Staff

Taxes & Economy

Tax Tidal Wave

• Nathan Benefield
• October 6, 2006

Wall Street Journal article on how increased federal tax revenue-the largest two year increase in history (stemming from economic growth following tax cuts)-are reducing the federal deficit. Of course,…

Media

Regulation

Pa. pension plan overhaul overdue

• Nathan Benefield
• October 5, 2006

Lancaster New Era piece on the looming crisis in the state’s pension plans.

Media

Commonwealth Foundation Report Mentioned in Governor Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• October 5, 2006

Here is the Commonwealth Foundation analysis cited in last night’s gubernatorial debate.

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Regulation

Pennsylvanias Unlimited Government Equals Limited Economic Growth

• October 5, 2006

In a few months, the tumultuous 2005-06 session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly will come to a close—and will likely do so without further action on the “Taxpayer Fairness Act,”…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Property Taxes by County

• Nathan Benefield
• October 4, 2006

Tax Foundation Data – Property Taxes on Owner Occupied Housing by County, 2005. Data on average property tax paid, average home value, and average income for homeowners. Features the…

Media

Education

Federal probe targets PHEAA

• Nathan Benefield
• October 4, 2006

The US Department of Education is investigating PHEAA for overbilling taxpayers for federal loan reimbursements, the Patriot News reports. I guess PHEAA will have to open their books after…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Gov’t subsidies bad economic policy

• Nathan Benefield
• October 4, 2006

Bill Dunkelberg’s comments on KYW: Philadelphia Gas Works wants a hundred million more dollars of your money. Why? Well, over the years, they have been inefficiently managed, beset with…

Media

Regulation

Getting Out of the Pension Dilemma

• Richard Dreyfuss
• October 4, 2006

(Editors Note: This Commentary was originally published on March 8, 2006) Pennsylvania’s public employee pension plans are facing a looming financial crisis. Regardless of how one looks at the current…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Tax Cuts and the Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• October 3, 2006

Heritage Foundation Report titled (and summarized) Tax Rate Reductions Strengthen the Economy, But Excessive Government Spending Threatens Long-Run Performance.Some very nice charts and numbers are in there.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Democrats want you to pay more taxes

• October 3, 2006

Tony Phyrillas highlights the government’s “take” of your money. His conclusion on what rolling back the Bush tax cuts would mean to Pennsylvanians is enlightening: • Pennsylvania’s married…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Teachers walk the picket line

• October 3, 2006

The labor union in Littlestown are striking over health care. Currently, teachers pay only 2.6% of the premium for their health care benefits. The school board wants them…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Union Slams Proposed Teacher Strike Ban

• October 3, 2006

With a teacher strike currently occuring in Adams County, the effort to ban teacher strikes in Pennsylvania is building steam. Despite the fact that 38 other states prohibit government…

Media

Regulation

A roll of the dice

• October 3, 2006

Northeast PA Business Journal looks at the potential impact of slot machines in PA. “The only real economic impact is if you draw people from outside your region,” says…

Media

Government Accountability

Lame ducks ruffle feathers in 3 statehouses

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2006

Stateline.org article on Lame Duck legislatures. Guess which state is the leader in post-election shenanigans. Topics on this page Lame duckStateline.org…

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Education

Our Soviet education model

• October 2, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Bill Steigerwald interviews the Cato Institute’s Neal McCluskey on how a number of “conservatives” have taken a “180-degree wrong turn from conservatism’s once-solid principles of limited government,…

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Taxes & Economy

Income tax cuts benefit all payers

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2006

USA Today article exposes the rhetoric of “tax cuts for the rich.” They note that middle income taxpayers saw a larger percent reduction in their tax burdern, and that…

Media

Education

Is Our Kids Learning?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 2, 2006

Following multiple reports on student test scores, much has been made about how well Pennsylvania students are performing. In August, Governor Rendell delighted in the results from the PSSA—the state’s…

Commentary

Regulation

For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)

• October 1, 2006

In Pennsylvania and across the United States, taxpayers don't need to look very hard to find examples of wasteful, unconstitutional, or just plain wrongheaded government spending decisions.  One of the…

Commentary

Government Accountability

EDITORIAL | State judges underpaid?

• September 29, 2006

Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorializes on judges’ pay. Topics on this page Williamsport Sun-Gazette…

Media

Health Care

Statement on Health Savings Accounts

• Nathan Benefield
• September 29, 2006

John Goodman of NCPA’s US Senate Testimony on Health Savings Accounts and the need for consumer driven health care.: “If health care really were free, people would have an…

Media

Regulation

Auditor general’s report on pension funds should be an alarm bell to Pennsylvanians

• Nathan Benefield
• September 29, 2006

Allentown Morning Call on the looming crisis in state pension systems.

Media