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.

Energy

Budget Facts 2010: Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • April 7, 2010

Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax of 5% on the value of extracted natural gas, plus $.047 per thousand cubic feet of extracted gas. There is an exemption for marginal…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Natural Gas Severance Tax

Taxes & Economy

Alternative Energy Should Be the People’s Choice

  • April 6, 2010

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry has recent white paper about House Bill 80; a bill that seeks to increase Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. The Chamber…

Media

Read More: Alternative Energy Should Be the People’s Choice

State Budget

Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

  • April 6, 2010

Pennsylvania's latest budget shortfall is the result of a pattern in which state legislators abandon fiscal prudence in "good years" and face spending cuts or tax hikes in down times.

Commentary

Read More: Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

Health Care

State Legislators’ Guide to Health Insurance Solution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2010

Council for Affordable Health Insurance and ALEC have released their 2010 State Legislators Guide to Health Insurance Solutions. Here is a PDF version of the full report…

Media

Read More: State Legislators’ Guide to Health Insurance Solution

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2010

  • April 1, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of March, state General Fund revenues are $719 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Tax collections have…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2010

Health Care

Repeal Obamacare Ad in Erie Times-News

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 1, 2010

The Manufacturer and Business Assocation, along with a whole slew of businesses in the Erie area, ran a full page add in the Erie Times-News calling for lawmakers to…

Media

Read More: Repeal Obamacare Ad in Erie Times-News

Public Union Democracy

You’ve Been Duped

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 1, 2010

Apparently our April Fools Day news release hit a little too close to home for some. We announced that under new…

Media

Read More: You’ve Been Duped

Taxes & Economy

Facts and Myths About a Natural Gas Tax

  • April 1, 2010

Gov. Rendell has labeled himself as the “best ally” of the natural gas industry, an odd statement for someone who frequently gets the facts wrong. Here are some corrections…

Media

Read More: Facts and Myths About a Natural Gas Tax

Health Care

How the Health Care Law is Financed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2010

The Tax Foundation has a useful chart showing how the health care law is financed over the next 10 years (keep in mind most of the taxes don’t kick…

Media

Read More: How the Health Care Law is Financed

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Candidate Survey

  • March 30, 2010

The Commonwealth Foundation asked each of the candidates in the May primary for Pennsylvania Governor to answer a series of 20 questions about state economic and fiscal policy.  Answers…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Candidate Survey

Regulation

PA Gives Shyamalan $35 Million Tax Break

  • March 30, 2010

Despite the reduction in the Film Tax Credit (which does little to generate economic growth) M. Night Shyamalan’s latest production, The Last Airbender received over $35 million (over multiple…

Media

Read More: PA Gives Shyamalan $35 Million Tax Break

State Budget

Debating Taxes on Services

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

The New York Times has a piece on expanding state sales taxes to cover many services, with a specific focus on Pennsylvania. The articles focus primarily on the “modernization”…

Media

Read More: Debating Taxes on Services

Health Care

Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction.  But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…

Commentary

Read More: Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

Taxes & Economy

Which Sectors are Adding Jobs in Pennsylvania?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

As reported earlier, Pennsylvania lost an estimated 16,000 jobs in February.  Over the past year, the total jobs lost in the state adds to up about 141,000 (272,000 over…

Media

Read More: Which Sectors are Adding Jobs in Pennsylvania?

Regulation

Still Not Easy Being Green for PA Taxpayers

  • March 29, 2010

In 2005, CF advised against passing Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II initiative because far better alternatives than increasing Pennsylvania’s debt load could have been used to save farmlands and…

Media

Read More: Still Not Easy Being Green for PA Taxpayers

Government Accountability

Fighting the Powerful Renewable Energy Lobby

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 29, 2010

Colorado residents are fighting back against the powerful renewable energy lobby via ballot initiative. The Western Tradition Partnership, a grassroots citizens group, said they would attack the renewables…

Media

Read More: Fighting the Powerful Renewable Energy Lobby

Regulation

Another Film Tax Credit Report Ignores Economics

  • March 26, 2010

In its analysis of Pennsylvania’s motion picture and television industry the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board pins down the creation of jobs and increased wages in the film industry…

Media

Read More: Another Film Tax Credit Report Ignores Economics

Regulation

Slots vs. Lottery

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 26, 2010

PA Independent summarizes a recent Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report that concludes slot machine gambling has not undermined lottery sales. I…

Media

Read More: Slots vs. Lottery

Regulation

Illinois Passes Pension Reductions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2010

While the Pennsylvania General Assembly is holding hearings to assess our public pension crisis is really bad, or really-really bad, Illinois is acting to reduce state pension benefits…

Media

Read More: Illinois Passes Pension Reductions

Health Care

Health Care Reform: “Change” Is Not Necessarily Good

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2010

Economist Bill Dunkelberg gives his criticism of the health care bill signed this past week. Dr. Dunkelberg will keynote the upcoming RE Harper Economic Forums – April 26…

Media

Read More: Health Care Reform: “Change” Is Not Necessarily Good

Taxes & Economy

What the Heck is a Green Job Anyway?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2010

Recently, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics requested comments on how it should try to measure “green jobs.”  Here are the comments I offered: I am writing in…

Media

Read More: What the Heck is a Green Job Anyway?