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

When Did you Stop Beating Your Wife?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

In a vote last week, the Pennsylvania House voted to increase the marriage license fee from $3 to $28 – only the increase was to be used for “domestic…

Media

Read More: When Did you Stop Beating Your Wife?

State Budget

What the Heck is a “Broad-Based Tax”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

Last week Matt Brouillette called out Senate Republicans for moving toward a budget deal with higher taxes, backing off their line in the…

Media

Read More: What the Heck is a “Broad-Based Tax”?

State Budget

Taxes and Revenue in Pennsylvania Budget Deal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 19, 2009

Gov. Rendell and legislative leaders from three caucuses (House Republicans were not involved) announced a deal on the Pennsylvania state budget.  Via PLS and Capitolwire (subscription), here…

Media

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Health Care

Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2009

The latest “leading” national health care reform proposal is a bill Sen. Baucus (already being panned by the left for getting rid of the “public option” and replacing it with…

Media

Read More: Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

State Budget

Senate GOP Can Still Protect Taxpayers

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 18, 2009

Earlier this year, state Senate Republicans drew a line in the sand, stating they would not support a budget that: 1) spends more than last fiscal year;  2) includes broad-based…

Commentary

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Regulation

PA Senate Votes to Raise Taxes Now and In the Future

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2009

The Pennsylvania Senate this afternoon gave their approval to the municipal pension “reform” bill, even after the House stripped out almost all of the weak reforms. The legislation was…

Media

Read More: PA Senate Votes to Raise Taxes Now and In the Future

Taxes & Economy

Death Tax Increase Would Cost Thousand of PA Jobs

  • September 17, 2009

Pennsylvania Family Institute joins the Family Research Council and the American Family Business Foundation in releasing a new report today analyzing the effects of the estate tax (“death tax”) on…

Media

Read More: Death Tax Increase Would Cost Thousand of PA Jobs

Taxes & Economy

Stimulus Didn’t Stimulate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2009

Interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal by three economists on the effects of the federal “stimulus” to date.  The authors find, not suprisingly, that the stimulus has not…

Media

Read More: Stimulus Didn’t Stimulate

State Budget

ACORN Got $200,000 from PA Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2009

Given all the recent scandals surrounding ACORN, the vote to defund them in the US Senate, and the Census severing ties with ACORN, it raises an interesting…

Media

Read More: ACORN Got $200,000 from PA Taxpayers

State Budget

Enacting an Irresponsible Budget

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 16, 2009

Way back on July 1, 2009, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi penned an excellent commentary, “Enacting a Responsible Budget,” urging “the Governor and the House Democratic leaders to support a…

Media

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State Budget

Braveheart and the PA State Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2009

I’ve compared Pennsylvania policy-making to Braveheart before, but the move from a public conference committee to secret,…

Media

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Health Care

Ten More “You Lie” Opportunities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2009

John Hawkins has a list of 10 more lies, mistruths, or inaccurate claims put out by President Obama on health care: The President is working with Republicans. Republicans haven’t…

Media

Read More: Ten More “You Lie” Opportunities

Taxes & Economy

Are Tea Party Protesters Nut Jobs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2009

Reason TV interviews a number of attendees of the 9/12 Tea Party in DC in a new video asking whether they are “small group of radical freakazoids or a…

Media

Read More: Are Tea Party Protesters Nut Jobs?

Regulation

Smoking Ban Puts Damper on PA Taverns

  • September 15, 2009

A recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlights the burden the statewide smoking ban has on Pennsylvania bars and taverns. According to the Pennsylvania Tavern Association, there were…

Media

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State Budget

Bad Budget for Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2009

Lowman Henry calls out the PA Senate GOP for its budget deal, from many of the same reasons we did – it…

Media

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Regulation

If You Don’t Like Pork, Don’t Vote for It

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2009

State Rep. James Casorio issued a news release today criticizing a taxpayer-funded loan to what he terms a “puppy mill”. The loan came from the Renewable Energy Program of…

Media

Read More: If You Don’t Like Pork, Don’t Vote for It

Taxes & Economy

Saving is Good for the Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2009

The Freeman, the monthly publication of the Foundation for Economic Education, has a good article on the ridiculous economic argument that savings is bad for the economy.  This…

Media

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Regulation

Constitutionality of PA Dog Law Upheld

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2009

A federal court ruled last week that Pennsylvania’s new “dog law”, enacted last year does not violated Constitutional protections against unwarranted search and seizure: U.S. District Judge Sylvia…

Media

Read More: Constitutionality of PA Dog Law Upheld

Regulation

Philly Pension “Reform”: A Vote to Raise Taxes Now and in the Future

  • Matthew Brouillette, Richard Dreyfuss
  • September 11, 2009

The state budget impasse hinges on the inability of Governor Rendell and the House Democrat Majority to garner enough votes for state tax increases.  Yet for now it seems enough…

Commentary

Read More: Philly Pension “Reform”: A Vote to Raise Taxes Now and in the Future

Education

The Right Direction

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 11, 2009

A colleague of mine suggests that the budget deal (see our grade of the budget agreement) is better than we say it is,…

Media

Read More: The Right Direction