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

Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?

  • November 24, 2009

Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%, which is a fair and simple distribution of taxation.  Yet some people are imprudently calling for a state-wide graduated…

Media

Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?

Regulation

Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes

  • November 23, 2009

Pennsylvania's statewide pension plans for public school employees, state workers, legislators, judges and other government employees - the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes

Taxes & Economy

Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal

  • November 23, 2009

Britain’s Climate Research Unit verified hackers confiscated email correspondence between top climatologists, putting Penn State’s director of Earth System Science Center, Michael E. Mann, directly in the middle of…

Media

Read More: Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal

Public Union Democracy

Legal Plunder At Its Worst

  • November 23, 2009

Let’s see how many dirty political games you can fit into one case – from union thuggery to corporate welfare, to rent-seeking to holding taxpayers and employees hostage – the…

Media

Read More: Legal Plunder At Its Worst

Health Care

US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 23, 2009

The Association of Physician and Surgeons has a one-page handout on some number and facts about the latest Senate health care bill.

Media

Read More: US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill

Public Union Democracy

State Tax Trends

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2009

ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…

Media

Read More: State Tax Trends

Government Accountability

What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2009

Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…

Media

Read More: What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?

Taxes & Economy

New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks Credibility

  • November 19, 2009

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s ill-advised attempts to toll I-80 continues; yesterday, Brian Chase, an independent consultant, spoke to the House Republican Policy Committee (PLS Subscription) about the validity…

Media

Read More: New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks Credibility

Health Care

Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2009

Yesterday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth a new, 2,074 page health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the next few days.

Media

Read More: Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill

Taxes & Economy

Electric Choice is Gaining Steam

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 19, 2009

With the expiration of rate caps in 2010 I've been tracking the entrance of new residential suppliers in the central PA electricity market. These days it's rare to see actual…

Media

Read More: Electric Choice is Gaining Steam

Taxes & Economy

Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2009

Ever since former president George W. Bush unveiled plans for the new presidential center in his name which would focus on fiscal restraint, he has faced fair amount of…

Media

Read More: Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

Energy

Alternative Energy Mandates

  • November 18, 2009

Pennsylvania law requires utility companies to produce a certain percentage of their electricity from alternative sources in future years. Proposed legislation would increase this percentage and require new carbon sequestration…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Alternative Energy Mandates

Government Accountability

The Illusion of Shrinking State Government

  • November 18, 2009

Back in September of 2008, Governor Rendell announced a state-wide hiring freeze in all agencies under his control to help curb declining revenues and a weakened national economy. Now,…

Media

Read More: The Illusion of Shrinking State Government

Government Accountability

Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2009

As many readers will be aware, Pennsylvania lawmakers, judges, and executive branch officials receive an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), using the CPI for Philadelphia as the measure for inflation. What…

Media

Read More: Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?

Taxes & Economy

Government Authors More “Jobs Created” Fiction

  • November 17, 2009

The recovery.gov website lists a number of job creation success stories in congressional districts accross many states. For instance, in Arizona’s 15th congressional district 30 jobs were created…

Media

Read More: Government Authors More “Jobs Created” Fiction

Taxes & Economy

Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2009

Alan Reynolds outlines a very basic economic concept: longer limits (and increased benefits) for taxpayer-funded unemployment compensation – as was mandated in the federal stimulus, and repeated by Congress…

Media

Read More: Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

Taxes & Economy

Climate Change in Pennsylvania

  • November 17, 2009

A new report from the Science & Public Policy Institute (SPPI) focuses solely on climate trends in the Pennsylvania. The report highlights climate trends unique to the state…

Media

Read More: Climate Change in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative Directives

  • November 16, 2009

In 2008, the General Assembly passed the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act (Act 70). This act created the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC), which was charged with implementing a study…

Media

Read More: PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative Directives