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.
Related Issues
Regulation
The Future of State Parks
State parks across the nation are struggling to stay open: Arizona has decided to close 13 parks, New York is considering closing 41 parks, Washington is thinking…
Media
Read More: The Future of State ParksState Budget
Tax Foundation Analysis of Rendell’s Tax Proposals
Joe Henchman of the Tax Foundation has put together a Fical Fact looking at Gov. Rendell’s tax increases in the proposed Pennsylvania state budget. Here is the quick overview:…
Media
Read More: Tax Foundation Analysis of Rendell’s Tax ProposalsTaxes & Economy
NTU Congressional Ratings for Pennsylvania
The National Taxpayers Union released their annual Congressional report card (for votes in 2009). Here are the votes they rated. NTU’s rating is based on “every roll call…
Media
Read More: NTU Congressional Ratings for PennsylvaniaRegulation
What the Heck is Net Neutrality?
Reason TV attempts to explain the issue of net neutrality in a new video. …
Media
Read More: What the Heck is Net Neutrality?Taxes & Economy
Debunking the Green Job Myth
US News and World Report has an excellent piece from AEI’s Kenneth Green debunking the green job myth. Government can create jobs: Green explains how governments cannot create…
Media
Read More: Debunking the Green Job MythRegulation
Property Tax Relief Not as Awesome as Rendell Says
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner put out another report that should embarrass the Rendell administration, this one one the claimed benefits of property tax relief. (Full report in…
Media
Read More: Property Tax Relief Not as Awesome as Rendell SaysTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Bottom-of-the Pack in State Competitiveness
A recent report by the Beacon Hill Institute, a free-market think-tank out of Suffolk University in Massachusetts, provided even more dismal news on Pennsylvania’s economic climate. According to the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Bottom-of-the Pack in State CompetitivenessTaxes & Economy
How Do Pennsylvania’s Highways Rank
The Reason Foundation has been analyzing state highway systems since 1984. This month they released their 18th Annual Highway Report. Overall the Commonwealth ranked 38th for the most efficient…
Media
Read More: How Do Pennsylvania’s Highways RankTaxes & Economy
How Dumb is the Jobs Bill?
So the logic behind Stimulus 3, or the so-called “jobs bill” is that the first stimulus (the Bush stimulus of 2008, predicated largely on tax rebates) worked so well the…
Media
Read More: How Dumb is the Jobs Bill?State Budget
Budget Facts 2010: Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $500 million. Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion General Fund budget for 2010-11, that increases businesses taxes, imposes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Pennsylvania State Budget OverviewState Budget
Budget Facts 2010: Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $500 million. Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion budget for 2010-11, that increases businesses taxes, imposes new taxes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Spending Increases by DepartmentRegulation
The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension Gap
The Pew Report on state pensions, finding a $1 trillion unfunded liability nationally, has already received a great deal of attention, so here are just some brief highlights for…
Media
Read More: The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension GapGovernment Accountability
Whistle-Blower Protection
Good morning. I’m Katrina Currie, a Research Fellow for the Commonwealth Foundation. I am joined by my colleague Elizabeth Bryan. The…
Testimony
Read More: Whistle-Blower ProtectionTaxes & Economy
Rendell Lured to Stimulus Like a Moth to a Flame
The lure of federal stimulus funds is encouraging Pennsylvania to spend more of state taxpayers’ money as well. Here are three examples: The Commonwealth was awarded $35 million through the…
Media
Read More: Rendell Lured to Stimulus Like a Moth to a FlameGovernment Accountability
PA Lawmakers Use Per Diems to Buy Houses
I have often remarked that the exorbitant costs of Pennsylvania legislators’ per diems (see Tribune Review and ABC 27 stories) – that they receive to pay for food…
Media
Read More: PA Lawmakers Use Per Diems to Buy HousesTaxes & Economy
Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?
Alan Reynolds takes a nuanced approach to where stimulus funding went, and why it didn’t “create jobs” or increase GDP, and probably increased unemployment: [T]he GDP report clearly…
Media
Read More: Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?Regulation
How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania Businesses
For the second year in a row, Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, assuming this will have no impact on jobs or the economy. (As…
Media
Read More: How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania BusinessesRegulation
Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever
Rick Dreyfuss has a new article for the Mackinac Center in Michigan, where lawmakers are floating the idea of Pension Obligation Bonds to help fill their pension gap. Of…
Media
Read More: Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea EverState Budget
Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?
The Pennsylvania Senate’s new Cost Study Commission met for the first time on Friday, discussing the cost of the state fleet – which currently maintains 16,000 vehicles, half of…
Media
Read More: Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?Criminal Justice Reform
New PA Task Force on Prison Spending
Following testimony that inmates might riot if the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections didn’t a funding increase, the state House Appropriations Committee decided to create a task force to…
Media
Read More: New PA Task Force on Prison SpendingTaxes & Economy
When Alternative Energy Subsidies End . . .
Jim Panyard from the PA Independent reports on Rep. Scavello’s plan to secure $26 to $54 million in stimulus funding for residents who own Thermal Storage Unit heating systems.
Media
Read More: When Alternative Energy Subsidies End . . .