Media

Pension grab: Lawmakers at a loss

• December 17, 2005

Editorial from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review warns of the looming crisis of public pensions. The Commonwealth Foundation will soon be releasing a report that shows just how out of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Privatizing Toll Roads

• Nathan Benefield
• December 16, 2005

Good study on privatization of Toll Roads in USA Today, summarized by the National Center for Policy Analysis. It save taxpayers money and generates revenue for government. It will…

Media

Newspapers Expose “Hidden Costs of Teacher Tenure”

• December 15, 2005

From Labor Reform News… Teachers’ unions top priority, preserving the tenure system and defeating reforms, damages education system, newspaper series finds A group of Illinois newspapers, the Small Newspaper Group,…

Media

Totalitarian Impulse

• December 15, 2005

Paul Jacobs on the Oklahoma Education Association’s efforts to silence proponents of government spending limits. Sound familiar?…

Media

Welfare

Privatization of Welfare Administration

• Nathan Benefield
• December 13, 2005

An interesting study of how Texas is contracting out many technical aspects of their public assistance offices and streamlining the application process: NCPA Brief Analysis #539, A New Frontier…

Media

The state of Pennsylvania: Rendell’s ‘growth’ …

• December 12, 2005

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Gov. Rendell’s “cooking of the books” on job creation.

Media

State Budget

… tap-dancing pigs

• December 12, 2005

Editorial on spending limits from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

Education

Striking teachers strike again…and again…and again…

• December 11, 2005

Students in the northeast PA school district of Crestwood may be getting a few more days off, thanks to the PSEA labor unions efforts to raise taxes on homeowners…

Media

Pension costs to rise

• December 11, 2005

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on the rising costs of government-sector employee pensions. While the private sector recognized long ago the need to move away from “defined benefit” to “defined…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Minimum Wage: DeWeese as Marx

• December 11, 2005

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial board said it, not me…but they’re right!! This may be the week that the Democrats attempt to artificially increase labor costs in PA. The irony,…

Media

Federal Government Subsidizes AARP

• Nathan Benefield
• December 9, 2005

The federal government subsidizes AARP to the tune of $80 million, according to HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE. What does AARP use the money for? Lobbying for, among other…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Help low wage workers by taking away their jobs?

• Nathan Benefield
• December 9, 2005

From the National Center for Policy Analysis: In June 2004 Santa Fe became one of three cities in the United States to pass a city-wide minimum wage applying…

Media

Jesus doesn’t want you to shop at Wal-Mart

• Nathan Benefield
• December 9, 2005

More hysteria from Wal-Mart critics – who have taken union dues to buy ads claiming the Bible commands us not to shop at Wall-Mart: Wal-Mart Critics: Where Would Jesus…

Media

Government Accountability

Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, Pennsylvanians

• Nathan Benefield
• December 8, 2005

The Tax Foundation released an analysis of federal capital gains and dividend taxes: The Tax Foundation – Majority of Seniors Benefit from Reduced Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates.

Media

State Budget

Spending Limits: The Facts for Pennsylvania and the Truth about Colorado

• December 8, 2005

MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL12.08.05, 3:00PM Commonwealth Foundation and Americans for Prosperity to Hold Media Conference Call TODAY Spending Limits: The Facts for Pennsylvania and the Truth about…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New Poll from Quinnipiac University

• December 8, 2005

Pennsylvania Voters Have Little Confidence In Tax Fix, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Anti-Incumbent Feeling Is Strong…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Senate moves to curb eminent domain

• December 7, 2005

News release from Sen. Piccola…. Senate Approves Piccola’s Landmark Eminent Domain Reform HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Whip Jeffrey Piccola (R-15) commended the Senate today for unanimously passing his “Property…

Media

Taxes & Economy

House Dems Push for Increased Labor Costs in PA

• December 7, 2005

In a seldom-used parliamentary maneuver, House Democrats may utilize House Rule 53 to discharge House Bill 257, legislation which would increase Pennsylvania’s starting wage by nearly 40% — from $5.15…

Media

Trial Lawyers Have No Shame

• December 7, 2005

Just returned from the Capitol… On the heels of defeat in the Senate, the trial lawyers lobby has set it sites on the House as it prepares to vote on…

Media

Brouillette v. Veon Recap

• December 7, 2005

Capitolwire’s Cate McKissick covered Monday’s hour-long call-in program on State Spending Limits on PCN TV. Here are a few excerpts from the story… Veon calls spending cap bill…

Media

Lots of economic development spending, little economic development

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2005

A Policy Brief from the Allegheny Institute reports that Gov. Rendell’s jubilation over the latest job report is misfounded. While the Governor’s press release boldly claims that jobs are…

Media