Government Accountability

Right-to-Know Law Still on a Learning Curve

• January 5, 2010

Since the new Open-Records law took effect last January, the number of requests for information have skyrocketed; increasing by as much as 130%, according to the Patriot News. The…

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Regulation

PA Stores to Get Wine Vending Machines that Check ID

• Nathan Benefield
• December 21, 2009

The Patriot News has a story that about 100 Pennsylvania stores will get wine kiosks, and the machines will check drivers licenses, give a breathalyzer, and accept payments. The…

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Regulation

Pennsylvania Pension Managers Note Looming Crisis

• Nathan Benefield
• December 10, 2009

The Post-Gazette features an article on the upcoming cost increases to Pennsylvania school districts and the state for pensions in the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The article…

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Regulation

PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with Renewables

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 11, 2009

Last month the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action plan. While touting the creation of “green jobs”, it did not advocate increasing PA’s…

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Regulation

Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization

• Nathan Benefield
• November 6, 2009

Following our report showing that moving from state-run liquor stores to licensure has little impact on alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and DUI rates, Pennsylvania papers are again joining the…

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Regulation

Pensions and Skyrocketing Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• October 14, 2009

Ethan Demme has a good synopsis of the coming crisis in state and local pensions in Pennnsylvania, and why this will drive up taxes, from the RE Harper Economic…

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Let’s Just Buy Everyone Flying Cars

• Nathan Benefield
• September 9, 2009

The Patriot News reports on an insanely bad idea – taxpayer funded buses, then trains, from Lebanon to Hershey to Harrisburg. First the study, funded by the transportation industry…

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High Speed Rail Proposal Just Another Way to Waste Taxpayer Dollars

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2009

The Patriot News highlights Pennsylvania’s latest request of $28.2 million for high-speed rail projects from the federal stimulus. Here is our recent commentary by Randal O’Toole on…

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Education

Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough

• Nathan Benefield
• August 17, 2009

The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding.  It seems these groups are living in another world. …

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