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.
Related Issues
State Budget
What Next for Pennsylvania State Budget?
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House passed HB 1416, a vehicle for the state budget. But that should not be taken to mean that Pennsylvania is much closer to having a…
Media
Read More: What Next for Pennsylvania State Budget?Government Accountability
Cost and Benefits of State Spending Transparency
The Mercatus Center has a new podcast on state online spending transparency. Jerry Brito, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, discusses the need for spending transparency in states…
Media
Read More: Cost and Benefits of State Spending TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Job Losses are Never “Good News”
A number of media outlets, such as the AP, are reporting Pennsylvania’s June job losses of 3,400 with a positive spin, as in the “smallest monthly job loss…
Media
Read More: Job Losses are Never “Good News”Education
PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in Reserves
New data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (released last week) show that school districts across the state have a combined $2.4 billion in General Fund reserves as of…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in ReservesState Budget
Follow the Pennsylvania Budget Debate
The House of Representatives has begun debating the Pennsylvania state budget (HB 1416) likely to continue today and tomorrow. For live updates, you can follow the Commonwealth Foundation…
Media
Read More: Follow the Pennsylvania Budget DebateState Budget
Can Gov. Rendell Pay State Workers?
KDKA TV has a story about how legislative staffers are being paid during the Pennsylvania budget impasse, with the angle that it is unfair to other state workers (who…
Media
Read More: Can Gov. Rendell Pay State Workers?Regulation
Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?
Among the proposal of Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner to help balance the state budget without a tax increase. But Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss suggests this is…
Media
Read More: Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?Health Care
Federal Government, M.D.
President Obama’s $1.5 trillion health care plan would make health insurance a “right” for all Americans. The proposed plan empowers the federal government to ensure that employers provide insurance…
Media
Read More: Federal Government, M.D.State Budget
Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers
As we have done with Gov. Rendell’s proposed budget, the Senate passed budget, and the House GOP proposed budget amendment, here is a breakdown of the proposed…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the NumbersEducation
Will “State-Related” Universities Get Stimulus Funding, No Stimulus Funding, or No Funding at All?
On June 26th the Governor submitted his application for federal stabilization funds, including the following phrase:”The Commonwealth’s “state-related universities” are excluded from all calculations for purposes of the State Fiscal…
Media
Read More: Will “State-Related” Universities Get Stimulus Funding, No Stimulus Funding, or No Funding at All?State Budget
PA House GOP Budget by the Numbers
The Pennsylvania House Republicans unveiled their state budget proposal Friday, to be added as an amendment if and when a budget bill is brought to the House floor. As we…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Budget by the NumbersState Budget
PA Budget Craziness
Alright, I’m still trying to figure out what the Pennsylvania House Democrats did to the state budget proposal today in the Appropriations Committee. But here’s the basics: They took…
Media
Read More: PA Budget CrazinessEducation
Rendell Administration Continues to Lie on Education Funding
Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak continues the administration’s scare tactics and ininaccurate propaganda claiming that the $27.3 billion PA House budget would force schools to increase property…
Media
Read More: Rendell Administration Continues to Lie on Education FundingTaxes & Economy
Stop the PA Rip-off: End Rate Caps
Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Knox just launched a website to promote the extension of electric rate caps. The site, stoptheparipoff.com, ignores the cost of extending rate caps…
Media
Read More: Stop the PA Rip-off: End Rate CapsState Budget
Gov. Rendell: “State Workers Should Put a Statue of Me on Their Mantles”
In each of the past seven years, under the leadership of Gov. Rendell, Pennsylvania has failed to pass a state budget by the start of the fiscal year (July 1),…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell: “State Workers Should Put a Statue of Me on Their Mantles”Education
“Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed Bump
The “Tax You More Bus Tour” is still puttering along in the taxpayer-funded luxury bus – or at least it was scheduled to. The Department of Education twice attempted…
Media
Read More: “Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed BumpHealth Care
Socialized Health-Care Not Paying Off
There have been many claims that medical costs have led to bankruptcies across the United States. As a result, advocates of socialized medicine argue that the mixed public-private health…
Media
Read More: Socialized Health-Care Not Paying OffState Budget
Obituary for the Pennsylvania Income Tax Hike
Rendell’s personal income tax hike plan is dead, declared PA House Republicans yesterday. Brad Bumsted has the obituary in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Despite not having…
Media
Read More: Obituary for the Pennsylvania Income Tax HikeState Budget
PA Auditor General Offers Ways to Balance Budget – Without Tax Hike
Add one more Democrat to the list of those who don’t think we should raise the state income tax – Auditor General Jack Wagner has release a series of…
Media
Read More: PA Auditor General Offers Ways to Balance Budget – Without Tax HikeRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Gambling Addiction
Five years ago this month, Gov. Rendell signed into law the signature policy achievement of his tenure -- legalized slot machine gambling. Act 71 of 2004 allows for 61,000 slot…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Gambling AddictionState Budget
Balancing the Budget: Another Rendell Lie?
The Rendell administration has been saying for weeks that the budget passed by the Senate in May (SB 850) is “$1.5 billion out of balance”. As John Micek…
Media
Read More: Balancing the Budget: Another Rendell Lie?