State Budget
More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating Tax
With no clear path to a balanced budget, lawmakers have suggested resurrecting the long-dead natural gas receipts tax in order to pay for this year's $32 billion budget. Sound familiar?…
Media
Read More: More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating TaxHealth Care
Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health Insurance
Obamacare repeal efforts have included transformative Medicaid reform, but retained many of the regulations responsible for collapsing individual markets. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department released shocking individual insurance rate requests…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health InsurancePublic Union Democracy
New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf Administration
Despite having his home health care executive order struck down by the Commonwealth Court last year, Gov. Wolf seems intent on funneling state money to his pals at the Service…
Media
Read More: New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf AdministrationEducation
Education Code Boosts Private Scholarships, Protects Excellent Teachers
The state House recently passed SB 227, which serves as the education code for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Chris Comisac of Capitolwire.com (paywall) has details on the substance…
Media
Read More: Education Code Boosts Private Scholarships, Protects Excellent TeachersState Budget
The Tax Hike Non-Solution
Contrary to the prevailing media narrative, it appears budget negotiations have taken a positive turn. According to Jason Gottesman of The PLS Reporter (paywall), House Republicans—led by Speaker Mike Turzai—have offered…
Media
Read More: The Tax Hike Non-SolutionTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Poor Showings Aren’t Permanent
The commonwealth continues to score poorly in 24/7 Wall St.’s list of the nation’s best-and worst-run states, ranking 42nd right between neighbors West Virginia and New Jersey. Put differently, Pennsylvania is…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Poor Showings Aren’t PermanentRegulation
Rescuing Pennsylvania from Fiscal Shipwreck
The state’s shaky fiscal position is no secret. Lawmakers continue to negotiate behind closed doors to eliminate the current deficit and pay for new spending in the $32…
Media
Read More: Rescuing Pennsylvania from Fiscal ShipwreckEducation
Wolf Cost Pa. Kids 8,000+ Scholarships
Scholarships awarded by Pennsylvania's tax credit programs plummeted by 8,404 in 2016, compared to the previous year. To put that number in context: 8,400 students would comprise the…
Media
Read More: Wolf Cost Pa. Kids 8,000+ ScholarshipsRegulation
Wolf Targets Job Creators for Tax Hikes
At the top of Governor Wolf’s revenue wish list sits an even higher severance tax on natural gas. Yet, this tax would fail to balance the budget and cause further economic stagnation by suppressing existing revenue streams…
Media
Read More: Wolf Targets Job Creators for Tax Hikes