costs to educate a child: Patriot News – Districts…

Media

Utah Man Wanted by Truth Police

• Nathan Benefield
• January 17, 2006

An article appearing on ESPN.com – Why isn’t Jazz owner under fire? – argues that Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller should be penalized (fined, suspended or just chastised) for…

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Education

Public nonprofit, privately profitable

• January 17, 2006

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a taxpayer-supported, government-monopoly student loan organization, will pay its top executive, Dick Willey, nearly a half million dollars in 2006, reports the Harrisburg…

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Public Union Democracy

Union ousted

• January 16, 2006

Montgomery County Court-related employees throw out AFSCME, reports The Times Herald.

Media

Education

“Living in an alternate universe”

• January 16, 2006

The Brownsville Area School District recently voted to give administrators some retirement benefits that no private sector would even consider–Nine years of free healthcare insurance for retiring early. As The…

Media

Education

Conservative professors face discrimination

• January 16, 2006

Commonwealth Foundation Adjunct Scholar and Villanova University associate professor of political science Bob Maranto in the Philadelphia Inquirer on how diversity on college campuses excludes conservative academics.

Media

Education

The birthplace of school choice

• January 16, 2006

John Fund of the Wall Street Journal says the “front lines of today’s civil rights struggle are not in the South but in Milwaukee.” Read Fund’s Political Diary.

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Education

PA is national leader on teacher strikes

• January 13, 2006

Pennsbury School District parent, Simon Campbell, nails the teacher strike issue in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Media

Regulation

The pensions crunch

• January 13, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on pensions in the private sector. You think its bad at IBM, Verizon, et al. Just wait til you see what’s going on in state…

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Taxes & Economy

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

• January 13, 2006

From the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal… Poll: Taxes are most pressing problem What’s the most pressing problem facing the state? The answer is taxes…

Media

Health Care

Maryland’s Wal-Mart Bill: Coming to PA?

• January 13, 2006

From the National Federation of Independent Businesses… Maryland lawmakers voted this week to over-ride a veto by Gov. Robert Erlich of a bill that will force Wal-Mart and other companies…

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Education

John Stossel: ‘Stupid in America’

• January 13, 2006

John Stossel plans to look at how the public schools are failing kids tonight on ABC. ‘Stupid in America’ will ask the question: Does the U.S. government’s monopoly over public…

Media

Health Care

Maryland Senate seeks control over Wal-Mart

• Nathan Benefield
• January 12, 2006

The Maryland Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the “Wal-Mart Bill” (Financial News – Yahoo! Finance), so called because it applies only to one company in the…

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