Commentary

Energy

Natural Gas Severance Tax: Still A Bad Idea

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 23, 2010

In the coming months, debate on a proposed natural gas severance tax will heat up as legislators attempt to pass a balanced budget before June 30. Last year, lawmakers and…

Commentary

Government Accountability

The Case for a Part-Time Legislature

• Nathan Benefield
• March 19, 2010

There is a direct link between our full-time legislature and our state economy.  A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a…

Commentary

Government Accountability

For Whom The Turnpike Tolls

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 9, 2010

Tolls are appropriate because they are imposed directly upon travelers for their use of roads.  However, the plan to toll I-80 represents more than a toll.  It is also a…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 8, 2010

Gov. Rendell, of course, didn't declare war on all special interests - only those who oppose his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda.  For example, while he lambasts the natural gas industry for opposing…

Commentary

State Budget

The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 17, 2010

Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009, the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, unemployment continues to grow,…

Commentary

State Budget

No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2010

The Keystone State for years has been afflicted by government inefficiency and overspending.  Since Gov. Rendell took office in 2003, Pennsylvania’s burden of state and local taxes has increased from…

Commentary

Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• February 3, 2010

Once upon a time, "Keystone State" represented more than just a nickname, as Pennsylvania was central to America's economy. Over the past several decades, however, our importance has diminished. Our…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80

• Nathan Benefield
• January 26, 2010

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will start…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Time for Term Limits Again

• January 21, 2010

Unfortunately, this spirit of civic virtue yielded to self-aggrandizement. Early on, legislators served a few terms in a public office and then returned to private life to live under the…

Commentary

Education

Mann-Made Global Warming?

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 19, 2010

Climategate was born in late November 2009 with the release of more than a thousand emails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia…

Commentary

A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm

• Nathan Benefield
• January 15, 2010

Some members of Congress are pushing a third economic "stimulus" in as many years (pundits often forget the Bush stimulus of 2008). Supporters of yet another round of deficit spending…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

• December 29, 2009

The top-heavy PTC, with more than 2,000 employees, is responsible for overseeing an exponentially smaller infrastructure than PennDOT. The PTC manages 537 miles of turnpike highways; PennDOT manages nearly 40,000…

Commentary

Energy

Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity

• December 16, 2009

Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…

Commentary

Regulation

Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania

• December 8, 2009

Between 2000 and 2008, Pennsylvania suffered the depletion of one of its most valuable resources - people. During this period, the state lost 56,000 net residents, according to U.S. Census…

Commentary

Education

Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• November 30, 2009

With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Every Generation Needs A Revolution

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 23, 2009

Pennsylvania's government is a prime exhibition of Lord Acton's well-known admonition that "power corrupts."…

Commentary

Regulation

Bamboozled: Why Government-Run Liquor Stores are Socially and Economically Impractical

• November 19, 2009

Ever since Pennsylvania seized control of wine and liquor in 1932, advocates of state-run liquor stores have touted the supposed social benefits. However, recent research clearly demonstrates that privatization would…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania: An Unequal Opportunity Employer

• November 17, 2009

Equal opportunity has long been a cherished ideal in America. Yet state government is engaging in unequal contracting practices.  Governor Rendell's administration is mandating discriminatory Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on…

Commentary

Health Care

Notes on Health Care Reform

• November 12, 2009

Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Break Up SEPTA

• Elizabeth Stelle
• November 10, 2009

How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.

Commentary

Energy

End Rate Caps to Create Electric Choice and Competition

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 9, 2009

Concern about potential price hikes in the midst of a recession may motivate some lawmakers to push for legislation to halt or delay that expiration under the guise of consumer…

Commentary