Energy
Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwide
Originally published at the New York Post Pennsylvania may be the deciding state in the 2024 election. And new polling from my organization makes clear energy may be the deciding…
Read More: Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwideEvery 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.
Related Issues
State Budget
Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget Woes
Reason highlights a new Rasmussen Poll on state budget crises. A whopping 75% of voters blame current budget crises on politicians’ unwillingness to cut spending. Only 13% think…
Media
Read More: Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget WoesRegulation
Pension Reform Is Good for Teachers
Recently, the New York Daily News published an article by public school teacher Emmanuel George. He has taught in both traditional public schools and in a charter school.
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Is Good for TeachersGovernment Accountability
BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger
PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett launches a tirade against the Commonwealth Foundation’s exposé of PennFuture’s lobbying. For starters, she repeatedly labels it a “smear campaign” (and even includes…
Media
Read More: BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the MessengerGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure
From 1998-2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent no money on lobbying the federal government (although independent agencies – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Higher Education Assistance Agency –…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying FailureRegulation
Pet Projects Lap Up Funds
State Legislators awarding funds to pet projects flies in the faces of Pennsylvanians who want their state to eliminate a deficit before tapping revenue for pet projects. Capitolwire (subscription)…
Media
Read More: Pet Projects Lap Up FundsRegulation
The Real Problem with the Specter Library
As part of the state budget deal, Gov. Rendell secured $600 million in new borrowing for pork-barrel projects, including $10 million for the "Arlen Specter Library" at Philadelphia University and…
Commentary
Read More: The Real Problem with the Specter LibraryRegulation
Is. Rep. Turzai a Drug Pusher?
In another over-the-top criticism of liquor store privatization, Don Wert of Pennsylvanians Concerned about Alcohol Problems attacked Rep. Mike Turzai’s proposal to license private stores to sell wine and…
Media
Read More: Is. Rep. Turzai a Drug Pusher?Taxes & Economy
Tom Corbett is Right on Unemployment
Yesterday, PA Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett made remarks about how unemployment benefits result in higher higher unemployment, recorded by Scott Detrow, and picked up on by Capitol Ideas,…
Media
Read More: Tom Corbett is Right on UnemploymentGovernment Accountability
Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP
In a somewhat welcome surprise, both candidates for governor (Onorato and Corbett) criticized Rendell’s RCAP projects in the budget amounting to some $300 million dollars. The political legacy projects are the…
Media
Read More: Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAPTaxes & Economy
The Benefits of Lower Tobacco Taxes
Gov. Rendell hailed the budget, as he signed it into law on Tuesday. However, Rendell isn’t all smiles– the Governor lamented the fact that lawmakers failed to increase…
Media
Read More: The Benefits of Lower Tobacco TaxesEducation
Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry
Last school year, taxpayers gave Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman $65,000 (in addition to her salary of $325,000, which could be close to $500,000 next year). But…
Media
Read More: Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers DryGovernment Accountability
PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers
According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced…
Commentary
Read More: PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying LaunderersGovernment Accountability
PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…
Press Release
Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal LobbyingTaxes & Economy
New EPA Rules Will Increase Electricity Costs
Only a few weeks after the failure of the Murkowski resolution to block the EPA’s power grab, the agency is seeking approval of a new regulation that could significantly increase…
Media
Read More: New EPA Rules Will Increase Electricity CostsTaxes & Economy
PennFuture’s Lobbying
PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future), the organization founded by Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger over 10 years ago, frequently criticizes the lobbying by traditional energy industries. But…
Fact Sheet
Read More: PennFuture’s LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Continued Hypocrisy of “Conservation” Groups
Previously, we highlighted how the group Conservation Voters of PA lambasted Tom Corbett for receiving campaign contributions from the Anadarko company PAC – but failing to note Gov. Rendell…
Media
Read More: Continued Hypocrisy of “Conservation” GroupsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Tax on Porn Either
Paul Carpenter writes a piece in the Morning Call arguing that Pennsylvania, by not passing a cigar tax, is subsidizing the industry – and (sarcastically) we should do the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Tax on Porn EitherTaxes & Economy
Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections Working
The Department of Agriculture quarantined 28 cows on a farm in Tioga county near a natural gas well in early May. Department officials report the cows are suspected of…
Media
Read More: Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections WorkingTaxes & Economy
EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in Pittsburgh
On July 22nd, the EPA will hold a 6:00pm public meeting in Canonsburg to gather input for a upcoming study on hydraulic fracturing. The EPA’s 2004 study on the drilling techinque concluded…
Media
Read More: EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in PittsburghGovernment Accountability
The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246
Citizens to Protect PA Jobs recently issued an action alert on HB 2246, which flies in the face of the type of tort reform Pennsylvania needs. A hindrance…
Media
Read More: The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246Taxes & Economy
The Scientific Consensus
Last week, Reason came out with an interesting article on scientific consensuses. On July 1, 1979 the Washington Post reported “The real issue raised by saccharin [the artificial…
Media
Read More: The Scientific Consensus