Lawmakers reaped $50K-plus in freebies in ’06

• Nathan Benefield
• May 4, 2007

Mark Scolforo reports on the gifts and other financial interests report by lawmakers. Not suprisingly, legislative leaders cashed in (even while claiming they were not): House Majority Leader…

Media

Wild Claims About a Turnpike Lease

• April 18, 2007

It is sad that former Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel, who last year said he favored leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, is now striking out so wildly against the governor's proposal.

Commentary

Commission on State Government Pay Proposed

• Nathan Benefield
• April 10, 2007

Rep. Ron Marsico is proposing a commission to examine compensation of state officials. Now while proposing a commission doesn’t seem controversial, consider that in nearly two years since the…

Media

State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2007

From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…

Media

House Already Reforming Itself

• Nathan Benefield
• January 10, 2007

The PA House Republicans spent much of the past week discussing how best to enact reform – and deciding their first step would be to create a new caucus…

Media

Rendell will explore leasing Pa. Turnpike

• Nathan Benefield
• November 21, 2006

Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s forum on Public-Private Partnerships in Transporation Governor Rendell states that he is on board with exploring a lease of the PA Turnpike, according to the…

Media

General Assembly Leadership Elections

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2006

Even though John Perzel thinks the public should “keep out of something you don’t belong in” – as in leadership elections, here is some of the lastest info anyway.

Media

Government Accountability

Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix Them

• June 26, 2006

The distance between the rulers and ruled continues to widen in Pennsylvania. For retiring and defeated members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the daily perks and privileges of office…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Taxpayers spending over $1 million on lawyers to defend pay raise

• Nathan Benefield
• June 19, 2006

As first broken by the Philadelphia Inquirer: “”Do I like hiring lawyers to defend these kinds of suits? No, I hate to do this,” said House Majority Leader Sam…

Media