Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy Votes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2009

Mark Levy of the AP has a hard hitting story of Pennsylvania lawmakers use of WAMs – i.e. “Walking Around Money” made available to us at the discretion of legislative…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy Votes

Education

“Is public education socialism?”

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 13, 2009

In defense of a single-payer health care system, possible U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Dravosburg) asked, “Is public education socialism? No. This is the same thing.”…

Media

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State Budget

Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2009

The Sun-Gazette has a recent article on the Pennsylvania state budget titled “Rendell lashes out at Senate plan”. It didn’t sound like something that would surprise me – but…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black

Education

Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department

  • June 7, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department

Education

Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending

  • June 7, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending

Government Accountability

Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2009

With the approach of June 30th and the end of the state’s fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania’s budget. With Senate Republicans having passed a spending…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 21, 2009

The discussion between Jerry Taylor, Dan Mitchell, and Brink Lindsey on the Cato Institute blog (and NRO’s Corner) on Rush Limbaugh, tea parties, and conservative thought have been…

Media

Read More: Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism

State Budget

Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 21, 2009

The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings on the vesion of the state budget passed by the Senate (see here for more on that) today and tomorrow. Yet…

Media

Read More: Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?