Regulation
Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Vice President Kamala Harris wants to make groceries cheaper. However, her vague proposal to ban “price gouging” will have the opposite effect. Economists,…
Read More: Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic EconomicsEvery 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.
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Government Accountability
Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?
With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office. That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…
Media
Read More: Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?Education
Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in Climategate
Unsurprisingly, Penn State’s second investigation into its own faculty member, Michael Mann, cleared him of any scientific misconduct charges today. Among the reasons for clearing Mann, the report notes:…
Media
Read More: Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in ClimategateRegulation
Another Budget Trick Revealed
During our PA Budget Chat yesterday, we were commenting on how the the line item for School Employees’ Retirement – i.e., the state’s contribution to teacher’s pensions – was…
Media
Read More: Another Budget Trick RevealedTaxes & Economy
Wind Power May Kill You
With the recent fatalities resulting from disasters at the Deep Water Horizon drilling rig and Massey’s Upper Big Branch coal mine, many may begin to think that such…
Media
Read More: Wind Power May Kill YouState Budget
PA Senate Passes State Budget
Today, the the Pennsylvania Senate passed the state budget by a vote of 37-13. The no votes were: Alloway, Argall, Earll, Eichelberger,…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Passes State BudgetState Budget
Ten Facts about the PA Budget Deal
Legislative leaders and Gov. Rendell reached an agreement on a PA state budget deal yesterday. Here are some facts about the $28.05 billion new spending plan: Lawmakers were able…
Media
Read More: Ten Facts about the PA Budget DealTaxes & Economy
2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for Future
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to the announced Pennsylvania state budget deal: “It’s difficult to negotiate a sane budget…
Press Release
Read More: 2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for FutureEducation
Politics Making a Mess of Education
It appears Gov. Rendell has succeeded in getting an increase in education spending for the FY 2010-11 budget. Despite the fact that enrollment is down across the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Politics Making a Mess of EducationRegulation
Privatizing Workers’ Compensation
Leonard Gilroy of the Reason Foundation recently highlighted the trend to privatize workers’ compensation. Some of the experimentation occurring in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arizona began before…
Media
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Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate Taxes
The Commonwealth has the second highest state corporate income tax (behind Iowa, which has more generous deductions and exemptions). When compounding state and federal corporate taxes, Pennsylvania's corporate income tax…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate TaxesEducation
Pennsylvania Education Spending
Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to over $25 billion in 2009-a 133% increase in per-pupil spending, after adjusting for inflation. School construction and debt spending has…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Education SpendingRegulation
Allentown & the Failure of Sports Venue Subsidies
The $80 million taxpayer-funded hockey arena in Allentown will have to wait a couple years, as in addition to the stadium, it requires a multi-million new highway. Allentown is…
Media
Read More: Allentown & the Failure of Sports Venue SubsidiesGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Commission IDs Spending Cuts
In February, the Senate established a bipartisan commission to identify cost-savings measure for the Pennsylvania state budget could save money. David Argall, the chairman of…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Commission IDs Spending CutsState Budget
Latest PA Budget Update from Sen. Pileggi
PA Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi was the speaker at today’s Press Club in Harrisburg, offering some updates on the budget negotiations, and some comments on the fiscal cliff Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Latest PA Budget Update from Sen. PileggiTaxes & Economy
The Environment Impact of Natural Gas Drilling
Concerns about the environment impact of natural gas drilling are well-founded, but often overstated. A common misconception is that the hydraulic fracturing process has contaminated many wells and groundwater.
Media
Read More: The Environment Impact of Natural Gas DrillingState Budget
RE: Balancing the PA Budget with Gimmicks
Lawmakers have found new opposition to their plan to taked money from other funds to balance the budget. The Executive Director of Renew Growing Greener, Andrew Heath, encouraged…
Media
Read More: RE: Balancing the PA Budget with GimmicksRegulation
McDonalds Needs ‘Sad Meals’ to Help Powerless Parents
McDonald’s Happy Meals are under attack. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has threatened to sue the restaurant chain if they continue to include…
Media
Read More: McDonalds Needs ‘Sad Meals’ to Help Powerless ParentsRegulation
The Terror of Unlicensed Interior Designers
The Patriot News has a short article about Pennsylvania lawmakers consider legislation to require interior designers to get a license with the state. To get a license, an interior…
Media
Read More: The Terror of Unlicensed Interior DesignersState Budget
Balancing the PA Budget with Gimmicks
The temperature is in the 90s in Harrisburg this week, and most folks are wearing short sleeves. One exception is budget negotiators, who are still keeping plenty of tricks up…
Media
Read More: Balancing the PA Budget with GimmicksTaxes & Economy
Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill Jobs
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a new video out explaining how minimum wage laws kill jobs. From 2006 to 2009 the…
Media
Read More: Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill JobsGovernment Accountability
How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget
The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…
Media
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