State court rejects lawsuit over ‘perks’ for legislators

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Harrisburg activist Gene Stilp, who filed the Commonwealth Court suit in February, based his claim on a section of the constitution providing for legislators to…

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Veon’s defeat shocks Democratic leaders

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2006

Post-Gazette Article on Mike Veon’s loss: “When you wanted money, you went to Mike, no matter what county you were from,” Beaver County Commissioners’ Chairman Dan Donatella said. But…

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Taxes & Economy

Transportation Funding Study

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2006

A PennDot commission released a report on funding for transporation titled “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Transporation Funding Crisis” (they identify a funding “crisis” because of too little taxpayer funding for transportation,…

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Veon draws cheers, but not for his travel

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2006

Ruth Ann Dailey column in today’s Post-Gazette on pork, legislator travel and perks, and open records. Think-tanks and reform groups such as the Commonwealth Foundation, Common Cause and Democracy…

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Regulation

Getting state legislators to work is costly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Post-Gazette article on the cost to taxpayers of the travel of several state lawmakers. Just another example of a failure of many in cover to be frugal when someone…

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Government Accountability

Mere Coincidence

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the six-figure government job awarded to Joseph Hoeffel – who earlier this year dropped out of the Lt. Gov. race after a meeting with Governor…

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Platinum Parachutes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 2, 2006

Read the John Kennedy’s latest commentary in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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Regulation

Ousted legislators find silver lining

  • June 18, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Some lawmakers who lost their jobs in the May primary will collect pensions almost as big as their current salaries. “Powerhouse Republican Sen. Robert Jubelirer,…

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