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Education
New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2024—Public support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is evenly divided in Pennsylvania, according to a new statewide survey of Pennsylvania voters, with Harris leading Trump 47%…
Read More: New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up![shapiro vice president kamala harris](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-6.55.03 PM-900x900.png)
Education
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Read More: TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”![shapiro capable of leading](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1244606495-900x692.jpg)
Education
Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
Read More: Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?![shapiro record](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-11.10.30 AM-900x900.png)
Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris StigallPublic Union Democracy
The New Union Label: Closed!
From the New York Times: The Center for Union Facts shot onto the public stage yesterday by running full-page ads in The New York Times, The Washington Post…
Media
Read More: The New Union Label: Closed!Public Union Democracy
“Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protest
Teachers’ union rally to protest “20/20” piece (John Stossel’s “Stupid in America,” which details how unions have stood in way of school reform) will occur on March 8.
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Read More: “Don’t be talkin’ bad about me” protestEducation
Exceptions are rule for Act 72
The Times Leader points out the “referendum in name only” aspects of Act 72…which are also present in the various bills winding their way through the General Assembly. For…
Media
Read More: Exceptions are rule for Act 72Regulation
If only your retirement could be this good
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Brian O’Neill writes about Rep. Jeff Habay’s prison sentence for stealing from the taxpayers to run his campaign, but points out the bigger scandal: the state…
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Read More: If only your retirement could be this goodGovernment Accountability
Thinking about running for public office?
The Associated Press provides a good Q&A on what it takes to run for the Pennsylvania Legislatures. Interested? Click here to learn more.
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Read More: Thinking about running for public office?Government Accountability
City Slickers #1 and #2
This is funny. The Lt. Governor’s office issued this news release announcing that she and Gov. Rendell purchased the first and second fishing license. Talk about two fishies out of…
Media
Read More: City Slickers #1 and #2Regulation
Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg
This story, “Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg,” from Business Week (you’ll need to register to read it, but it’s free) reveals the shaking ground upon which Pennsylvania’s public pension…
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Read More: Pensions: Hedging Bets In HarrisburgWelfare
Welfare cuts [or welfare EXPANSION by Rendell] have counties scrambling
Philadelphia Inquirer story “Welfare cuts have counties scrambling” are missing THE major reason that counties like Bucks and Montgomery will be raising taxes — the dramatic increases in welfare…
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Read More: Welfare cuts [or welfare EXPANSION by Rendell] have counties scramblingTaxes & Economy
Rendell the Benevolent Job Creator
You may have heard Governor Rendell’s 2006-07 Budget Address, in which he once again touted his role in “creating jobs”. By using selected statistics, crediting any job growth in…
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Report card time: Rendell gets an F minus
Tony Phyrillas on the Liberty Index in The Mercury.
Media
Read More: Report card time: Rendell gets an F minusState Budget
Rendell’s Budget vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act
MEMORANDUM DATE: February 8, 2006TO: All Republican SenatorsCC: Capitol NewsroomFROM: Erik ArnesonSUBJECT: Rendell 06-07 Budget Proposal vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act Gov. Rendell today claimed that his…
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Read More: Rendell’s Budget vs. Taxpayer Fairness ActGovernment Accountability
How a Bill Becomes a Law … PA style
In an effort to settle a dispute between some shareholders of Philly-based Sovereign Bank, as reported by the Patriot News, some “ghost voting” ocurred in the Senate. The bill,…
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Read More: How a Bill Becomes a Law … PA styleTaxes & Economy
Absurd logic used to support minimum wage
Yet another example of the limitless rhetoric used to support a minimum wage increase. This time, Rep. Josephs calls out other female legislators, demanding that they support a minimum…
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Read More: Absurd logic used to support minimum wageTaxes & Economy
Spend more now, raises taxes later
The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards reports that many states (like maybe Pennsylvania) are following the same mistakes of the late 90s in Busting the State Tax-Revenue Boom. When state…
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Read More: Spend more now, raises taxes laterTaxes & Economy
Mentality of Minimum Wage Supporters
The Morning Call is reporting that House Republicans may be the only barrier between Rendell and his labor union buddies’ artificial increas in the labor costs in PA. One…
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Mid-Term Grades
Liberty Index coverage in the Post-Gazette suggests some lawmakers may need to stay “after class”.
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Lawmakers report card
Liberty Index coverage in the great Northwest. Read The Bradford Era story here.
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How to reduce property taxes
An Americans for Tax Reform study on property tax reform in New Jersey and Massachusetts. While New Jersey attempted to reduce property taxes by creating an income tax with…
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Read More: How to reduce property taxesTaxes & Economy
Taxing telecommuters
New study from the The Tax Foundation on how New York, Pennsylvania, and two oather states attempt to penalize telecommuters who choose not to live there. However, rather than…
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Read More: Taxing telecommutersState Budget
Rendell to propose business tax cuts
Attempting to reshape himself as a “pro-business” Democrat after 3 years of punishing job creators, Gov. Rendell gave a sneak peek into next week’s budget address. Remember, this is after…
Media
Read More: Rendell to propose business tax cutsGovernment Accountability
#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking
Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…
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Read More: #254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking