Readings on Energy

• Nathan Benefield
• September 17, 2007

As the General Assembly begins a special session on energy (and it looks like the debate is only on how much to borrow and spend on corporate welfare grants),…

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Bogus reform prevails

• August 5, 2007

Brad Bumsted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes about “the much-bullayhooed effort in the General Assembly to strengthen the state’s infamously weak Right to Know Law.” Guess what? It’s gone…

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Taxpayer control in name only

• August 4, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the bill of goods sold to taxpayers with Act 1 of 2006. Supposedly, the General Assembly plans to tackle the issue of property taxes again…

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Taxes & Economy

Spending Diet Step #3: Stop Over-Taxing

• July 3, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation calls on lawmakers to return the state’s $650 million surplus to taxpayers HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called upon the General Assembly to return the state’s…

Fact Sheet

Cost and Size of General Assembly debated

• Nathan Benefield
• May 10, 2007

Brad Bumsted on the Speaker’s Reform Commission hearing on reducing the size of the legislature. While an NCSL analyst testified to the fact that Pennsylvania has the 2nd…

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Health Care

Shrink the Legislature to 8

• Nathan Benefield
• October 20, 2006

The House Democratic Leadership Letter – from Bill DeWeese (Minority Leader) and Mike Veon (Minority Whip) calls upon the General Assembly to pass “Cover All Kids” because they (DeWese…

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Government Accountability

Potential Effects of Reducing the Size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

• Nathan Benefield
• August 23, 2006

One of the most discussed legislative reforms in Harrisburg is a reduction in the size of the General Assembly. One version of this proposal, SB 890, sponsored by Sen. John…

Fact Sheet

Government Accountability

Lobbyist disclosure first

• Nathan Benefield
• August 8, 2006

Paul Carpenter editorial in The Morning Call on why we need a strong lobbyist and regulation and disclosure law before we consider shrinking the size of the General Assembly.

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Government Accountability

Does Size Matter?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 1, 2006

If you prefer audio podcast to the text version, you can listen to my testimony on reducing the size of the General Assembly. (Note: the file is 2MB…

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