Government Accountability

Constitutional Convention in IL gets a boost

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

The Illinois Constitutional Convention ballot question, discussed in a previous post, got a couple of boosts in the last week. First came news that the Cook County Assessor…

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State Budget

PA Budget Deficit Growing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2008

The latest Pennsylvania Revenue Department report indicates that collections were $160 million below estimates in September, and $280 million below for the fiscal year which began in July.

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State Budget

Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later

  • October 1, 2008

$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation renewed its call for Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to take action to prevent a…

Press Release

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Health Care

Converting Medicaid into Premium Assistance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 30, 2008

The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder (click here for PDF) on how states can convert Medicaid spending into premium assistance for insurance – a proposal which would…

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What Will the General Assembly Do?

  • September 30, 2008

Turnpike lease opportunity is going away HARRISBURG, PA—The $12.8 billion offer to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike will officially expire today at 5:00 p.m., unless Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (Abertis/CitiGroup) decide…

Press Release

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout Fails

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2008

In case you missed it, the vote on the bailout failed. GrassrootsPA has the PA Delegation Bailout Vote. The Club for Growth blog has a lot more on…

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Taxes & Economy

Property Taxes by State and by County

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2008

The Tax Foundation has a new analysis of property taxes by state and by county. The state data shows that Pennsylvania ranks 15th in median property taxes ($2,159),…

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Taxes & Economy

Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2008

Morning Call editorial blasts lawmakers for failing to even consider a lease deal: Once again, the small-idea, under-achieving Pennsylvania Legislature has let down the people they serve. The…

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout Bandwagon – The Rendell Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 27, 2008

As hope for the proposed Turnpike Lease dwindles, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is asking Congress to add $100 billion in transportation money to the $700 billion bailout deal.

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