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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…

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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…

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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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Override of guv’s veto?

• January 12, 2006

Text of Jan. 11 press release. Turzai and Reed move to override Governor’s veto.Say job creation bill has necessary support in House and Senate HARRISBURG — Rep. Mike Turzai…

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Property tax reform proposals are like belly buttons

• January 10, 2006

Former Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

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Education

Referendum exemption is blackmail

• January 10, 2006

From the York Dispatch… Thumbs Down to Rep. Stan Saylor’s proposal to amend property tax reform legislation to an extent that renders taxpayer approval impotent when it comes to increases…

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Education

States Throwing Money at Higher Education

• Nathan Benefield
• January 10, 2006

An analysis of state spending on higher education from The Chronicle of Higher Education shows that overall spending increases substantially outpaced inflation. While the article’s perspective (and the perspective…

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Education

Are American Kids Stupid?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 9, 2006

I love John Stossel reports – this Friday (on 20/20) he asks, “Are American Kids Stupid?” The answer, of course, is no, but our monopolistic public school system is.

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Give us the right to vote!

• January 9, 2006

The Public Opinion in Chambersburg agrees, school tax increases should require voter approval. Read their editorial.

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Public Union Democracy

The best of the best, of course

• January 8, 2006

The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Retirement System are the envy of the government worker world. They are the most generous systems in the entire country.

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Regulation

Go to HBG to do good, but end up doing well, very well

• January 8, 2006

The retirement of many long-time legislators is opening up the eyes of many to the very generous pensions. See The Citizens Voice story by Michael Race, Stepping out to…

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Government Accountability

Will 2006 be the year of reform?

• January 6, 2006

Democratic Representative Greg Vitali hopes so. Read his commentary in today’s Philly Inquirer.

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Government Accountability

Go to Harrisburg to do good, and end up doing well…very well

• January 6, 2006

WNEP-TV’s Scott Schaffer’s Lawmaker Retirements Won’t Come Cheap.

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Education

Unions Win: Florida Supreme Court Rules Against School Choice

• January 5, 2006

News release from the Institute for Justice…. Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down School Choice Washington, D.C.-In a major blow to education reform in Florida, the Florida Supreme Court today struck…

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Education

Rocky Mountain High

• Nathan Benefield
• January 5, 2006

Denver enacts the nation’s first merit pay system for teachers in a large district. See this National Center for Policy Analysis summary of Denver’s new system and other pay…

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Government Accountability

Churches funding Pittsburgh

• Nathan Benefield
• January 5, 2006

Several charities, including churches and religious groups, voluntary donated $4.6 million to the city of Pittsburgh, according to the Tribune-Review. Apparently the “separation of church and state” applies only…

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum wage, maximum deception

• January 5, 2006

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes why labor unions are the chief proponents of artificially raising labor costs. “Odd what liberal politicians and union-types see as ‘fairness,’ considering wage floors do…

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell’s minimum wage proposal too low?

• January 5, 2006

With professional baseball’s minimum salary increasing by $9,000 to $327,000, aren’t Pennsylvania’s entry-level workers worth at least that much? Where’s your compassion Governor? Set your sites higher!…

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Regulation

More Corporate Welfare

• Nathan Benefield
• January 4, 2006

Here is a good piece by the Allegheny Institute on the $50 million dollars of corporate welfare granted by state and local government to PNC for construction of…

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Regulation

The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector Pensions

• January 4, 2006

Whether it is pensions for state workers, teachers or legislators, the financial promises made by politicians have put taxpayers on the hook. How much? Well, don’t ask the people who…

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