Education

When Bell Bottoms Were Cool…And PSU Charged $675

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 28, 2011

I just sent the following to a student at Penn State who is writing a paper on Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed cuts to the subsidies our public universities receive from…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Natural Gas Not-A-Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 28, 2011

Yesterday, the Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati released his much anticipated Marcellus shale Not-A-Tax “local impact fee.” The proposal would require drillers to pay a “Base Fee”…

Media

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Education

A Pitt Student’s Take on Corbett’s Budget Proposal

  • April 27, 2011

As a Pitt student, I will not be joining in those manufactured protests, nor will I be participating in lobbying activities like Pitt's yearly "Harrisburg Day" when the University spends…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Bring PA Toward the Mainstream in Limiting Lawsuit Abuse

  • April 13, 2011

Having defeated a slew of trial-lawyer amendments, Pennsylvania's House of Representatives approved the Fair Share Act for the third time on Monday. The legislation, which has passed both chambers of the…

Commentary

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Education

Washington Is Watching Harrisburg

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 12, 2011

Two writers for Politico recently opined that when it comes to getting spending under control, “the most sweeping work is getting done in states”—and they said the folks in…

Media

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Education

Millions Funneled to Lobbyists by Public Schools

  • April 12, 2011

Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation announced today preliminary results from extensive Open Records Requests that found more than $59 million dollars of taxpayer money is being funneled through…

Press Release

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Public Union Democracy

Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 7, 2011

Today, the average government employee enjoys better health care benefits, better pensions, better job security, and an earlier retirement than the average private-sector worker.  To pay for this, however, taxpayers…

Commentary

Read More: Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal

Education

Scholars Aren’t Made from Dollars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 4, 2011

All indications say academic performance remains inadequate, with thousands of children trapped in failing schools while waiting lists for charter schools and Educational Improvement Tax Credit scholarships grow.  Proponents of…

Commentary

Read More: Scholars Aren’t Made from Dollars