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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Regulation

Pennsylvania State and School Pension Costs

  • March 15, 2012

Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension plans for government employees—the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) for state employees and the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) for school employees. PSERS…

Fact Sheet

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Criminal Justice Reform

Saving Rather than Spending in Corrections

  • March 14, 2012

Last week, PCN’s Call In Program featured a great discussion with PA Corrections Sec. John Wetzel. The Secretary is committed to both saving money and improving safety by making sure…

Media

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Regulation

House Passes Corporate Welfare Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2012

This week the Pennsylvania House passed RACP (pronounced RCAP) reform by a wide margin of 184 to 9. RACP – the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program – is a political…

Media

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