Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30

• Nathan Benefield
• April 17, 2008

Governor Rendell has announced that bids for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be due at or near the end of April. He also announced many of the terms…

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State Budget

The Merits of Pork Barrel spending

• Nathan Benefield
• April 7, 2008

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette has a story on the state capital budget, covering some of the projects in the Pittsburgh area. The Rendell administration tries to take…

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Regulation

PUC goes after Amish transport

• Nathan Benefield
• March 17, 2008

The Pennsylvania Utility Commission is cracking down on individuals giving rides to the Amish, read the Lancaster Online story and the WGAL story. The Post-Gazette also covered…

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Government Accountability

State paid law firms $111 million for advice

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2008

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette reports that Pennsylvania taxpayers have paid law firms $111 million for legal advice to state government under the Rendell administration (note: I believe this…

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Taxes & Economy

Did the PA min. wage increase cost jobs?

• Nathan Benefield
• March 4, 2008

The PA Department of Labor and Industry released their report on the state minimum wage increase. As this Post-Gazette story indicated, the report doesn’t attempt to address what…

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Health Care

Semonizing on RendellCare

• Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2008

Morning Call article and Post-Gazette piece on the planned “CAP Sunday” and campaign to use sermons to promote RendellCare. (HT: GrassrootsPA) I’ve written on Jesus and…

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State Budget

New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…

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Education

Budget Preview

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story previews Rendell’s budget proposal, including “Rebuilding Pennsylvania”, involving a three-year, $860 million ($287/year average) in new spending on infrastructure, mostly through new borrowing. He also promises…

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PTC: We Not Spread Lies

• Nathan Benefield
• January 28, 2008

PA Turnpike Commission’s Tim Carson sent a letter to Toll Roads News in response to their story about the lack of caps on Turnpike tolls under Act…

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