Pennsylvania’s economic climate gets another bleak ranking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2008

The Beacon Hill Institute has issued a new report on state economic competitiveness.  Not surprising, Pennsylvania ranks poorly – 39th out of the fifty states.  You can find the…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s economic climate gets another bleak ranking

Government Accountability

PA Lawmakers, Executives, Judges Get Pay Raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2008

Patriot News story on the 2.8% cost of living increase that Pennsylvania lawmakers will get beginning Dec. 1, and state judges and executive branch officials will get the raise…

Media

Read More: PA Lawmakers, Executives, Judges Get Pay Raise

Regulation

States Don’t Need a Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2008

Steven Malanga of the Manhattan Institute has an excellent editorial in the Wall Street Journal covering all the major topics of why states overspend – creating or…

Media

Read More: States Don’t Need a Bailout

Government Accountability

Full-Time Legislators still not the norm

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2008

The National Council of State Legislatures has some new data on occupations of state legislators. Here in Pennsylvania, 77.5% reported their occupation as “full-time legislator” (even though PA…

Media

Read More: Full-Time Legislators still not the norm

Pennsylvania Senate GOP has Turnpike Lease Study

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2008

An analysis of potential Turnpike lease by Moody’s, commissioned the the PA Senate Transportation Committee, was released yesterday. Their findings are that a Turnpike lease might be beneficial, that…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Senate GOP has Turnpike Lease Study

Education

Charter schools produce graduates, cost less

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2008

Jay P. Greene’s blog points to a couple of recent studies on charter schools. The first one (link to full study here) shows that charter schools in Florida…

Media

Read More: Charter schools produce graduates, cost less

Government Accountability

Shed a little light on your government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

ShowMeTheSpending.com, a project of the National Taxpayers Union (with a coalition of groups) has relaunched as a wiki (like Wikipedia) as part of the Sunshine Review…

Media

Read More: Shed a little light on your government

Government Accountability

RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

As many readers are aware, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll passed away last night.  Here is the Patriot News Story.  John Micek has posted reactions from…

Media

Read More: RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll

Education

Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • November 12, 2008

Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one of the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians & Increasing Taxes