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.
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Taxes & Economy
Government Spending Doesn’t Stimulate Economic Growth
Brian Riedl of the Heritage Foundation has a good Backgrounder on why government spending is no economic stimulus, including answering some of the points that neo-Keynesians make. (Click…
Media
Read More: Government Spending Doesn’t Stimulate Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
Rendell on HB 80: Now it’s war!
Yesterday, Governor Rendell had some harsh albeit entertaining words for opponents of HB 80, which would increase the state’s mandated alternative energy requirements. According to Rendell “Powerful special interests…
Media
Read More: Rendell on HB 80: Now it’s war!State Budget
What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?
In his mid-year budget address, Governor Rendell outlined a plan to cut spending by $170 million in the Pennsylvania state budget. This week, he identified $161 specific cuts (see…
Media
Read More: What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?Regulation
Tax Breaks for Select Few Companies Not Creating Jobs
A study by Good Jobs First indicates that Pennsylvania’s tax incentives for high-tech companies has not been able to attract investment from other states. A net 43 high-tech companies…
Media
Read More: Tax Breaks for Select Few Companies Not Creating JobsGovernment Accountability
Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad Ideas
Pennsylvania Governor Candidate Dan Onorato outlined his economic development proposals yesterday. He has some good ideas in there, but a lot of the…
Media
Read More: Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad IdeasRegulation
Paper or Plastic?
This morning I came across a ridiculous piece of legislation. Rep. McGeehan has proposed HB 2200, which would ban paper and plastic bags in grocery stores. Forget subtle…
Media
Read More: Paper or Plastic?Education
Climategate & Penn State
Just days after news broke about what has been dubbed "Climategate," Penn State University (PSU) announced that it would investigate the conduct of Michael Mann, a professor in PSU's Department…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Climategate & Penn StateTaxes & Economy
Government Spending on Transportation Not Creating Jobs
The AP has a new story out today on how “stimulus” road spending has had little effect on unemployment. Spend a lot or spend nothing at all, it…
Media
Read More: Government Spending on Transportation Not Creating JobsTaxes & Economy
Why are Electricity Rates Increasing? Has Competition Failed?
In the past few weeks ConEdison, MX Energy, and now Dominion Energy are raising their rates (this only affects those who haven’t switched). Far from failure, the…
Media
Read More: Why are Electricity Rates Increasing? Has Competition Failed?Regulation
Pennsylvania’s Gold Rush
In economically depressed Northeast Pennsylvania shale drilling has reinvigorated local economies creating thousands of jobs (29,000) last year. Yesterday, Fox News featured the region and the Marcellus Shale “gold rush”.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Gold RushTaxes & Economy
Still Movin’ Out
The Billy Joel song Movin’ Out sounds more eerie and more depressing every year that Pennsylvania continues to lose people. Allied Van Lines has released its 42nd Annual Magnet…
Media
Read More: Still Movin’ OutState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2010
Six months through the 2009-10 fiscal year, state revenues are $254 million below budget expenditures, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate in…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2010Energy
Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & Competition
In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & CompetitionRegulation
Deal on Pennsylvania Table Games Appears Done
After Gov. Rendell threatened to lay off 1,000 state workers if he didn’t sign legislation to establish table games (and the licensing fee and tax) at Pennsylvania casinos by…
Media
Read More: Deal on Pennsylvania Table Games Appears DoneTaxes & Economy
Financial Crisis: What Went Wrong
In December, Big Think, an online global forum released its series ‘What Went Wrong’, an eight week web-based series examining the causes of the financial crisis. This series brings…
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Read More: Financial Crisis: What Went WrongState Budget
The Stimulus and State Budgets
The Wall Street Journal had a recent editorial on the impact of the stimulus on state budgets – noting that while the legislation create a one-time bailout to states,…
Media
Read More: The Stimulus and State BudgetsTaxes & Economy
Climategate Investigator Seeks Whistleblowers at Penn State
An investigator into the “climategate” controversy has emailed all of Penn State professor Michael Mann’s colleagues, highlighting the reward for those who blow the whistle on misuse of federal…
Media
Read More: Climategate Investigator Seeks Whistleblowers at Penn StateGovernment Accountability
Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart Contract
While some have pointed to the rodent-poo filled cafeteria at the Pennsylvania state capitol as a failure of the free market (as a private firm…
Media
Read More: Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart ContractHealth Care
Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care Bill
Attorneys General from 13 states, including Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett, have threatened a lawsuit over pending health care legislation. (HT Tony…
Media
Read More: Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
The Success of Electricity Deregulation in Texas
Here are some recent numbers, from our friends at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, illustrating the success of electricity deregulation. Since 2007 Texas’ electricity market has been fully deregulated…
Media
Read More: The Success of Electricity Deregulation in TexasHealth Care
Cynics on Why to Support the Health Care Bill
Quiet Declarations has a good blog post on why to support the Senate health care bill, basically outlining three rationales. One, if you want to pass any bill to…
Media
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