Government Accountability

Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2008

This weekend, sports fans have the ineviable choice of rooting for Luke Skywalker or for Darth Vader in the Super Bowl. Yes, Luke is whiny and obnoxious (read: Eli Manning),…

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PTC: We Not Spread Lies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 28, 2008

PA Turnpike Commission’s Tim Carson sent a letter to Toll Roads News in response to their story about the lack of caps on Turnpike tolls under Act…

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‘Foreign’ is not a dirty word

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2008

Great Op-Ed in the Post-Gazette by Todd Malan on the issue of “foreign” companies bidding on the Turnpike: Finally, if the bidding process is robust, the likely…

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Taxes & Economy

How important are elections?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 22, 2008

Here are a couple of good commentaries on the importance of politics and elections. Though they draw the opposite conclusion, they follow a similar theme, and I find myself agreeing…

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Taxes & Economy

U.S. Map of Religions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 19, 2008

This map of most common religious denomination by county from Mark Perry’s blog is fascinating. Only a smattering of counties have a majority of one religion/denomination (with clushers…

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Taxes & Economy

Gas Taxes Are High Enough

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 19, 2008

US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in the WSJ on how the gas tax is high enough, and how public-private partnerships can be a solution to transportation funding needs.

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Taxes & Economy

Turnpike lease and ‘foreign’ companies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 16, 2008

The latest news that Senate President pro tem Joe Scanarti will be introducing a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (Tribune Review story), which appears to be different that Senator…

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Study Supports Turnpike Lease

  • January 15, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation responds to PSU/Wayne State study HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to a study of traffic diversion due to toll increases on the Ohio Turnpike by authors…

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Taxes & Economy

The Ethanol Fallacy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 15, 2008

Popular Mechanics on The Ethanol Fallacy: So what should the government do? First off: no harm. Instead of trying to mandate specific technologies—and risk locking us into…

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