Top 5 Articles of 2013

Yesterday, we gave you the 5 most popular blog posts of 2013.  Today, we are highlighting the 5 most read articles of 2013 on our website.

1) The (Growing) Tab of PLCB Boondoggles

Getting government out of the booze business would eliminate conflicts of interest, stop government from freezing out Pennsylvania wineries, reduce opportunities for cronyism, eliminate taxpayer-funded boondoggles and allow the PLCB to focus on its mission as a regulatory agency.  Privatization means ending the government monopoly over both wholesale and retail operations and returning to a free market.

2) 6 Trends in Public School Spending

State spending on public schools is at an all-time high. Critics claim that Gov. Corbett “cut $1 billion” in education spending in the state budget.  But in 2011-12, federal stimulus funding—$1.3 billion of which was used for public education in 2010-11—disappeared.  The following year, the state budget increasedstate dollars for public schools by $480 million. The 2013-14 budget would spend nearly $10 billion on PreK-12 education.  This represents a record high, even greater than state plus federal stimulus dollars.

3) Government Unions’ Unfair Political Privilege

In 2012, Pennsylvania’s primary government unions spent more than $4.9 million from union dues on political activities and lobbying, a 64% increase from 2006.

4) Left, Right, Center – Pennsylvanians Want Full Liquor Privatization

A new survey—the most comprehensive examination of Pennsylvanians’ attitudes towards liquor privatization to date—shows that 66 percent of likely voters want to privatize Pennsylvania’s government-run wine and spirits system. Strong, bipartisan support for the measure was revealed, even among union households. 

5) Pennsylvania’s Poor and Taxpayers Deserve Better

Pennsylvanians deserve Medicaid reform that provides robust choice to meet individual needs, gives flexibility to tailor benefits and reduce unnecessary costs, and creates incentives for Medicaid recipients who maintain healthy lifestyles and seek preventative care.