Staff

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2006

The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…

Media

Regulation

Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2006

An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…

Media

State Budget

Return the Windfall Profits

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2006

There is a massive organization imposing a financial burden on the Pennsylvania economy. It is consuming an ever larger portion of the average person’s income. The costs for what it…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Government made bumper stickers

• Nathan Benefield
• May 24, 2006

The Pennsylvania Office of Tourism (part of the Department of Community and Economic Development) have started voting for a PA Bumper Sticker. Not only is developing an “official state…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Building excise fees will not mean property-tax relief

• Nathan Benefield
• May 23, 2006

Read Grant Gulibon’s commentary in the latest News Item. Topics on this page The News-Item…

Media

Regulation

Perzel takes up state pension issue

• Nathan Benefield
• May 22, 2006

House Speaker Perzel names a panel on state pension and retiree medical benefits to study the issues identified in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Pension Study. Perzel even suggests setting…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Building Excise Fees are Not Property Tax Relief

• May 22, 2006

Henry David Thoreau said, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” In Pennsylvania, that “evil” is the school property…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Savor these election snapshots

• May 21, 2006

OK, for the record, I don’t sleep in a coat and tie, despite what Pat Carroll thinks! 🙂 It has indeed been a great experience to work alongside folks…

Media

Regulation

VIP perks are history for ousted legislators

• May 21, 2006

Morning Call on what the ousted Senate leaders will be losing as a result of their loss at the ballot box last Tuesday. Don’t worry though, they’ll still be…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PUC: Free market is OK

• Nathan Benefield
• May 19, 2006

As reported in the Central Penn Business Journal, the Public Utility Commission will not stop a new taxicab company from competing with existing companies. It always heartwarming when a…

Media

Eye of the Beholder

• Nathan Benefield
• May 19, 2006

Tongue-in-cheek piece comparing California to Iraq (and media coverage of each) from The American Enterprise. Topics on this page American Enterprise InstituteCaliforniaIraq…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Tax hike referendum sinks like a stone

• May 18, 2006

The Bristol Township School District signed on to Act 72, the property tax shift proposal that 80% of school districts rejected. To my knowledge Bristol was the only district out…

Media

Government Accountability

John Baer on Tuesday’s Impact

• May 18, 2006

There wasn’t a “clean sweep,” but there may very well be some “housecleaning.” Read more in the Philadelphia Daily News. Topics on this page Philadelphia Daily…

Media

Government Accountability

Even The Gray Lady Gets The Message In PA

• May 18, 2006

From Captain’s Quarters Even The Gray Lady Gets The Message In PAThe New York Times recognized the Pennsylvania Earthquake which removed at least thirteen…

Media

Government Accountability

The Harrisburg Hogs

• May 17, 2006

Wall Street Journal takes note of the PA primaries. The lesson from Tuesday’s results? “It seems this is a message GOP politicians have to relearn over and over: When…

Media

Government Accountability

Defeats leave power vacuum in Pa. Senate GOP leadership

• May 17, 2006

AP story on the upcoming leadership changes in the Senate. Sen. Jake Corman apparently got part of the message: “Clearly the election was a mandate for government reform,” Corman…

Media

Government Accountability

The Victory In Primaries For Conservatives

• May 17, 2006

From the Captain’s Quarters Blog…. Over the past week, many of us have written on the frustration felt by conservatives (especially fiscal conservatives) over the past few years. Some…

Media

Government Accountability

The king is dead

• May 17, 2006

Philadelphia Daily News’ John Baer on the “Astonishing defeats for Jubelirer, Brightbill” Topics on this page Philadelphia Daily News…

Media

Government Accountability

Pay raise dooms top senators – Philadelphia Inquirer

• May 17, 2006

Philadelphia Inquirer 05/17/2006 Pay raise dooms top senators Topics on this page Philadelphia Inquirer…

Media

Government Accountability

Payback: Pennsylvania voters kick out incumbents

• May 17, 2006

Tony Phyrillas says: “The incumbents had the money. They had the name recognition. They had the party machine behind them. They had all the advantages. But they still lost.”…

Media

IT’S PAYBACK – Patriot-News

• May 17, 2006

Anger over raise ousts Senate leaders Brightbill, Jubelirer Topics on this page United States Senate…

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