Regulation

The Only Way to Fix Public Pensions

• Nathan Benefield
• October 4, 2010

The Baltimore Sun editorializes that the only way to fix the pension plan for state workers (in Maryland, though the same would hold true in Pennsylvania) is to move…

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure

• July 13, 2010

From 1998-2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent no money on lobbying the federal government (although independent agencies – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Higher Education Assistance Agency –…

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State Budget

Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Health

• Nathan Benefield
• December 15, 2009

In his budget mid-year briefing, Gov. Rendell cited, repeatedly, a Pew study on states’ fiscal outlook. While it is true that Pennsylvania is in better shape than states like…

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Regulation

Gaming Board Cashing Out

• July 22, 2009

It is common knowledge that the Gaming Control Board, and its employees, receive generous paychecks, fatter than they deserve relative to the prevailing market for comparable work and skills.

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Government Accountability

More on ACORN and Voter Fraud

• Nathan Benefield
• October 9, 2008

As a followup to Jessica’s post on ACORN and Voter Fraud, here are some recent updates: The Tribune Review notes that investigations of ACORN could be coming to…

Media

Government Accountability

Fluid races could make Pa.’s late primary important

• Nathan Benefield
• January 14, 2008

Peter Jackson commentary on the potential “influence” of the PA primary in April. While there has been a push to move the primary up in the calendar so that…

Media

Lots of economic development spending, little economic development

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2005

A Policy Brief from the Allegheny Institute reports that Gov. Rendell’s jubilation over the latest job report is misfounded. While the Governor’s press release boldly claims that jobs are…

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