Regulation

Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

RiShawn Biddle has a good article at American Spectator on how public school pensions and health care benefits are a huge cost burden in many states. New Jersey is…

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Government Accountability

The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

State Rep. Frank Oliver announced he will be retiring at the end of his term.  This retirement – along with those of Sen. Bob Mellow, Sen. Barry Stout, and…

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Regulation

Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

The lobbyist group Triad Strategies has a new blog focusing on Pennsylvania policy and politics, which features a recent post by George Wolff that calls for taxpayers to…

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Rendell’s Taxpayer Snow Job: No-Work Pay-Day

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 13, 2010

The Patriot-News reported that when Gov. Rendell closed down state government for the recent snow storm, state workers would receive full pay for not working — costing the taxpayers…

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Here is a video listing the 74 items currently exempt from the Pennsylvania sales tax that Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing – set to the introduction of Star Wars…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Instituting Meaningful Corrections Reform

  • February 11, 2010

Eric Boehm has a good article on the opportunity to help balance the state budget by reforming prison and probation. The inmate population in Pennsylvania’s prisons is growing at…

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Public Union Democracy

The Impact of Unions on Public Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

The latest Cato Journal takes on the topic of “Are Unions Good for America?” The journal features a number of good articles on issues of relevance nationally and in…

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Government Accountability

The End of Taxpayer-Funded Newsletters?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

Darwyyn Deyo reports that the PA House of Representatives is moving from away from paper newsletters to email newsletters to registered voters.  This is a good move, likely to…

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Government Accountability

CF Blog Round Up

  • February 10, 2010

Here is what the Commonwealth Foundation has bloggers discussing this week: The Pennsylvania Guardian links our work monitoring Pennsylvania’s deficit Conservative Network Reform Blog highlights our analysis of…

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