Regulation

State and local owe enormous obligations to retirees

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2009

The Allegheny Institute has a new policy report examining the pension plans of the 10 largest Pennsylvania cities. They find these plans have a combined unfunded liability of $4.5…

Media

Read More: State and local owe enormous obligations to retirees

Taxes & Economy

The Burden of PA Business Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2009

The Tribune Review has a story featuring Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge discussing Pennsylvania’s business tax climate at an appearance in Pittsburgh: The state needs…

Media

Read More: The Burden of PA Business Taxes

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…

Media

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

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…

Media

Read More: Royal Bank of Scotland to Sell Electricity in PA

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…

Media

Read More: Trucker’s Words of Wisdom on Taxes

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…

Media

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

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…

Media

Read More: Lesson from Pittsburgh: Low standards Hurt Students

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…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers helping millionaires

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…

Media

Read More: Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”