Education

What the PHEAA is Going On?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 17, 2011

The Patriot News reports that former Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) boss Michael Hershock got $200,000 in a settlement over his 2009 firing.   To recap, he was fired…

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Regulation

Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem

• Nathan Benefield
• January 10, 2011

Joel Klein has an excellent article on teacher pensions in today’s Wall Street Journal: Whether the investment returns are there or not, defined-benefit pensions require the government to…

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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…

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Unemployment Compensation Time Bomb Set to Explode

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 2, 2010

Unemployment woes are back in the news.  With benefit extensions up for debate, a much bigger unemployment problem is on the horizon. Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt, but…

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Taxes & Economy

PENNVEST to Vote on $12 Million “Pipeline to Nowhere” Tomorrow

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 8, 2010

Tomorrow, November 9th, PENNVEST will meet to approve a $12 million dollar grant & loan to construct a 12 mile water line from Montrose to Dimock Township in…

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Health Care

Is FactCheck Recycling Talking Points on ObamaCare?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 29, 2010

Here is an email I sent to FactCheck.org: Your recent article claims insurance premiums won’t go up. Are you kidding? Simple economics, or the experience of states like…

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Regulation

Film Tax Credits are Bad Economics

• Nathan Benefield
• September 22, 2010

Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute hammers on film tax credits, which have been so popular among lawmakers in Pennsylvania and other states, who love when movie stars…

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Taxes & Economy

Which States are Stealing Pennsylvania Residents?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 17, 2010

The Tax Foundation has launched a new, awesome interactive tool that looks at IRS data, tracking moves into and out of each state. The bottom line for Pennsylvania is…

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Taxes & Economy

PA’s Highways Remain Poorly Managed

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 7, 2010

Pennsylvania ranks 38th in the nation in state highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to Reason’s latest Annual Highway Report. While the Keystone State’s ranking remains unchanged, nationally highway…

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