Taxes & Economy

Small Businesses in the Pennsylvania Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2008

The Small Business Administration has published their latest profiles of small businesses in the US and each of the 50 states. Some of the data is a bid old…

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Education

We’re Number One! In Teacher Strikes…still

  • November 21, 2008

The Allegheny Institute, one of our sister think tanks, posted a brief about teacher strikes. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania maintains its reputation of being the “teacher strike capital” of the world.

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State Budget

Budget shortfall, but money (and giant checks) for pork is plentiful

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2008

Even though Pennsylvania is facing a massive budget shortfall, don’t expect Governor Rendell to stop touring the state handing out taxpayer funds. Yesterday, he announced $44 million in “investments”…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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