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State Budget

States Looking to Spending Caps

• Nathan Benefield
• July 28, 2006

While legislation limiting the growth of state spending in Pennsylvania (the “Taxpayer Fairness Act”) has stalled in the House Rules Committee, at least six states will be having ballot initiatives…

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Taxes & Economy

Politics trumps economics in Chicago

• Nathan Benefield
• July 28, 2006

The Chicago city council passed a law which would mandate “Big-Box” retailers pay a minimum wage of $10/hour and $3 in fringe benefits, essentially an effort to keep Wal-Mart out…

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President Rendell?

• Nathan Benefield
• July 27, 2006

From Philadelphia Magazine: “Ed Rendell was dead in the water five months ago. Now it appears he’s a shoo-in to get reelected, and there are whispers about a VP…

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Regulation

Manufacturing Job Loss in the Great Lakes Region

• Nathan Benefield
• July 27, 2006

The Brookings Institution released a study on manufacturing jobs lost in the Great Lakes region. The numbers and findings are interesting: many of the nation’s manufacturing jobs “lost” were…

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Ed Rendell takes credit for everything

• Nathan Benefield
• July 26, 2006

Tony Phyrillas latest editorial.

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State Budget

Budgeting in Neverland

• Nathan Benefield
• July 26, 2006

Policy Analysis from the Cato Institute on how Congress overspends because they only hear from the spending lobby, not taxpayers, during the budget process. The same can be said…

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Tax Cuts Lead to Economic Growth

• Nathan Benefield
• July 26, 2006

The US Treasury Department released an analysis yesterday finding what we already knew – tax cuts spur economic growth. The Wall Street Journal summarizes this report. It also finds…

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Taxes & Economy

More Vinsanity

• Nathan Benefield
• July 25, 2006

A press release from Senator Vince Fumo’s office dismisses any notion that Pennsylvania business taxes are too high, citing select data showing Pennsylvania has merely a mediocre economic record…

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Regulation

Pay raise still helps Stetler

• July 25, 2006

The York Daily Record highlights how Rep. Steve Stetler from York will garner $2,000 more per year in pension payouts because he kept more than $9K in “unvouchered expenses”–unconstitutionally…

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Taxes & Economy

Dukakis on Minimum Wage and Immigration

• Nathan Benefield
• July 25, 2006

Editorial by Michael Dukakis in today’s New York Times. Dukakis claims that if we raise the minimum wage to $8 hour, businesses will stop hiring illegal immigrants. Essentially…

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Cuts are Good for Everyone

• Nathan Benefield
• July 25, 2006

And (almost) everyone understands that, from today’s Wall Street Journal.

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Regulation

Pension system ‘a perfect storm’

• July 24, 2006

More on the coming pension crisis in the York Daily Record. Side note: Democratic Rep. Steve Stetler–who is retiring in September to become the new Executive Director of the…

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PNC Park Threatens To Leave Pittsburgh Unless Better Team Is Built

• July 24, 2006

PITTSBURGH—After five years of serving Pittsburgh as their state-of-the-artsporting facility, PNC Park, the home of the rundown, poorly maintained Pirates,said Tuesday it is threatening to leave Pittsburgh unless…

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Taxes & Economy

PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?

• Nathan Benefield
• July 24, 2006

A report released today by The Tax Foundation looks at legislation expected to be voted on by the US House tomorrow on business taxes. This bill (HR 1956) would…

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Regulation

Sweet, sour of lawmaker pensions

• Nathan Benefield
• July 24, 2006

More on lawmaker’s pensions and the coming crisis in the York Daily Record.

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Taxes & Economy

Politicians are failing to tax and spend state to prosperity : The Morning Call Online

• Nathan Benefield
• July 24, 2006

Read Matthew Brouillette’s latest commentary in today’s Allentown Morning Call.

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Taxes & Economy

Businesses are becoming “sick of Pennsylvania”

• Nathan Benefield
• July 24, 2006

Article in The Republican & Herald on the tax climate in PA.

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Taxes & Economy

Friedman(s) talk current issues

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2006

Wall Street Journal intervew with Milton and Rose Friedman coverring illegal immigration, Iraq, and government spending.

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Regulation

Harrisburg pensions: 50 lawmakers leaving seats this year

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2006

Chambersburg Public Opinion on retiring lawmakers’ pensions and the need to fix the pension system.

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Regulation

21st Retiring Rep to Profit from Repealed Pay Raise

• Nathan Benefield
• July 20, 2006

Rock the Capital reports that Rep. Steven Stetler, who announced this week he would be retiring from office in September, will receive a pension increase of over $2,000/year from…

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Regulation

More money spent on gambling; still none received

• Nathan Benefield
• July 20, 2006

Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with more about the tranfer of funds to run the Gaming Control Board. Apparently, Gov. Rendell and budget Sec. Michael Masch plan to…

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