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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‘Foreign’ is not a dirty word

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2008

Great Op-Ed in the Post-Gazette by Todd Malan on the issue of “foreign” companies bidding on the Turnpike: Finally, if the bidding process is robust, the likely…

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Bill for Turnpike Lobbying: $700,000

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2008

Joe Grata in the Post-Gazette with a look at the Turnpike Commission’s $700,000 in lobbying contracts for 2007 ($396,000 at the federal level and $316,000 for Harrisburg lobbyist –…

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Turnpike CEO’s spin on I-80 tolling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 14, 2007

Following the return of the PennDOT-PTC bid to toll I-80 (See our news release here), Turnpike CEO Brimmeier is in full spin mode. From the Post-Gazette:…

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Tolling rivals confront leaders

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 3, 2007

Centre Daily Times on the most recent discussion of tolling I-80. Sounds like it isn’t too popular in that neck of the woods. Also, Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier is…

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