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.

Taxes & Economy

Environmental Protection Need Not Cause Economic Stagnation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 22, 2010

As more natural gas wells are drilled, environmental groups, and now lawmakers, are decrying the technology as unsafe or responsible for contamination. Even the EPA announced it is conducting…

Media

Read More: Environmental Protection Need Not Cause Economic Stagnation

Health Care

Will the Health Care Bill Hold Up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 22, 2010

Ronald Reagan once said, “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.” Last night’s vote on health care reform was heralded by supporter as a “historic vote” which will…

Media

Read More: Will the Health Care Bill Hold Up?

Government Accountability

An Annual or Biennial Pennsylvania Budget?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 22, 2010

Cross Posted at The Triadvocate House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) argues that “a two-year budget is impractical in our modern world” and that the current annual budget cycle…

Media

Read More: An Annual or Biennial Pennsylvania Budget?

Health Care

Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 21, 2010

Eric Telford (Twitter handle JoeTaxpayer) has started to round up Congressmen who change their health care vote after getting big grants for their districts: …

Media

Read More: Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?

Taxes & Economy

Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 19, 2010

The Economist has a story on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal mess, which has been years in the making. Thanks to an irresponsible city council, Harrisburg is still…

Media

Read More: Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?

Regulation

Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax

  • March 19, 2010

According to a recent op-ed by Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a 2007 cigarette tax is having an adverse effect on the Free State’s economy. While…

Media

Read More: Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax

Regulation

Private Historical Sites are More Popular

  • March 18, 2010

Unfortunately, the ability of non profit groups, private philanthropy and individual entrepreneurship have to preserve our historic sites and natural resources is largely overlooked. The perception that privately run…

Media

Read More: Private Historical Sites are More Popular

State Budget

More Opposition to Rendell’s Sales Tax Expansion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2010

The Post-Gazette sums up additional opposition to Gov. Rendell’s proposed expansion of the sales tax – this time from the computer services industry. The article also notes how Gov.

Media

Read More: More Opposition to Rendell’s Sales Tax Expansion

Taxes & Economy

Gas Bags Scare Off Gas Investor

  • March 17, 2010

In an interview with CNBC, Larry Nichols, CEO of the highly-successful Devon Energy, claimed his company will not be seeking a share of the Marcellus Shale gas reserves anytime…

Media

Read More: Gas Bags Scare Off Gas Investor

Education

The Green Schools Ruse

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 16, 2010

Yesterday the House passed Rep. Drucker’s bill to exclude any costs associated with making a school building LEED certified from a possible…

Media

Read More: The Green Schools Ruse

Government Accountability

When Will These Guys Learn?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 16, 2010

Pennsylvania Independent reports on two PA House contracts for voter lists, costing taxpayers over $225,000. Readers will recognize that this sounds quite a bit like the actions of former…

Media

Read More: When Will These Guys Learn?

Taxes & Economy

CF Podcast: Freedom in the 50 States

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 15, 2010

Listen to the latest CF podcast on Mercatus Center study, Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom. The report is the first comprehensive…

Media

Read More: CF Podcast: Freedom in the 50 States

Taxes & Economy

Sam Rohrer’s Energy Proposal

  • March 15, 2010

Gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer laid out his Energy Independence plan for Pennsylvania. The plan includes: Oppose any effort to impose a natural gas severance tax in the absence of…

Media

Read More: Sam Rohrer’s Energy Proposal

Taxes & Economy

SEPTA and I-80 Tolling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 15, 2010

While the transportation industry is propping up the myth that I-80 tolls won’t be used for transit in Pennsylvania, SEPTA officials are busy lobbying for I-80 tolling in…

Media

Read More: SEPTA and I-80 Tolling

Taxes & Economy

More on the Unintended Consequences of the “Jobs Bill”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 13, 2010

CS Monitor writes that the tax credits in the so-called “jobs bill” won’t encourage small businesses to hire.  Worse yet, it might delay job creation: And as long…

Media

Read More: More on the Unintended Consequences of the “Jobs Bill”

Regulation

Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage Business

  • March 12, 2010

Earlier this month, Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter proposed increasing the city’s trash collection fee to $300 to deal with the city’s budget deficit. Instead of finding ways to be more…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage Business

Health Care

Obama and the Slacker Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 12, 2010

In his health care rally in the Philadelphia area earlier this week, President Obama touted a proposed regulation that insurance companies would have to allow children up to age 26…

Media

Read More: Obama and the Slacker Mandate

Taxes & Economy

Could Municipalities Provide Cheaper Electricity?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 12, 2010

Last week the State House Committee on Consumer Affairs held a hearing on legislation which would allow municipalities to act as electricity aggregators for residents, unless they opt-out for another…

Media

Read More: Could Municipalities Provide Cheaper Electricity?

Regulation

State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 12, 2010

A new survey from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics looks at the total employer costs for workers in both the private and public sector. While wages for…

Media

Read More: State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%

Government Accountability

Need for an Independent Fiscal Office in PA?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 11, 2010

A new Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office was the subject of a recent legislative hearing this week, with several lawmakers arguing the need for the office (which was included in…

Media

Read More: Need for an Independent Fiscal Office in PA?