Every family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.

Taxes & Economy

Volz, Pitt Part Ways

  • April 15, 2011

Last week I told you how Junkscience.com’s Steve Milloy outed the University of Pittsburgh’s Conrad “Dan” Volz and his deeply flawed report that alleged Marcellus Shale…

Media

Read More: Volz, Pitt Part Ways

Regulation

Booze Boss Bio Baffles Board

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2011

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board called our offices to let us know we were misinformed when we noted that PLCB Chairman Joe Conti co-sponsored legislation to privatize the liquor stores…

Media

Read More: Booze Boss Bio Baffles Board

Regulation

Good News for Home Builders

  • April 14, 2011

Back in January 2010, I noted the unwise decision by the Department of Labor & Industry to implement new building codes based on recommendations by the International Code…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Happy Tax Freedom Day 2011, Pennsylvania

  • April 14, 2011

According to the Tax Foundation, if every Pennsylvanian started working on January 1, we would have to work until April 14, or 104 days of the year, in order…

Media

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Government Accountability

PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this Week

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 13, 2011

The Pennsylvania State House has been especially productive this week, passing four pieces of key legislation that CF blogged on last week.

Media

Read More: PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this Week

Government Accountability

Bring PA Toward the Mainstream in Limiting Lawsuit Abuse

  • April 13, 2011

Having defeated a slew of trial-lawyer amendments, Pennsylvania's House of Representatives approved the Fair Share Act for the third time on Monday. The legislation, which has passed both chambers of the…

Commentary

Read More: Bring PA Toward the Mainstream in Limiting Lawsuit Abuse

Education

Can’t Cut, Can We?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 13, 2011

While Pennsylvania’s public universities continue to cry poverty, pesky facts keep proving otherwise.  Here’s a snippet from a piece by Debra Erdley in yesterday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Professors at…

Media

Read More: Can’t Cut, Can We?

Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy Source

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 12, 2011

The Marcellus Works proposal is a package of seven bills designed to incentivize natural gas vehicles through a combinations of tax credits and government loans. The bills include: HB…

Media

Read More: Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy Source

Education

White-out not Needed for Higher Ed Cuts

  • April 11, 2011

Today, the percentage of students enrolling at Pennsylvania's public universities who don't graduate four year ranges from 42-89 percent, with Penn State boasting a mere 58 percent. As for their…

Commentary

Read More: White-out not Needed for Higher Ed Cuts

Regulation

Exposing the State Store Myth on Facebook?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2011

One of my friends sends me this [names redacted]: So one of my facebook friends just turned 21, and this is her Facebook status right now: just bought my…

Media

Read More: Exposing the State Store Myth on Facebook?

Public Union Democracy

Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 7, 2011

Today, the average government employee enjoys better health care benefits, better pensions, better job security, and an earlier retirement than the average private-sector worker.  To pay for this, however, taxpayers…

Commentary

Read More: Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal

Taxes & Economy

Lies, Heinz and Volz

  • April 7, 2011

Last week Steve Milloy of Junkscience.com published an expose’ of a water quality report by University of Pittsburgh gas frack panicker Conrad…

Media

Read More: Lies, Heinz and Volz

Taxes & Economy

House Republicans Introduce Welfare Reforms

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 6, 2011

Public Welfare is both the largest—at over $27 billion in total spending— and among the fastest growing programs in the Pennsylvania state budget.  In…

Media

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Government Accountability

Is Lawsuit Abuse Reform Coming to PA?

  • April 6, 2011

Pennsylvania is on its way to joining the 41 states that have either repealed or updated their joint and several liability law. HB 1, known as the Fair…

Media

Read More: Is Lawsuit Abuse Reform Coming to PA?

Education

Higher Education Spending & Performance

  • April 6, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Higher Education Spending & Performance

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011

  • April 6, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011

Education

Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2011

Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania represents a partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation and the department of economics at Duquesne University.  Key findings in these five papers include Over…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Who’s Creating Jobs in Pennsylvania?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 4, 2011

It’s clear the Marcellus Shale is revitalizing rural economies across the commonwealth by increasing local revenue and paying landowners…

Media

Read More: Who’s Creating Jobs in Pennsylvania?

Regulation

On Pennsylvania’s Job Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2011

Former Gov. Ed Rendell emerged from his semi-retirement to toot his own horn, saying his spending is why Pennsylvania’s economy is so great. Rendell cites statistics that Pennsylvania ranks…

Media

Read More: On Pennsylvania’s Job Growth

Taxes & Economy

When an Impact Fee is Really a Tax

  • March 31, 2011

The debate over an “impact fee” on natural gas for local communities experiencing drilling is becoming less and less about local communities and more about how lawmakers can get…

Media

Read More: When an Impact Fee is Really a Tax