Education
Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
A new study from Penn State reveals that local school districts’ assessments, allowed as an alternative to the 11th-grade PSSA exam to demonstrate proficiency for Pennsylvania students before graduating,…
Media
Read More: Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
“Tea Parties” Coming to Pennsylvania
Online conservative activists have rallied to CNBC’s Rick Santelli’s call last for a “Nationwide Tea Party” to protest the economic “stimulus,” bailouts, and erosion of liberty. Here are some…
Media
Read More: “Tea Parties” Coming to PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist Records
Here is an AP Story on the ruling by Pennsylvania House and Senate have ruled that lobbyist contact is not covered under the new Open Records law (HT…
Media
Read More: PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist RecordsEducation
Fact Check: PA Education Spending
A myth floating around Harrisburg is that the state government used to fund 50% of K-12 education, and has reduced support since then. This was most recently stated by…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: PA Education SpendingTaxes & Economy
Federal stimulus is a trap for states
The Wall Street Journal today looks at governors considering rejecting the federal stimulus dollars, as it will increase the cost to states. For example, the stimulus expands Medicaid subsidies,…
Media
Read More: Federal stimulus is a trap for statesRegulation
State and local owe enormous obligations to retirees
The Allegheny Institute has a new policy report examining the pension plans of the 10 largest Pennsylvania cities. They find these plans have a combined unfunded liability of $4.5…
Media
Read More: State and local owe enormous obligations to retireesTaxes & Economy
Is tolling I-80 dead?
Some of the Turnpike Commissioners think that tolling I-80 across PA remains a strong possibility, and that the federal government did not “reject” the tolling plan. See the…
Media
Read More: Is tolling I-80 dead?Regulation
More on the PA Pension “Spike”
A couple of editorials on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis from the Daily Review and the Courier Express. Both called for depoliticizing the plans by moving…
Media
Read More: More on the PA Pension “Spike”Taxes & Economy
Rendell should reject the federal “stimulus” money
I know it will never happen — just like asking him to pass on a greasy cheese steak sub — but Gov. Rendell should reject the…
Media
Read More: Rendell should reject the federal “stimulus” money