Taxes & Economy

The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. Pittsburgh

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2009

Harold Miller has an interesting blog post, featuring a few graphs, comparing the economic growth of the Pittsburgh region to the Phoenix region – the two hometowns for tonight’s…

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Taxes & Economy

Royal Bank of Scotland to Sell Electricity in PA

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 23, 2009

The Tribune-Review reports The Royal Bank of Scotland is awaiting permission from the PUC to sell electricity to commercial and industrial customers across Pennsylvania. The change would give Pittsburgh…

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Taxes & Economy

Trucker’s Words of Wisdom on Taxes

  • January 20, 2009

A spokeswoman for House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) said to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that a tax increase “is the last place we should go, but at this…

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Regulation

There’s a reason so many Steeler fans have left Pittsburgh

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 19, 2009

Jerry Bowyer has an excellent piece in today’s Wall Street Journal on why sports – and taxpayer subsidized sports stadiums – do not lead to broader economic gains (a…

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Education

Lesson from Pittsburgh: Low standards Hurt Students

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 8, 2009

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article covers how the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration is trying to defend its policy of a 50% minimum grade (HT GrassrootsPA), But…

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Regulation

Taxpayers helping millionaires

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 22, 2008

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed celebrates the end of a long-standing tradition of sending taxpayers money to sports stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – or rather, the extension of that tradition…

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Regulation

Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 18, 2008

This is somewhat old news, but its new to me: Mario Lemieux admitted in August that he never thought of moving the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was still able to…

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Regulation

The Corporate Welfare Mentality

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 26, 2008

Team 4 Pittsburgh has a well-done, but disturbing, story and video on why government bureaucrats hand out “economic development” grants to companies. Usually, government officials claim that taxpayer “investments”…

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Regulation

Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree Benefits

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 18, 2008

The Allegheny Institute has released a report on the mounting costs of OPEB or the public sector retiree benefits for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County employees. Previously…

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