The state government is ultimately held accountable to the people through the electoral process—but that should not be the only line of defense against government overreach or waste. Taxpayers deserve a transparent government that works for them. Reforms are needed to reduce corruption and limit the scope of government to its constitutional authority. Additionally, reforms that ensure a transparent budgeting process, a fair electoral process, and a streamlined regulatory process should be pursued to increase the government’s integrity.

Government Accountability

Lack of evidence to support raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2006

Scranton Times-Tribune editorial takes on Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of a judicial pay raise.

Media

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Education

Editorial: PHEAA should open books or lose monopoly

  • September 20, 2006

DelcoTimes suggests “If PHEAA doesn’t want to open its books, the state should open its doors to competition in the student loan field. Then residents can compare organizations and…

Media

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Government Accountability

Judicial Pay After Court Ruling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2006

Here is what PA judges will make following the court ruling reinstating the judicial pay raise: http://mail.comfdnprod.wpengine.com/judgespay.pdf…

Media

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Government Accountability

Judicial pay raise outrage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2006

WHP CBS21 coverage of the pay raise ruling, featuring video of our very own Matthew Brouillette talking with angry callers.

Media

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Government Accountability

Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2006

The PA Supreme Court Opinion on the pay raise, issued today (view the last two pages for the Conclusion) makes the following decisions: 1) The repeal (Act 72 of…

Media

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Government Accountability

Pay Raise is Back

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2006

The Patriot News reports that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated last July’s pay raise, for judges–a ruling which raises the pay of the Supreme Court Justices. The ruling also…

Media

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Government Accountability

The real meaning of ‘reform’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 5, 2006

Brad Bumsted column in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune Review on the need for legislative reform. He cites the recent Commonwealth Foundation study on reforms needed.

Media

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Government Accountability

Legislative leaders need a diet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2006

A must-watch story from KDKA exposing how many legislators leaders take $141 per-diem for “lodging and meals” every day they are in Harrisburg, then charge taxpayers for catering or…

Media

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Government Accountability

The Fumo Legal Defense Fund

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 14, 2006

State Sen. Vince Fumo, under federal investigation for corruption, used $900,000 of taxpayer’s dollars for his legal defense (in addition to $300,000 of campaign contributions) the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Media

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Government Accountability

Principles Worth Fighting For

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 10, 2006

Though I have watched Braveheart several dozen times, last weekend was the first time that the blood, violence, and men in kilts reminded me of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Unfortunately,…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

The Lieberman Lesson

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2006

New York Times analysis of the new partisan dynamics: “Traditional Democratic interest groups have steadily lost ground to a more partisan, progressive movement skilled at using the Internet to…

Media

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Government Accountability

Lobbyist disclosure first

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 8, 2006

Paul Carpenter editorial in The Morning Call on why we need a strong lobbyist and regulation and disclosure law before we consider shrinking the size of the General Assembly.

Media

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Government Accountability

General Assembly Too Big & Expensive

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2006

Editorial in the Press Enterprise Online on reducing the legislature. While they use figures from my testimony, they fail to note that the crux of our position is…

Media

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Government Accountability

Swann on Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2006

Gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann’s response to a survey on government reform, compiled by Democracy Rising PA, with comments from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Media

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Government Accountability

Rendell on Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 2, 2006

Governor Rendell’s response to a survey on government reform, compiled Democracy Rising PA, with comments from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Media

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Government Accountability

Does Size Matter?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 1, 2006

If you prefer audio podcast to the text version, you can listen to my testimony on reducing the size of the General Assembly. (Note: the file is 2MB…

Media

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Government Accountability

Shrinking the Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 1, 2006

Thank you, Chairman Scarnati, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify before you today on the issue of whether or not Pennsylvania should reduce…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Database to Monitor Spending?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2006

US Senators Tom Coburn and Jeff Flake have proposed a database tracking all recipients of federal grants (see Cato Institute analysis). Like many of you, I would enjoy easy…

Media

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Government Accountability

Is it 1994 all over again?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2006

Former Congressman George Nethercutt in today’s Wall Street Journal on the fall election. He essentially argues that the party that does better is the party that offers the most…

Media

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