Taxes & Economy

Severance Tax at Odds with State Constitution

  • October 1, 2010

Earlier this week, Nate Benefield blogged on the unconstitutional process of the House-passed natural gas severance tax bill (SB 1155). This bill did not originate in the House,…

Media

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State Budget

Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2010

Yesterday, Bob Caton, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Democrats, and Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republican, engaged in a Twitter argument over which caucus’ TV shows were more…

Media

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Government Accountability

More Evidence for Term Limits

  • December 29, 2009

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, a Democrat from Delaware County, has provided the latest evidence that term limits are very healthy for representative democracies. First elected to the state House of…

Media

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Energy

Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity

  • December 16, 2009

Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Legislating Prices for Legal Ads

  • November 25, 2009

What do you do when something costs too much?  You don’t buy it.  Or if you’re the state, you simply mandate a new lower price. The State House…

Media

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Government Accountability

The Useless Resolutions of a Full-Time Legislature

  • November 19, 2009

One of the most common critiques of full-time state legislatures is the sheer amount of seemingly useless resolutions – to pander to certain groups of voters – that take up…

Media

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Health Care

Notes on Health Care Reform

  • November 12, 2009

Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…

Commentary

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State Budget

October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax Hikes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 1, 2009

I’ve just received word that Democrats are planning to rush a tax increase vote in the state House of Representatives tomorrow! Specifically, House Democrats are going to hold a vote on legislation…

Media

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State Budget

Enacting an Irresponsible Budget

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 16, 2009

Way back on July 1, 2009, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi penned an excellent commentary, “Enacting a Responsible Budget,” urging “the Governor and the House Democratic leaders to support a…

Media

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