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

Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum Prohibition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 18, 2010

The Post-Gazette features an article on a proposed ban on natural gas drilling in the city of Pittsburgh: Ben Price, who helped draft the bill as projects director…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum Prohibition

Taxes & Economy

George Soros vs. Natural Gas

  • August 17, 2010

Is anyone surprised that George Soros is against the tapping of shale gas because of “dangerous hydrofracking”? One of America’s real hopes for economic recovery is on the line,…

Media

Read More: George Soros vs. Natural Gas

State Budget

State Budget Gaps and State Budget Growth

  • August 17, 2010

In a recent report, Matthew Mitchell from the Mercatus Center provides solutions to the “rock and hard place” situations states are finding themselves in while they try to…

Media

Read More: State Budget Gaps and State Budget Growth

Public Union Democracy

Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes

  • August 17, 2010

Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a…

Commentary

Read More: Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale: One Study Goes Beyond the Hype

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 16, 2010

A recent study that looks at the environmental and regulatory issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas is a refreshing change of pace from the attacks and emotionally charged analyses. Frac…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale: One Study Goes Beyond the Hype

Taxes & Economy

Fact Check: DEP Funding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 16, 2010

A Capitolwire article (subscription) on DEP funding highlights an argument between a former and current Department of Environmental Protection secretaries. Former DEP Secretary David Hess says the Department is…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: DEP Funding

Regulation

Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2010

A reader asks us if we know of any examples of corporate welfare where it has failed – not just on the Macro level, giving grants to select corporations while…

Media

Read More: Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?

Taxes & Economy

But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2010

The Club for Growth highlights a Washington Post article on the expiration of the “Bush tax cuts” in 2011 (or, depending on your word choice, the “currently-scheduled tax…

Media

Read More: But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …

State Budget

Rendell and the Missing $30 Million

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2010

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell told lawmakers that after Congress passed legislation to increase federal aid to states for Medicaid (FMAP) and to school districts – and also cut funding…

Media

Read More: Rendell and the Missing $30 Million

Government Accountability

More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…

Media

Read More: More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

Health Care

States Saying No to Individual Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a good article up on Forbes about what states are doing to fight the individual health insurance mandate in the new law. He touches both on…

Media

Read More: States Saying No to Individual Mandate

Taxes & Economy

How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?

  • August 10, 2010

Pop quiz: Drilling in Pennsylvania is as attractive as drilling in A) Arkansas B) Kansas or C) Cambodia? The correct answer is Cambodia. Currently, the Keystone State is one of…

Media

Read More: How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?

Regulation

Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 10, 2010

A letter in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader attacks the Commonwealth Foundation for supporting moving state government and school districts employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k).  The…

Media

Read More: Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

Education

Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?

  • August 9, 2010

The good news: Penn State is no longer the #1 party school in the US, according to the Princeton Review’s (user account) annual student-produced rankings. It has fallen…

Media

Read More: Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?

State Budget

Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2010

Yesterday, Bob Caton, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Democrats, and Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republican, engaged in a Twitter argument over which caucus’ TV shows were more…

Media

Read More: Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?

Taxes & Economy

Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 6, 2010

Yesterday, I tweeted Dan Mitchell’s blog post, which in turn cited Richard Rahn’s article on the evidence of “stimulus spending” vs. limited government on growing the economy. Mitchell…

Media

Read More: Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending

Regulation

SEPTA’s Extravagant Spending

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 6, 2010

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from SEPTA officials defending their lavish spending habits during a state transportation funding crisis. Senator Rafferty expressed concern, saying:…

Media

Read More: SEPTA’s Extravagant Spending

Taxes & Economy

Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 6, 2010

In a Capitolwire interview (subscription), gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato advocated a low natural gas severance tax rate with exemptions. Onorato highlighted three states as good examples of a…

Media

Read More: Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High

Education

Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 5, 2010

Here is a letter to the editor I recently submitted on Gov. Rendell’s threats of layoffs if Congress doesn’t give him FMAP Money: Gov. Rendell has been busy lobbying…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs

Taxes & Economy

Coming to Philly: ‘Brilliance’

  • August 4, 2010

PennFuture and other climate catastrophists are promoting a fall global warming conference in Philadelphia, and they’ve invited the unintentionally amusing Bill…

Media

Read More: Coming to Philly: ‘Brilliance’