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

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

Energy

Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates

  • December 30, 2010

A lot can be spun from the results of the Nov. 2 elections, but one fact is uncontrovertible: Pennsylvanians are sick of centrally planned, highly regulated, gimmick-driven economic policy. It…

Commentary

Read More: Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates

Taxes & Economy

Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’

  • December 29, 2010

As the old saying goes, “it takes one to know one,” and outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell, who has obviously spent more time analyzing the Philadelphia Eagles than bringing jobs back…

Media

Read More: Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’

Taxes & Economy

Reverse Coercion Course

  • December 27, 2010

That’s what I wrote yesterday in an opinion piece for the Patriot-News, about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to purchase 18 percent of their electricity…

Media

Read More: Reverse Coercion Course

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 23, 2010

A recent Williamsport Sun-Gazette article gives props to the natural gas industry for being an economic boost, and keeping unemployment relatively low in Bradford County, a central hub for…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues

Taxes & Economy

So Long, Specter

  • December 23, 2010

The Washington Examiner‘s Tim Carney today reviews Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter’s farewell speech to the U.S. Senate, and characterizes it as “20 minutes of self-serving gripes, empty name-calling,…

Media

Read More: So Long, Specter

Taxes & Economy

Skewed Poll on Gas Drilling

  • December 22, 2010

A recent survey by the Civil Society Institute is so misleading that even professional skewed poll creators PennFuture and Gov. Rendell can pick up tips. The only…

Media

Read More: Skewed Poll on Gas Drilling