Politicians fight against openness

• Nathan Benefield
• October 27, 2007

Times-Tribune editorial on why the PA House gutted the Open Records bill, effectively undermining the effort to make state government somewhat open. In related news, Governor Rendell has decided…

Media

Act 1 Tax Shift Coverage

• Nathan Benefield
• May 7, 2007

Tribune-Review: Voters to decide Act 1 tax trade off. Allentown Morning Call: Act 1 is an awful law, it will divide communities Post-Gazette: Voters Guide 2007: School…

Media

Is “Fair Share Tax” dead?

• Nathan Benefield
• April 24, 2007

Times Tribune article suggests there is no support in the General Assembly for a payroll tax on businesses to pay for “Cover All Pennsylvanians”. The administration suggested (as they…

Media

The Health Care Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• April 4, 2007

The Times Tribune offers contrasting articles on universal health care proposals in PA and elsewhere and on consumer-driven health care.

Media

Pension crisis on the horizon

• Nathan Benefield
• December 18, 2006

The Scranton Times-Tribune looks at the looming crisis in our state pension systems, and how lawmakers bolstering pension benefits exacerbated this crisis. Also, Mark Scolforo of the AP with…

Media

Government Accountability

Lack of evidence to support raise

• Nathan Benefield
• September 20, 2006

Scranton Times-Tribune editorial takes on Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of a judicial pay raise.

Media

Education

SAT Scores and PA Schools

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2006

SAT Scores Nationally, scores dropped, primarily attributed to a change in the test format. Pennsylania continues to lag behind, ranking 47th in the nation in average combined SAT score.

Media

Education

Excess at PHEAA

• Nathan Benefield
• August 18, 2006

Following Commonwealth Foundation president Matthew Brouillette’s chat about PHEAA on Wednesday’s Bob Durgin Show, a number of newspapers have run stories of the staff bonuses, “profit,” and extravagant trips…

Media

State Budget

Budget Coverage

• Nathan Benefield
• July 3, 2006

Some press coverage of the late night/early morning state budget deal: Herald Standard (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Pittsburgh TribPost Gazette (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Philadelphia Inquirer (Commonwealth…

Media