Government Accountability

Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 1, 2010

With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office.  That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…

Media

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Government Accountability

How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2010

The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…

Media

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Health Care

Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction.  But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

“Jobs Saved” Estimates were Pre-Determined

  • March 1, 2010

The Congressional Budget Office announced last month that 1.5 million jobs were created or saved by the $862 billion stimulus package, a number many use to claim the stimulus…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2010

Alan Reynolds takes a nuanced approach to where stimulus funding went, and why it didn’t “create jobs” or increase GDP, and probably increased unemployment: [T]he GDP report clearly…

Media

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Health Care

National Health Care Could Bankrupt Pennsylvania

  • December 15, 2009

The US Senate health care bill includes a mandate to increase the cut off level for Medicaid eligibility. This increased cut off for Medicaid will increase costs for Pennsylvania and…

Media

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State Budget

Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 9, 2009

The Wall Street Journal has a good discussion of yet another stimulus – correctly identify it as Stimulus III (noting both the $787 billion stimulus from earlier this year,…

Media

Read More: Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0

Health Care

Notes on Health Care Reform

  • November 12, 2009

Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…

Commentary

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Health Care

Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals

  • October 20, 2009

President Obama has pushed national health care reform, making it a priority. While there is no official "Obama plan," and several different proposal in Congress, the leading proposals have several…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals