Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law

  • February 14, 2012

Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961 to protect construction workers from out-of-state competition, mandating that contractors pay the wages that "prevail" in each region on all government construction…

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Michigan Pension Reform Saves $4 Billion

  • July 29, 2011

Before 1997, Michigan state employees (like those in Pennsylvania) solely received defined-benefit pensions in which employees are assured an annual retirement income. However in 1997, Michigan shifted…

Media

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Regulation

Cigarette Taxes Increase Crime

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 21, 2010

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have released a study on the smuggling of cigarettes due to high cigarette taxes. While politicians often tout raising taxes as a tool to…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Overton Window

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2010

The Overton Window – the title of Glenn Beck’s new book, a work of fiction which borrows from the idea- is a concept that help drives the work of…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Tobacco Taxes

  • June 2, 2010

Gov. Rendell proposed a tax of 30% on the retail price of cigars and smokeless tobacco products, in hopes of collecting $42 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 21, 2010

Rick Dreyfuss has a new article for the Mackinac Center in Michigan, where lawmakers are floating the idea of Pension Obligation Bonds to help fill their pension gap.  Of…

Media

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Regulation

(Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2010

Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story – which bashes taxpayer bailouts of big Wall Street companies – was itself the recipient of taxpayer subsidies from the state of…

Media

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Health Care

Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage.  (HT to Carpe…

Media

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Regulation

Economic Development Subsidies Fail

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 4, 2009

Today’s Wall Street Journal writes on the failure of taxpayer-funded “economic development” grants – i.e. corporate welfare – in the state of Michigan. The article relies heavily on…

Media

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