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Lots of economic development spending, little economic development

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2005

A Policy Brief from the Allegheny Institute reports that Gov. Rendell’s jubilation over the latest job report is misfounded. While the Governor’s press release boldly claims that jobs are…

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Judges looking out for us?

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2005

A Philadelphia judge sues to reinstate pay raises. As expected the pay raise repeal has already become the target of a lawsuit. The judge in this case claims the…

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell to veto tax cuts

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2005

Governor Rendell promises to veto the tax cuts just passed by the General Assembly. His reason: “lawmakers did not pair the legislation with a corresponding spending cut.” Governor Rendell,…

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage: The Faux Pay Raise

• December 6, 2005

This Philadelphia Daily News editorial represents the general economic ignorance among people who think government can artificially increase the cost of labor without any negatives consequences. The reality is…

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Taxes & Economy

General Assembly Passes Tax Cuts, Sends to Gov. Rendell for Signature

• December 5, 2005

Two Senate news releases (Piccola and Thompson)on the Senate’s concurrence of a PIT and CNI tax rate reduction… Piccola Calls on Governor to Sign Tax Cuts into Law HARRISBURG…

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Education

Universal preschool is inviting universal disaster

• Nathan Benefield
• December 5, 2005

SF Chronicle article – Universal preschool is inviting universal disaster. Advocates of universal pre-school in Pennsylvania would do well to heed this warning.

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Taxes & Economy

Lower Taxes = Economic Growth

• Nathan Benefield
• December 5, 2005

An analyis of population data and taxes finds that states with low taxes attract residents fleeing states with high taxes: The Heartland Institute – Taxes Fuel Historic American Migration…

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Brookings Institution Presents “Much Ado About Nothing”

• Nathan Benefield
• December 5, 2005

The Brookings Institution released a report today titled Higher Education in Pennsylvania: A Competitive Asset for Communities. In this report, they offer findings such as: Pennsylvania has many institutions…

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Taxes & Economy

Coalition (for Higher Taxes and Unlimited Government Spending) hopes to stop cap on state spending

• December 5, 2005

The Harrisburg Patriot-News highlights the effort to limit the increases in state government spending. While the beneficiaries of higher government spending want to keep their unlimited access to taxpayers’…

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Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell: “I’m very optimistic that before Christmas we will have a property tax bill on my desk that I can sign”

• December 4, 2005

Although Governor Rendell thinks the General Assembly will come up with a school property tax shift before December 25, Pennsylvanians should not be expecting much from the Harrisburg Santa…

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Taxes & Economy

We all lose when Government tries to pick winners

• December 4, 2005

This Times Leader story highlights how government should not be in the “economic development” business. The best thing government could do for our economy is GET OUT OF THE…

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A tiny little tidbit of totalitarianism

• December 4, 2005

Paul Jacob’s Townhall column on how the school employee labor union in Oklahoma (OEA) is fighting against state government spending limits. Sound familiar? Labor unions everywhere are dying…

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania can break new ground in protecting property owners from abusive land-takings

• December 4, 2005

Legislation to curb the abuse of eminent domain will likely be moving through the General Assembly this week. Read this commentary from the Institute for Justice. This libertarian public…

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Brad Bumsted | It’s time to go for broke

• Matthew Brouillette
• December 4, 2005

Right on the money, Brad. (Pun intended!) Read his Pittsburgh Tribune-Review column.

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Let’s consider positive roles of businesses

• December 4, 2005

Hear! Hear! From Tom Barstow at the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

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Government Accountability

Republican group seeks disclosure by lobbyists, trim in size of state Legislature

• December 4, 2005

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette… “Proposals that would force lobbyists to disclose their spending, reduce the number of legislators and require more openness in passing bills aren’t new. What is new…

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Is Wal-Mart Good for America?

• December 3, 2005

Yes, our family shops at the local Wal-Mart from time to time. Although the company’s recent support of raising the minimum wage (even though Wal-Mart’s average starting wage is already…

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Climate in Pennsylvania for Small-Business Owners Continues to Decline

• December 3, 2005

While the national economy improves, small businesses in PA are not very optimistic about the future, says the National Federation of Independent Business. See the NFIB poll of small businesses…

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The Freedom to Hate Wal-Mart

• December 2, 2005

From Paul Jacobs’ Common Sense radio broadcast … Some folks don’t like Wal-Mart. Okay. Fine. It’s a free country. No one should be forced at gunpoint to shop at Wal-Mart.

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell will veto business tax break

• December 2, 2005

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review … “Rendell emphatically said he would veto any legislation that would lower business taxes but not provide substitute funds. ‘I would have to veto…

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Taxes & Economy

They’re Taking Away Your Property for What?

• December 2, 2005

An interesting eminent domain article from the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal.

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