Taxes & Economy

How Do You Define “American-Made”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2008

Mark Perry poses the question about how you define “American-made” cars.  Does it depend on where the car was assembled?  Where the corporate headquarters is?  What percentage of the…

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Taxes & Economy

Head for the Hills

  • August 12, 2008

“It’s tangible, the misery and hopelessness and the bleakness.” No, this is not the latest sound-bite ad for tourism in PA. It’s actually what Viggo Mortensen said about Pittsburgh,…

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Regulation

Rendellconomics 101

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2008

Morning Call piece piece by Jarrett Renshaw debates the merits of Rendell’s economic policies – borrowing (to be paid by taxpayers) to give handouts to his favorite projects like…

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State Budget

Is the “far right” a losing proposition?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2008

Michael Smerconish – who gets mis-identified as a conservative due to his shaved head and glasses – calls for the GOP to act more “moderate” in order to win…

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Education

Less than 60% of black males graduate in PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2008

The Schott Foundation has a new report out on black male graduation rates – in public schools – and the gap between black and white performance. In PA,…

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Government Accountability

Legal fees double taxpayers’ cost in bonus scandal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2008

Tribune Review story highlights the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on legal fees – the bulk by House Democrats – in response to the bonusgate investigation. Taxpayers picked…

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Taxes & Economy

Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…

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Regulation

Time to end earmarks and WAMs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 7, 2008

Good op-ed in the Patriot News by William G. Williams on the need to end Congressional earmarks and WAMs by the PA General Assembly: For years in…

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The Transportation Committee Cerberus

  • July 6, 2008

Rep. Joe Markosek wants to become the next Cerberus of the General Assembly. Of course, that title is currently held by Rep. Babette Josephs for bottling up…

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