State Budget

New budget may mean deficit, higher taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2008

Marc Levy of the AP reports that the new $28.2 budget agreement may, according to Senate officials (both Republicans and Democrats), result in a budget deficit of $1 billion…

Media

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Regulation

Senate passes transporation P3 bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2008

The Senate yesterday passed a bill allowing for Public Private Partnerships in transportation (bill text). The big Kahuna, the Turnpike lease, is exempted from the legislation, but it…

Media

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State Budget

Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!

  • June 26, 2008

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation sounded an alarm today that both Governor Rendell and state lawmakers are poised to take citizens deeper into debt. “Putting the people of…

Press Release

Read More: Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!

Health Care

Address Health Care, Not Health Insurance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2008

Letter to the editor in The Daily Item focus on the Senate Republican’s health care reform plan, specifically their proposal to aid free clinics. While I agree with…

Media

Read More: Address Health Care, Not Health Insurance

Government Accountability

Perzel, Fumo at Secret Budget Negotiations

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2008

John Micek reports on the details of the secret budget negotiations: The players last night:House Dems: Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, Whip Keith McCall and Appropriations Chair Dwight…

Media

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Senate Proposes Spending Diet

  • June 20, 2008

Low-growth budget is a step in the right direction, but will House and Governor agree?  HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed a state spending plan for the upcoming…

Press Release

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State Budget

Senate Passes Trimmed Down Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2008

Tired of waiting for the House Democrats to pass a budget bill, the Senate today passed their own version (as an amendment to supplemental appropriations for last year).

Media

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Regulation

Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2008

John Micek thinks the Senate Dems plan to pass a smoking ban that includes everything the conference committee bill did, plus exemptions so Scranton and Pittsburgh could pass their own…

Media

Read More: Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?

Evans, Capelli to Introduce Lease Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2008

State Rep. Dwight Evans (a Philadelphia Democrat) and Rep. Steven Capelli (a Williamsport-area Republican) will introduce a bill (HB 2593) to authorizing leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Paul Nussbaum reports in…

Media

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