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

Earth Day Tribute to Fossil Fuels

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 22, 2011

Instead of planting a tree today, I’m celebrating earth day by honoring the human ingenuity that’s made this planet a better place to live. There’s no question that standards of…

Media

Read More: Earth Day Tribute to Fossil Fuels

Education

Provost Spins Unsuccessfully

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 22, 2011

I used to be one of those people who have Google Alerts set for their names. I’m not anymore, so it’s come to my attention only belatedly that on April…

Media

Read More: Provost Spins Unsuccessfully

Education

School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief

  • April 22, 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: School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief

Education

On Higher Ed, Will Legislators Choose the ObamaCare Approach?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 21, 2011

This week in the Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn had an excellent piece on higher education (subscription required). He wrote mostly about federal policy—and on that point…

Media

Read More: On Higher Ed, Will Legislators Choose the ObamaCare Approach?

Education

The Really Devastating Thing Would Be a Tax Increase

  • Charles Mitchell
  • April 20, 2011

My wife and I returned to Pennsylvania last year, and boy, are we feeling welcome right now.  The warm fuzzies really took over earlier today when my wife called to…

Media

Read More: The Really Devastating Thing Would Be a Tax Increase

Government Accountability

Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie Reviews

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 19, 2011

Friday night, three CF staffers braved sold-out theaters to watch the much anticipated Atlas Shrugged movie, a film that was big on buzz and short on funds. The movie, like the…

Media

Read More: Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie Reviews

State Budget

Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt

  • April 15, 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 & Local Taxpayer Debt

State Budget

Spending Increases by Department

  • April 15, 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: Spending Increases by Department

Taxes & Economy

Indefensible Defense of Michael Mann

  • April 15, 2011

Yesterday a dozen liberal and academic groups rose in defense of Penn State Climategate scientist Michael Mann, making up reasons such as “academic freedom” to deny…

Media

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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

Read More: Good News for Home Builders

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

Read More: Happy Tax Freedom Day 2011, Pennsylvania

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