Taxes & Economy

Are corporations dodging taxes?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 13, 2008

The AP had a story yesterday headlined, “Most companies in US avoid federal income taxes” (full study). Governor Rendell frequently makes this claim as well, when defending Pennsylvania’s…

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Regulation

PA Lottery lags overall economic growth

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2008

There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…

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State Budget

Gambling in PA … with a $28 billion budget

• July 7, 2008

No one can say we didn’t warn lawmakers that their 4.06% increase in spending for the 2008-09 fiscal year was not fiscally prudent. The AP reports that Rendell,…

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State Budget

Will this budget’s ink be red in 2009?

• July 4, 2008

No, that’s not our headline, but Pete DeCoursey‘s at Capitolwire.com…

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Regulation

House Republicans Highlight Debt, Rendell Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• June 24, 2008

AP article on House Republicans (at least some of them) noting the enormous burden of debt on Pennsylvania taxpayers before voting on more borrowing for corporate welfare.

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Health Care

PA liability for state retiree health: $8.8 billion

• Nathan Benefield
• May 12, 2008

The PA Office of the Budget released their actuarial report on retiree health care liabilities, revealing that the estimated unfunded liablity as of July 1, 2008 is $8.8 billion…

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Regulation

House Committee Votes to Increase Pensions/Property Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• April 30, 2008

The House State Government Committee passed a Pension COLA bill – AP Story here – which would require a dramatic increase in spending (on top of the expected higher…

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Schools get no relief on pension contributions

• Nathan Benefield
• December 26, 2007

That’s a horrible headline for the AP story in the Morning Call. Who are the “schools” anyway? It’s the taxpayers who get no relief. While the pension contribution…

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Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax

• Nathan Benefield
• October 31, 2007

More criticism of the lack of monitoring, accountability, and compliance with laws in the state’s corporate welfare programs, this time from the Auditor’s office. Click here for the AP…

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