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.

State Budget

How to Reduce Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…

Media

Read More: How to Reduce Welfare Fraud

Taxes & Economy

Corbett on Death Tax and Farmers

  • July 28, 2010

Governor hopeful, Tom Corbett, has voiced support for phasing out the state’s death tax. At a meeting organized by Farm Families for Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania Agricultural Republicans, Corbett cited…

Media

Read More: Corbett on Death Tax and Farmers

Taxes & Economy

Growing Money on Trees

  • July 28, 2010

In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee (PCCAC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), released its report,…

Report

Read More: Growing Money on Trees

State Budget

What if State Government Hired a Psychic?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

The Tribune Review adds on to the continuing Orie sisters saga, that not only did they seek the advice of a clairvoyant, but that clairvoyant asked for a…

Media

Read More: What if State Government Hired a Psychic?

Regulation

Tax For Soccer

  • July 27, 2010

It’s not soccer players or fans that will be taxed to pay for the Major League Soccer stadium in Chester, but the visitors who patronize bed and breakfasts or hotels…

Media

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State Budget

Can Tom Corbett Keep His “No Tax” Pledge?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 27, 2010

Attorney General Tom Corbett has taken significant criticism for his pledge to not raise taxes if elected governor.  That was to be expected from his Democrat rival, Allegheny County executive…

Commentary

Read More: Can Tom Corbett Keep His “No Tax” Pledge?

Regulation

Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”

  • July 26, 2010

Privatization Watch, which warns against privatizing government services, alerts locals that if Pittsburgh parking garages are leased to a private company the per day parking cost would increase by…

Media

Read More: Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”

Regulation

Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

Many myths continue about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. One is that the state government would lose annual revenue from liquor sales. See Wendell Young, speaking on behalf…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue

Regulation

Reviewing the Financial Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…

Media

Read More: Reviewing the Financial Crisis

Regulation

State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

Eleanor Chute of the Post-Gazette notes the approval of the pension contribution rates for Pennsylvania school employees (split between school districts and the state). She also notes that the…

Media

Read More: State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red

Taxes & Economy

Obama Admits Energy Subsidies Distort Economy

  • July 23, 2010

A recent Heritage Foundation article highlights the hypocrisy within the Obama Administration’s approach to energy. The U.S. Treasury Green Book, which details the reasons for changing the tax code,…

Media

Read More: Obama Admits Energy Subsidies Distort Economy

Taxes & Economy

How Much will Your Tax Bill Increase in 2011?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 23, 2010

The Tax Foundation has a great new tool to calculate your federal tax burden in 2011 – comparing your tax bill if the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts (“Bush…

Media

Read More: How Much will Your Tax Bill Increase in 2011?

Taxes & Economy

When Your Ideas Harm Taxpayers, Make Stuff Up

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 22, 2010

The Patriot-News has been all over the Commonwealth Foundation’s recent report exposing the activities of PennFuture, the environmental lobbying group whose former president is in charge of Gov. Rendell’s Department…

Media

Read More: When Your Ideas Harm Taxpayers, Make Stuff Up

Taxes & Economy

The PennFuture Scandal: We’re Not Mudslinging

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News did a fine job in her Sunday article, giving an evenhanded account of our report on PennFuture’s lobbying, but the…

Media

Read More: The PennFuture Scandal: We’re Not Mudslinging

State Budget

Check Out State Budget Solutions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

State Budget Solutions is a new website put together by a coalition of free-market organizations. They’ve been up for a while with a “soft launch,” but had their “hard…

Media

Read More: Check Out State Budget Solutions

Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas & Forced Pooling

  • July 21, 2010

The soon-to-be unbalanced FY 2010-11 state budget, included language that a severance tax on natural gas would be passed in Pennsylvania by October 1. Many drillers would support a…

Media

Read More: Natural Gas & Forced Pooling

Taxes & Economy

Reforms for PA’s UC Fund include CF Proposals

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 21, 2010

State Representative Scott Perry has proposed new legislation to reform PA’s bankrupt unemployment compensation (UC) fund. A few of his suggested reforms are…

Media

Read More: Reforms for PA’s UC Fund include CF Proposals

Regulation

Your Liquor Dollars at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2010

The Post Gazette highlights the continued efforts of the liquor control board to be a better business. This includes the ridiculous: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is…

Media

Read More: Your Liquor Dollars at Work

Regulation

PA’s Largest Employers Then and Now

  • July 20, 2010

The Center for Workforce Information & Analysis provides a list of Pennsylvania’s top 50 employers in ranked order. In 1967, Pennsylvania’s top five largest employers were: U.S. Steel Corporation…

Media

Read More: PA’s Largest Employers Then and Now