State Budget

Pennsylvania Government Debt

• March 21, 2012

Today, Pennsylvanians owe $121 billion in state and local government debt. This equates to more than $9,400 for every person, and almost $38,000 for the average family of four in…

Fact Sheet

Public Union Democracy

Public Schools Can Do More with Less – If We Let Them

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 19, 2012

As families across Pennsylvania try to figure out how to do more with less in this difficult economy, our local public schools must also do the same.  But unlike fiscally…

Commentary

Pensions’ Prevailing Point of NO Return

• March 19, 2012

Today I found a message floating in the sea from you to me… We may not be in Kansas, but it shouldn’t take a smooth hit from 1977 to…

Media

Regulation

Is Corporate Welfare for Shell Cracker Good for PA?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 19, 2012

Astute readers may remember that last month Pennsylvania earned the dubious distinction of the highest taxes for mature businesses and the second highest taxes for new businesses. So how…

Media

State Budget

Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Operating Budget since 1970

• Nathan Benefield
• March 16, 2012

Pennsylvania’s total state operating budget increased for 40 consecutive years before being reduced last year.  The cumulative increase of 151 percent—adjusted for inflation—represents more than $12,000 per family of four…

Media

Taxes & Economy

For Dimock, The Verdict Is In

• March 16, 2012

In an update to the ongoing saga of federal overreach in Dimock, Pa., the Environmental Protection Agency has released results of drinking water testing at 11 area homes…

Media

Education

It’s Good to be the King (of Charter Schools)

• Priya Brannick
• March 16, 2012

We blogged last month about HB 1973, a bill that would gut funding for cyber schools.  Now it turns out there’s a bill—recently introduced to the House Education Committee—that…

Media

Oh, SNAP! Welfare Cheats Sentenced

• March 15, 2012

Weeks ago we published our take on welfare cheats and made the case for reinstating the asset test in order to rid the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance…

Media

Education

Principled, Punchy Pols Are Popular Pols

• Charles Mitchell
• March 15, 2012

I’ve written previously in this space about Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has garnered enormous popularity while governing courageously.  Today, with a new Quinnipiac poll about Gov.

Media