Government Accountability

Update: State Spending Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 3, 2008

A reader emailed to ask if there are examples of states with online spending databases. Indeed states across the country are adopting transparency legislation while state officials and think tanks…

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Taxes & Economy

Ranking the Roads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2008

Reason Foundation has released their annual ranking on the peformance of state highway systems. Pennsylvania ranks middle to low on most performance measures, but – this may suprise many who listen to Governor…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

State Personal Income and Ethanol Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2008

The BEA issued their quarterly update of state personal income. Normally, my comments on these reports are limited to how Pennsylvania is lagging behind the national average (true again…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

U.S. Map of Religions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 19, 2008

This map of most common religious denomination by county from Mark Perry’s blog is fascinating. Only a smattering of counties have a majority of one religion/denomination (with clushers…

Media

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There IS enough funding for roads and bridges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 12, 2007

Sixty-three Senators believe there is enough federal funding for roads and bridges to also fund the “International Peace Garden” in Dunseith, North Dakota; “America’s Wetland Center” in Lake Charles, Louisiana;…

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Taxes & Economy

New Population Data

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 23, 2005

The US Census Bureau released their annual population estimates yesterday. Pennsylvania continues to lag behind: Pennsylvania’s population grew by 0.3% last year, slower than the national growth (0.9%) and…

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