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.

Regulation

The Pennsylvania Pension Bailout

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 25, 2009

Pennsylvania legislators are drawing nearer to implementing a bailout bill for Philadelphia and a state takeover for insolvent municipal pension funds in cities like Pittsburgh. While pension reforms are…

Media

Read More: The Pennsylvania Pension Bailout

Health Care

ObamaCare Is Bad Medicine for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2009

America faces divergent prescriptions for health care reform—one calling for more government control, the other for patient empowerment.   Unfortunately President Obama, Governor Rendell, and Democrats in Congress and…

Commentary

Read More: ObamaCare Is Bad Medicine for Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Exemptions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2009

There has been some discussion lately about filling the Pennsylvania budget hole with additional revenue by expanding the state sales tax to include currently exempt goods, services, or categories.

Media

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Regulation

Problem of PA Prison Population and Price

  • August 25, 2009

Last week Bill Cosby declared that it only costs taxpayers $4,000 a year to educate a child, but $33,000 a year to incarcerate someone (this statement is inaccurate, unless…

Media

Read More: Problem of PA Prison Population and Price

Regulation

What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2009

Gov. Rendell has noted on many occasions that without large state “economic development” grant programs, Pennsylvania’s economy would tank.  He has argued that the Senate budget, which would eliminate many…

Media

Read More: What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?

Health Care

Explaining the Town-Hall Protests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2009

John Goodman – the health care policy guru, not the star of Arachnophobia – has an editorial in Friday’s Wall Street Journal on those protesting Obama’s version of health…

Media

Read More: Explaining the Town-Hall Protests

State Budget

Is Cash for Clunkers the Dumbest Government Program Ever?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2009

Chris Edwards of Cato suggests “Cash for Clunkers” is the dumbest government program of all time: A few billion dollars worth of wealth was destroyed. About 750,000…

Media

Read More: Is Cash for Clunkers the Dumbest Government Program Ever?

Public Union Democracy

Address the Spending Side on Road Funding First

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issued a statement responding to our blog post that explains state transportation spending has increased 121% since 1995, more than triple the rate…

Media

Read More: Address the Spending Side on Road Funding First

Regulation

We’re Twice as Smart of the People of Shelbyville

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 21, 2009

Harley-Davidson continues to tour business friendly states to re-locate its York plant that employs over 2,000 workers – among the four options considered are Shelbyville, Indiana and Shelbyville, Kentucky.

Media

Read More: We’re Twice as Smart of the People of Shelbyville

Health Care

Post-Gazette Combats Health Care “Lies” With Actual Lies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2009

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Sally Kalson has a ridiculous piece on health care reform (HT PA Watercooler), in which she admittedly fabricates a number of proposals she “imagines” Republicans would…

Media

Read More: Post-Gazette Combats Health Care “Lies” With Actual Lies

State Budget

Cash for Clunkers Crash and Burns

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 21, 2009

The New York Times reports that car dealers in New York have pulled out of the government’s cost-shifting program to aid automakers in Detroit under the banner…

Media

Read More: Cash for Clunkers Crash and Burns

Taxes & Economy

Auditor General Finds More Waste and Fraud in Pennsylvania Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2009

A new report from Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner finds that the Special Allowances program in the Department of Public Welfare is “rife with mismanagement and potential for fraud.” …

Media

Read More: Auditor General Finds More Waste and Fraud in Pennsylvania Welfare

Health Care

Obama’s “Co-operative” Trojan Horse

  • August 20, 2009

With the public voicing overwhelming concern over the potential effects Obama’s “public option” could have on America’s healthcare industry, the White House now has its back against the wall. Progressives…

Media

Read More: Obama’s “Co-operative” Trojan Horse

Health Care

Report: National Healthcare Would Harm PA

  • August 19, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation released a report today showing that President Obama’s proposed takeover of health care by the federal government would have dramatically negative effects on Pennsylvanians.

Press Release

Read More: Report: National Healthcare Would Harm PA

Health Care

Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t Popular

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 18, 2009

Pete DeCoursey has an interesting column on Capitowire (subscription) about why people oppose ObamaCare. He hits the main point correct — most people are satisfied with their coverage (…

Media

Read More: Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t Popular

Health Care

Scrutinize the Health Care Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2009

We’ve gotten a few calls over the last few days asking where to get and read the 1,200 page health care bill being debated in Congress.  Here are some resources:…

Media

Read More: Scrutinize the Health Care Bill

Education

Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2009

The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding.  It seems these groups are living in another world. …

Media

Read More: Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough

Health Care

RightOnline Health Care Panel

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 14, 2009

Right Online held a panel on health care reform today, which I had the honor of speaking at, along with Amy Menefee of Americans for Prosperity and the…

Media

Read More: RightOnline Health Care Panel

Public Union Democracy

Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for Disaster

  • August 14, 2009

With a renewed interest in tolling Interstate 80, I find it necessary to reiterate several points of concern surrounding Act 44 and its implications on Pennsylvania’s economic future: Act…

Media

Read More: Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for Disaster

Health Care

Universal Health Care is for Primitive Societies

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 14, 2009

The Wynnewood Institute has a great article on government run health care by Thomas Patrick Burke. It argues that since civilizations value freedom over coercion universal health care…

Media

Read More: Universal Health Care is for Primitive Societies