State Budget

Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2016

Higher government spending and raising taxes—while ignoring key fiscal reforms—is the status quo in Pennsylvania. For 45 years, government spending has steadily risen, increasing by an inflation-adjusted $13,800 per family of four or $3,450…

Memo

Five Ways Gov. Wolf is Sustaining the Status Quo

• Nathan Benefield
• October 26, 2015

During his budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf said “It's not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” More recently, taking to social media,…

Media

State Budget

Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 30, 2015

At the beginning of 2015, we heard a lot about a “fresh start” for Pennsylvania. But nine months later, it's difficult to identify anything fresh about Gov. Wolf's tax, borrow…

Media

State Budget

“Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy

• Nathan Benefield
• August 18, 2010

Gov. Rendell announced that to balance the Pennsylvania state budget — after getting $250 million less from Congress than predicted — he would be ordering cuts of 1.9% “across-the-board,”…

Media

Government Accountability

Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes

• Nathan Benefield
• November 12, 2009

Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…

Media

Health Care

“Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big Government

• Nathan Benefield
• April 15, 2008

I wasn’t going to post anything on Barack Obama’s comments about people “clinging” to guns and religion, until Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer offered his Obama can…

Media