Government Accountability

More on ACORN and Voter Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2008

As a followup to Jessica’s post on ACORN and Voter Fraud, here are some recent updates: The Tribune Review notes that investigations of ACORN could be coming to…

Media

Read More: More on ACORN and Voter Fraud

Government Accountability

Failure of Reform: Who’s to Blame?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 30, 2008

Brad Bumsted in the Tribune-Review reports on the inability of the General Assembly to pass reform legislation this session. The Senate is blaming the House for failing to act…

Media

Read More: Failure of Reform: Who’s to Blame?

Taxes & Economy

No immediate fiscal crisis?

  • September 29, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports on the drop in transportation funding due to the rejection of the Turnpike Commission’s I-80 tolling plan. Under Act 44, the Turnpike Commission will borrow…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

$12.8B lease opportunity is all but lost

  • September 26, 2008

The opportunity to plug a massive transportation funding gap will be lost because of legislative inaction. Although Gov. Rendell plans to try to revive the turnpike lease in 2009, one…

Media

Read More: $12.8B lease opportunity is all but lost

Taxes & Economy

Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?

  • September 21, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Rendell is looking at a gas tax increase in light of the refusal of legislative leaders to consider the lease. “To make up the shortfall, we’re…

Media

Read More: Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?

Government Accountability

Past Time to Clean Up Harrisburg

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 8, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a couple of stories on corruption in the Capitol.  One is a query about the $10 million in taxpayer grants directed to the Beaver…

Media

Read More: Past Time to Clean Up Harrisburg

Taxes & Economy

End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 4, 2008

The Allegheny Institute writes that a court ruling, disallowing a referendum on the Allegheny County drink tax, will likely be overturned on appeal, because is so shoddy. Pittsburgh…

Media

Read More: End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?

Education

Is PHEAA reformable?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questions whether PHEAA can be reformed, as the Auditor General suggests, given that the legislators who dominate the PHEAA board don’t think legislators should vote to…

Media

Read More: Is PHEAA reformable?

State Budget

Spend Less on Pork, Voters Say

  • July 25, 2008

Pat Toomey comments in the Wall Street Journal on public opinion of pork spending: The idea that bringing home federal dollars is integral to a politician’s job…

Media

Read More: Spend Less on Pork, Voters Say