Health Care

Helping the Uninsured

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2009

I had a brief debate via Twitter (I guess it is impossible to have anything but a brief debate on Twitter) with a staffer for the Pennsylvania House…

Media

Read More: Helping the Uninsured

Taxes & Economy

Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2009

I’ve gotten a couple of question on the “how” and “why” we estimate that Rendell’s personal income tax increase will cost 24,000 Pennsylvania jobs. The estimate of 24,000 jobs…

Media

Read More: Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 Jobs

Health Care

Facts About the Uninsured

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2009

Keith Hennessey has a great post breaking down the number of people lacking health insurance, finding that only a small number of the reported 46 million uninsured are those…

Media

Read More: Facts About the Uninsured

Taxes & Economy

State Spending Binges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2009

The latest Reason Magazine has a fine article on why state governments needed a bailout and why they will again – overspending.  In 2002 the National…

Media

Read More: State Spending Binges

Health Care

Free Markets: An Unknown Ideal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2009

President Obama, Governor Rendell, and many in the media have been echoing a similar refrain recently, "Conservatives had their chance.  We tried free markets, and they failed."  When exactly they…

Commentary

Read More: Free Markets: An Unknown Ideal

Taxes & Economy

Federal stimulus is a trap for states

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2009

The Wall Street Journal today looks at governors considering rejecting the federal stimulus dollars, as it will increase the cost to states.  For example, the stimulus expands Medicaid subsidies,…

Media

Read More: Federal stimulus is a trap for states

Government Accountability

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2009

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…

Report

Read More: Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009

Education

Economists Against Governor Rendell

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2009

In his budget address, Governor Rendell cited “conservative” economists who support the stimulus package and his spending proposals, even though they don’t. Here is Rendell: Economists from…

Media

Read More: Economists Against Governor Rendell

Health Care

Try to Reform Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2009

The Senate Republican’s unveiled their caucus’s plan on health care, which is largely the same as they had last year, and thus my criticism of that plan still…

Media

Read More: Try to Reform Health Care