Education

A Public School Funding SOS

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 28, 2014

The governor has proposed $10.1 billion for public schools, slightly higher than last year, which was then a record high. So what’s all the fuss about cuts?  At the same…

Commentary

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Regulation

End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 26, 2014

Taxpayers have spent millions on four different occasions to subsidize the infamous “Sony site” in Westmoreland County. In the 1970’s Volkswagen got $70 million in state aid under Gov.

Media

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State Budget

Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2014

Recent headlines have former Gov. Ed Rendell challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the issue of the deficit he left the current administration. Gov. Corbett has campaign ads stating he closed…

Media

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Education

7 Little-Known Facts on Pennsylvania Public School Spending

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 11, 2014

For years, teachers unions in Pennsylvania have claimed the governor cut $1 billion from schools. But the real story is more complicated. A huge influx of federal stimulus funding expired,…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Dues Pay for PSEA Politics (Again)

  • Priya Brannick
  • November 26, 2013

Last week we highlighted a number of election-related ads the Pennsylvania State Education Association paid for using its members’ dues money—without their permission or knowledge. The state’s largest teachers…

Media

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Regulation

Getting Rich off the Government Liquor Monopoly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2013

Joe Conti, who once cosponsored legislation to privatize the state liquor store system, keeps finding a way to profit off of the state’s monopoly on wine and spirit sales.

Media

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Regulation

Say it ain’t so! Joe Makes Bank from the PLCB

  • September 6, 2013

Remember PLCB CEO Joe Conti? Boondoggles like wine kiosks and inventory shortages should spring to mind. After six years of these and other questionable decisions that remain under…

Media

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Government Accountability

Playing Politics at the PLCB

  • August 23, 2013

Politics is getting in the way of reform at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, according to Tribune-Review reporter Kari Andren, who gives us a fascinating look at the internal…

Media

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Health Care

Medicaid Abuse Shows Downside of Expansion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2013

New polling shows 70 percent of Pennsylvania voters think we need to address waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid before expanding the program.  A perusal of the news explains…

Media

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