Regulation

Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a Nutshell

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 27, 2009

Yesterday the Senate approved HB 1828, a long and complicated bill full of so-called pension reforms and potential local tax increases. Here’s a basic summary of the provisions following…

Media

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Regulation

The Pennsylvania Pension Bailout

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 25, 2009

Pennsylvania legislators are drawing nearer to implementing a bailout bill for Philadelphia and a state takeover for insolvent municipal pension funds in cities like Pittsburgh. While pension reforms are…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for Disaster

  • August 14, 2009

With a renewed interest in tolling Interstate 80, I find it necessary to reiterate several points of concern surrounding Act 44 and its implications on Pennsylvania’s economic future: Act…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

The Perils of Slavish Devotion to Organized Labor

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 28, 2009

Labor unions maintain a political stranglehold on legislation in Pennsylvania despite representing less than two out of 10 workers.

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Why Pennsylvania Should Not Build High-Speed Rail

  • July 23, 2009

Last week, Gov. Rendell  submitted an application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a share of the $8 billion of stimulus money Congress allocated for high-speed rail. This raises…

Commentary

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Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Gambling Addiction

  • July 9, 2009

Five years ago this month, Gov. Rendell signed into law the signature policy achievement of his tenure -- legalized slot machine gambling. Act 71 of 2004 allows for 61,000 slot…

Commentary

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Regulation

Has Gambling Reduced Property Taxes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 29, 2009

In a press conference last week, Gov. Rendell patted himself on the back for all the property tax relief he has provided via gambling.  But John Delano of KDKA-TV in…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians are Voting with Their Feet

  • June 24, 2009

I wonder how many believe that forgoing new taxes and cutting back spending would lead the state of Pennsylvania to the “post apocalyptic landscape of Cormac McCarthy’s novel soon-to-be-movie,…

Media

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