Education
The Growing Lobbying Might of the PSEA
The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state’s largest government union with 192,000 members, spent an astonishing $2.6 million in 2009-10 on “political activities and lobbying.” If that seems like a…
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Indefensible Defense of Michael Mann
Yesterday a dozen liberal and academic groups rose in defense of Penn State Climategate scientist Michael Mann, making up reasons such as “academic freedom” to deny…
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UC Trust Fund Interest Another Fiscal Challenge for PA
A recent NY Times piece looks at the impact of states’ borrowing to pay their unemployment compensation (UC), now that the federal government will begin charging interest on these…
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Privatizing State Liquor Stores is a Real Possibility
After years of discussion, it appears the tides have finally turned in favor of privatizing Pennsylvania’s liquor stores. With a newly GOP controlled legislature, support for the policy is…
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Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?
The New York Times reports on some research – HT to Greg Mankiw – on the value of kindergarten improvement, and teachers, on earnings later in life. However,…
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NY Times: Individual Mandate is a Tax & Now Fewer Health Care Options
The New York Times had not one, but two stories over the weekend on things we learned about “what’s in the bill”, that we had to wait until it was…
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Read More: NY Times: Individual Mandate is a Tax & Now Fewer Health Care OptionsTaxes & Economy
Penn State Fronts for GE
The New York Times reports today that companies are responding to new rules on earmark bans for private business by either setting up their own nonprofits, or…
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Amish Carrots, Corporate Sticks
Ten days ago the New York Times reported how Amish farmers are being encouraged by environmental bureaucrats and activist groups to clean up the way they farm: For…
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Read More: Amish Carrots, Corporate SticksRegulation
Ethics of Tobacco Advisory Committee Goes Up in Smoke
Several groups have requested investigation of, or filed ethics complaints against, members of the FDA’s new Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). Identified in March 2010, the TPSAC’s…
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