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Education
Where Is Gov. Shapiro’s Leadership on the State Budget?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro once said, “Leaders have a responsibility to speak truth.” Yet, truth be told, the governor’s lack of leadership on this…
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With $64 Million in the Bank, Central Bucks School District Still Increases Taxes
Read More: With $64 Million in the Bank, Central Bucks School District Still Increases Taxes
Education
The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests
Read More: The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests
Education
Cyber Students: Undeserving Targets of Teacher Unions
Read More: Cyber Students: Undeserving Targets of Teacher UnionsTaxes & Economy
Decoding the Swann Property Tax Plan
The property tax relief plan introduced by gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann last month offers a radically different approach to the problem. Swann’s proposal contains some good provisions, some flawed provisions,…
Commentary
Read More: Decoding the Swann Property Tax PlanGovernment Accountability
A Mandate for Reform
Much has been written about the “message” of the May 16 primary election in the weeks since Pennsylvania’s voters thunderously registered their displeasure with “business as usual” in Harrisburg. By…
Commentary
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Cut the Fat
While Gov. Ed Rendell claims that his administration is “squeezing every nickel out of government,” an analysis of state spending released by the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste…
Commentary
Read More: Cut the FatState Budget
Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual Budget
The General Assembly’s post-primary return to Harrisburg signals the start of budget season in Pennsylvania—and taxpayers all across the Commonwealth should be clutching their wallets a little tighter in nervous…
Commentary
Read More: Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual BudgetState Budget
Return the Windfall Profits
There is a massive organization imposing a financial burden on the Pennsylvania economy. It is consuming an ever larger portion of the average person’s income. The costs for what it…
Commentary
Read More: Return the Windfall ProfitsTaxes & Economy
Building Excise Fees are Not Property Tax Relief
Henry David Thoreau said, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” In Pennsylvania, that “evil” is the school property…
Commentary
Read More: Building Excise Fees are Not Property Tax ReliefState Budget
Gov. Rendells Blah, Blah, Blah Campaign Strategy
Ever had a conversation with someone who starts to tell a story and then, midway through, says “Blah blah blah” (or words to that effect) and then skips ahead to…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendells Blah, Blah, Blah Campaign StrategyEducation
Property Tax Relief through School Choice
Pennsylvanians deserve property tax reform and relief—not a shift and a sham. But the only way to relieve all homeowners while not burdening other taxpayers is to reduce public school…
Commentary
Read More: Property Tax Relief through School ChoiceGovernment Accountability
A Revolution in 2006?
The 2006 primary election will serve as an important yardstick as to the lingering outrage in the electorate from the legislative pay raise on July 7, 2005 and failure to…
Commentary
Read More: A Revolution in 2006?Energy
The Governments Gas Problem
Government’s energy policies and regulations have been leading us down the wrong road for years, yet the only solution Governor Ed Rendell and plenty of Republicans like Sen. Arlen Specter…
Commentary
Read More: The Governments Gas ProblemEducation
PHEAAs Split Personality
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has a split personality complex, complete with an uncanny ability to assume different identities at a moment’s notice. One day, the student loan…
Commentary
Read More: PHEAAs Split PersonalityTaxes & Economy
The Key to Property Tax Relief
The failure to pass a property tax “relief” plan in Harrisburg has everything to do with politics—politicians can’t agree on whose ox to gore. Current proposals require some taxpayers to…
Commentary
Read More: The Key to Property Tax ReliefTaxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania
Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania! If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, you need look no further than Tax Freedom Day.
Commentary
Read More: Tax Freedom Day in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market
Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…
Commentary
Read More: Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job MarketHealth Care
“Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job Providers
Remember the old saying “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? When it comes to the ongoing war between Wal-Mart and Big Labor, it has turned into “If you can’t…
Commentary
Read More: “Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job ProvidersState Budget
Breaking Pennsylvania’s Budget Tradition
Traditionally in Pennsylvania’s “budget season,” the governor has submitted his spending plan for the coming fiscal year, and the General Assembly has accepted it as the starting point for the…
Commentary
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Renouce the “Faith”
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on June 15, 2004. Politicians are fond of saying, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does." Yet the machinations of state and federal…
Commentary
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China’s Economic Development Lessons for Pennsylvania
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on April 19, 2004. Tax Day 2004 has come and gone, and as Pennsylvanians wrote their annual big checks to big government, they should…
Commentary
Read More: China’s Economic Development Lessons for PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match Reality
As election time draws nearer, Gov. Ed Rendell is issuing a flurry of press releases to convince voters that his administration has improved Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and economic growth. To that…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match RealityTaxes & Economy
Close the Loopholes
Few issues get politicians more exercised than the issue of tax “loopholes” – provisions in the tax code that allow affected taxpayers to reduce the amount of money they must…
Commentary
Read More: Close the LoopholesEducation
Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction Projects
In the current debate over school property tax reform in Pennsylvania, all of the plans under consideration in Harrisburg focus solely on the revenue side of the school finance equation…
Commentary
Read More: Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction Projects