Taxes & Economy

Even heroes can misspend other people’s money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 29, 2008

Two separate letters to the editor in the Patriot News denounce the Commonwealth Foundation for commenting on Colonel Miller’s flights to other states. Here is Matt Brouillette’s quote in…

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Government Accountability

Capitol staffers get their own pay raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2008

Jan Murphy in the Patriot has a look at big pay increases, and big salaries for some legislative staffers following the end of bonuses. While Eric Epstein points…

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Education

Vinsanity at PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 25, 2008

Vince Fumo came to the defense of excesses at PHEAA, demaninding that the Auditor General stop auditing. Jan Murphy of the Patriot News has the story. Fumo contends that…

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$2 million spent by PHEAA on giveaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

Jan Murphy of the Patriot News exposes more PHEAA expenses – including “giveaways” such as golf balls, LL Bean Jackets, and T-Shirts bearing the PHEAA logo, I-Pods and DVD…

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Critics say open records bill not open enough

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the Senate open records bill and its many weaknesses, in light of improvements we support: Common Cause/Pennsylvania Executive Director Barry Kauffman called the…

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PHEAA chief asked to step down

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 5, 2007

Jan Murphy in the Patriot News on the more abrupt forced resignation of Dick Willey from PHEAA, follwing the Auditor General’s preliminary report. Apparently even board members like…

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PHEAA CEO to get $360,000 annual pension

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2007

Jan Murphy on the pension retiring PHEAA CEO Dick Willey will receive. The pension is so elevated because his $180,000 bonus counts toward the pension calculation. Of course, he…

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Bonus Time At PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

Jan Murphy at the Patriot News on PHEAA’s latest round of bonuses, noting that PHEAA CEO Dick Willey’s bonus is higher than Governor Rendell’s salary.The headline “PHEAA’s…

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