Public Union Democracy

Rent Seeking: Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Musical

Priya Brannick
March 1, 2012

“Rent” isn’t just a depressing musical about New Yorkers facing AIDS. It’s also a term economists use to describe the benefits special interests win for themselves in the political…

Media

Regulation

Sounding the Alarm to Save Pennsylvania

February 29, 2012

A four-alarm fire is engulfing Pennsylvania's economy. If we don't regain control of the state debt, corrections costs, public welfare growth and government employee pensions, our state taxpayers will be…

Commentary

State Budget

5 Scary Facts about Pennsylvania’s Welfare Spending

Elizabeth Stelle
February 29, 2012

Welfare spending in Pennsylvania is out of control. The Department of Public Welfare is now the largest department in the state. It will continue to crowd out education, environmental…

Media

Education

Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending

February 29, 2012

Pennsylvania's K-12 education revenue increased from $13 billion in 1995-96 to $26 billion in 2009-10. Adjusted for inflation, that represents a 44% increase in revenue per student. …

Fact Sheet

Got Freedom? PLCB Has No App for That!

February 28, 2012

Ah yes, the Merry Minions of Merlot, makers of mediocrity, mismanagement and the modish mockery of “modernization” are at it again. But instead of truly bringing us into the 21st…

Media

Education

Exposing Two Class Size Myths

Elizabeth Stelle
February 27, 2012

The Patriot-News reports that while schools in the mid-state have laid off some employees, most districts are still below the national average student-teacher ratio of 15.1. The student-teacher ratio…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Once-Great Cities

Nathan Benefield
February 23, 2012

If you missed it, ReasonTV put out a great video on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal disaster, asking whether Harrisburg’s nightmare is America’s Future. Much of what…

Media

Regulation

Goodbye Gus, Hello Private Partnerships

Elizabeth Stelle
February 23, 2012

Say goodbye to the second-most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania. Not having Gus in Pennsylvania lottery commercials will save $140,000. But changes in the state lottery may not end with dropping…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Sec. John Wetzel Talks Corrections Reforms on The BOX

February 22, 2012

In latest podcast from The BOX, Corrections Secretary John Wetzel chats with Matt Brouillette about reducing the cost of corrections – a major expenditure in the Pennsylvania state budget…

Media