Government Accountability

Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• June 3, 2009

With the approach of June 30th and the end of the state’s fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania’s budget.  With Senate Republicans having passed a spending…

Commentary

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2009

• June 2, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the May revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $2.84 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell had estimated…

Press Release

Government Accountability

PA Senate Passes Spending Transparency

• Nathan Benefield
• June 2, 2009

Legislation which we have discussed many times on this blog (see previous posts here and here, and Elizabeth Bryan’s commentary here) to create an online database…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 Billion

• Nathan Benefield
• June 1, 2009

The latest report from the PA Department of Revenue, through the end of May, indicate that Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue shortfall has now reached $2.8 billion for the fiscal…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Government Intervention Prolongs Recessions

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 29, 2009

Recessions are a tough time for all—many lose their jobs, family incomes shrink, and budgets are squeezed. But recessions are natural and, in the long-run, foster a stronger economy.  It…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• May 29, 2009

ABC 27 has a news story and video on proposed legislation that would create an online portal and database of state spending in Pennsylvania. What is most disappointing…

Media

Regulation

Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 29, 2009

Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley   Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2009

Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette has a story on how some Pennsylvania lawmakers, who hail from nowhere near the I-80 corridor, want the Turnpike Commission to reapply to toll…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Department of Defense Saves Money with Electricity Deregulation

• May 27, 2009

Last month, the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) signed a five-year deal with the Hess Corporation to supply electricity for its 21 agencies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Media