A New Day in Harrisburg?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2007

The new PA House rules passed last night unanimously to much praise from lawmakers. The major changes include Provide online access to bills, votes, and financial information Banning “ghost voting”…

Media

Read More: A New Day in Harrisburg?

Legislative Reform on Tap?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 2, 2007

Regardless of who is elected Speaker of the House (see here), both the Pennsylvania House and Senate have promised to take up reforms to make the legislative process more…

Media

Read More: Legislative Reform on Tap?

Regulation

Getting mileage out of perks

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 10, 2006

Brad Bumsted and Debra Erdley in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the excesses in PA House perks. Turns out that Mike Veon, Democratic Whip from Beaver Falls, collects more in…

Media

Read More: Getting mileage out of perks

Government Accountability

Principles Worth Fighting For

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 10, 2006

Though I have watched Braveheart several dozen times, last weekend was the first time that the blood, violence, and men in kilts reminded me of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Unfortunately,…

Commentary

Read More: Principles Worth Fighting For

Government Accountability

Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix Them

  • June 26, 2006

The distance between the rulers and ruled continues to widen in Pennsylvania. For retiring and defeated members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the daily perks and privileges of office…

Commentary

Read More: Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix Them

Government Accountability

Sound Policy IS Sound Politics!

  • March 7, 2006

We are encouraged by the very familiar-sounding policy stance of these candidates for office. Sound policy IS sound poilitics! ______________ Text of March 7 news release…. Coalition of GOP challengers…

Media

Read More: Sound Policy IS Sound Politics!

Government Accountability

Rep. Metcalfe on the Liberty Index

  • January 31, 2006

From a news release from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe… Rep. Daryl Metcalfe: Metcalfe tops Liberty Index for second year in a row. HARRISBURG — Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) is again the…

Media

Read More: Rep. Metcalfe on the Liberty Index

Taxes & Economy

Singin’ Those Car Wash Blues

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 16, 2005

Setting aside the traditional economic arguments against increasing the state’s minimum wage rate, what impact would a proposal currently in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives have on employees in a…

Commentary

Read More: Singin’ Those Car Wash Blues

Taxes & Economy

Government Clock Keeps on Tickin

  • July 29, 2005

We’re #1. That’s what the Pennsylvania Economy League discovered this month after comparing the overall cost of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to its counterparts in other states. The report on…

Commentary

Read More: Government Clock Keeps on Tickin