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.

Health Care

What State Legislators Can Do to Protect Health Care Freedom

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 19, 2011

ALEC’s new State Legislators Guide to Repealing Obamacare is a wealth of ideas for state legislators and in turn, activists who are dedicated to implementing true healthcare freedoms.

Media

Read More: What State Legislators Can Do to Protect Health Care Freedom

Taxes & Economy

Associated Press Article on Fracking Got it Wrong

  • January 19, 2011

As Gov. Corbett’s Administration takes office, anti-drilling activist have sought to make a natural gas severance tax their legislative priority. Unfortunately, their distrust of the gas industry largely stems from…

Media

Read More: Associated Press Article on Fracking Got it Wrong

Taxes & Economy

UC Trust Fund Interest Another Fiscal Challenge for PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 18, 2011

A recent NY Times piece looks at the impact of states’ borrowing to pay their unemployment compensation (UC), now that the federal government will begin charging interest on these…

Media

Read More: UC Trust Fund Interest Another Fiscal Challenge for PA

Education

80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • January 17, 2011

Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition.  To provide a roadmap for…

Report

Read More: 80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

Education

How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 17, 2011

Even before Gov.-elect Tom Corbett raises his right hand high Tuesday swearing to tackle the problems left from the previous administration's tax-borrow-and-spend agenda, doubters are lining up to take potshots…

Commentary

Read More: How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes

State Budget

Medicaid: Breaking the Back of State Budgets

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 13, 2011

Last week, 30 Republican governors and governors-elect, including Tom Corbett, sent a letter to the Obama administration and members of Congress asking for greater flexibility in managing their Medicaid…

Media

Read More: Medicaid: Breaking the Back of State Budgets

Taxes & Economy

Residents Still Moving out of PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 13, 2011

The latest United Van Lines survey continues to show Pennsylvania is a “high outbound state”—meaning more people are renting trucks to move out of Pennsylvania than moving in (HT…

Media

Read More: Residents Still Moving out of PA

Regulation

Rendell’s Last Round of Pork

  • January 12, 2011

Governor Rendell recently released his 2010 commitment list for RACP funds (subscription). The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP, is a taxpayer-funded state borrowing program for “economic…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Last Round of Pork

Regulation

Lessons on Green Jobs & Corporate Welfare

  • January 12, 2011

My American Tradition Institute colleague Chris Horner calls attention to developments in Massachusetts, where government “investment” of taxpayer dollars in alternative energy…

Media

Read More: Lessons on Green Jobs & Corporate Welfare

State Budget

Five Ways to Cut $5 Billion

  • January 11, 2011

Tom Corbett campaigned for Governor of Pennsylvania on a pledge not to raise taxes or fees to balance the state's $66 billion budget. With the loss of nearly $3 billion…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Five Ways to Cut $5 Billion

Health Care

Long-Term Care Reform

  • January 11, 2011

Long-term care is very expensive whether provided in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or in someone's home. Medicaid pays for most professional long-term care (LTC) in Pennsylvania.  LTC…

Report

Read More: Long-Term Care Reform

Regulation

Liquor Store Union Distorts Facts to Skew Poll

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 10, 2011

We received a forwarded email, in which the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1776 (the union for liquor store employees) called on members to vote in a PCN…

Media

Read More: Liquor Store Union Distorts Facts to Skew Poll

Taxes & Economy

Politics of Punditry Troubling in Tucson Tragedy

  • January 10, 2011

I knew it would be a challenging few days as I took off the tie and laced up my combat boots to proudly serve a training weekend with my National Guard unit.  Friday…

Media

Read More: Politics of Punditry Troubling in Tucson Tragedy

State Budget

How to Limit State Spending

  • January 10, 2011

A recent study by Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center suggests that not all spending and taxation limits are created equal. The study examines the effect of certain…

Media

Read More: How to Limit State Spending

Regulation

Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 10, 2011

Joel Klein has an excellent article on teacher pensions in today’s Wall Street Journal: Whether the investment returns are there or not, defined-benefit pensions require the government to…

Media

Read More: Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem

Taxes & Economy

Mann: From Transparency Champion to ‘Bully’ Victim

  • January 9, 2011

As Chris Horner blogged yesterday, the Environmental Law Center at American Tradition Institute (where I am executive director) has requested under the state Freedom of Information…

Media

Read More: Mann: From Transparency Champion to ‘Bully’ Victim

Taxes & Economy

Penn State’s Mann Under More Scrutiny

  • January 6, 2011

Also today Pennsylvania Independent reports that the American Tradition Institute, where I am executive director, has filed a Freedom of Information…

Media

Read More: Penn State’s Mann Under More Scrutiny

Regulation

TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 6, 2011

PA Independent reports that TastyKake, a corporation with operations in Philadelphia and Chester County, may have to liquidate. This despite a $32 million low-interest state loan (which is looking…

Media

Read More: TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare

Regulation

Liquor Stores No Asset for Taxpayers

  • January 4, 2011

  Today, the Philadelphia Daily News published a letter from the Commonwealth Foundation titled “For the state stores, there’s no rationale for holding on anymore,” in response to their…

Media

Read More: Liquor Stores No Asset for Taxpayers

Taxes & Economy

A True Renewables Comparison

  • January 4, 2011

The Patriot-News over the weekend ran two letters to the editor in response to my op-ed that called for the Commonwealth’s new elected leadership to repeal…

Media

Read More: A True Renewables Comparison