State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010

  • February 2, 2010

Following January’s estimate, Pennsylvania General Fund revenues are $374 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010

State Budget

Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2010

In a news release, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner estimates that – using the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s (DPW) estimated error rate – improper Medicaid payments cost Pennsylvania taxpayers…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million

Taxes & Economy

Electricity Competition: One Month Later . . .

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 1, 2010

With January electric bills in the hands of rate payers there is a host of discussion about the successes and short comings of electricity deregulation. Unlike Rep. George and…

Media

Read More: Electricity Competition: One Month Later . . .

Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas Tax Just Another Slush Fund

  • February 1, 2010

Letter in the Scranton Times-Tribune Editor: Those calling for a state tax on natural gas extraction – including Gov. Ed Rendell and The Times-Tribune – use poor logic…

Media

Read More: Natural Gas Tax Just Another Slush Fund

Government Accountability

CF Blog Roundup

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2010

Here are some recent Commonwealth Foundation mentions from various blogs: Bill Lawrence cites our alternatives to tolling I-80. GrassrootsPA gives us linkage on commentaries on Term Limits…

Media

Read More: CF Blog Roundup

Regulation

(Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2010

Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story – which bashes taxpayer bailouts of big Wall Street companies – was itself the recipient of taxpayer subsidies from the state of…

Media

Read More: (Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

Education

The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2010

The Heritage Foundation has a new background on online education, from a national perspective.  They write: As many as 1 million children (roughly 2 percent of the…

Media

Read More: The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education

Regulation

New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2010

Reason TV has a new video on liquor store privatization in Virginia, which highlights the benefits for consumers, and notes that states that privatize both save money and increase…

Media

Read More: New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization