Government Accountability

Biennial Legislatures

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

NCSL has a new podcast discussing biennial legislatures – i.e. states where the General Assembly meets for a limited session every two years. There have been a handful of…

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Health Care

Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

The Virginia House of Representatives passed SB 417, sending it on to Gov. McDonnell, who is expected to sign it. The legislation would state, in defiance of health…

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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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