Education
Back to School Numbers
With kids returning to school this week, here are some fast facts about education spending and performance in Pennsylvania. $14,865: The amount Pennsylvania school districts spent per student in…
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Read More: Back to School NumbersRegulation
Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible Funding
Thirty counties have applied for slots in the Department of Public Welfare’s Human Services County Block Grant pilot program. Unfortunately, the pilot program was limited to 20 counties. The…
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Read More: Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible FundingState Budget
Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo
A recent memo from Gov. Corbett to all state agencies offers budget-saving tips, reminding officials that Pennsylvania faces a four alarm fiscal fire. PA Independent has…
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Read More: Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett MemoEducation
Opportunity Scholarships a “Choice for a Better Future”
This week, the Times-Herald of Montgomery County published my letter to the editor on underperforming schools and why Pennsylvania’s new opportunity scholarships matter: In “Norristown School…
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Read More: Opportunity Scholarships a “Choice for a Better Future”Taxes & Economy
Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers
PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…
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Fix Welfare to Protect Poor, Save Taxpayers
Despite prevalent evidence showing the current welfare system does irreparable harm by trapping families and children in a cycle of poverty, presumptive Republican vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to…
Commentary
Read More: Fix Welfare to Protect Poor, Save TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else Too
Bernard Hinault, five-time cycling champion of the Tour de France, once grumbled that the French government taxed the rich so heavily, the state had claim to three pumps of…
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Read More: Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else TooEducation
Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity Scholarships
Since our last update on the new Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program, the Pa. Department of Education and Department of Community and Economic Development have compiled additional information…
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Read More: Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity ScholarshipsPublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms
CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…
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