Taxes & Economy

Act 44 & Transportation Funding

• September 4, 2008

In July 2007, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed and Governor Ed Rendell signed Act 44. This legislation authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the Turnpike;…

Fact Sheet

Taxes & Economy

Why the Turnpike Commission Can’t Respond

• August 28, 2008

With the release of the Turnpike Commission Family Tree video and poster at TurnpikeFacts.com, PTC CEO Joe Brimmeier doesn’t have much of a response. We figure he…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Head for the Hills

• August 12, 2008

“It’s tangible, the misery and hopelessness and the bleakness.” No, this is not the latest sound-bite ad for tourism in PA. It’s actually what Viggo Mortensen said about Pittsburgh,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Who’s your cable guy?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 7, 2008

For the first time in 30 years Pittsburgh residents will be able to choose who provides their cable. The Post-Gazette reports the city is negotiating a contract that would…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

• Nathan Benefield
• July 10, 2008

A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…

Media

The Transportation Committee Cerberus

• July 6, 2008

Rep. Joe Markosek wants to become the next Cerberus of the General Assembly. Of course, that title is currently held by Rep. Babette Josephs for bottling up…

Media

Proposed School Funding Formula Explained

• Nathan Benefield
• June 18, 2008

The Morning Call ran a story yesterday, including comments by me, on how Governor Rendell’s proposed funding formula will benefit schools that have raised property taxes rather than schools…

Media

Government Accountability

Limiting political speech won’t create good government

• Nathan Benefield
• June 16, 2008

In the latest Democracy Rising Newsletter, Tim Potts takes on two issues: redistricting and campaign finance. On redistricting I agree with him–we should not let those running for…

Media

Regulation

Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 10, 2008

John Micek thinks the Senate Dems plan to pass a smoking ban that includes everything the conference committee bill did, plus exemptions so Scranton and Pittsburgh could pass their own…

Media