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.

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

Taxes & Economy

Is the Stimulus Working?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2009

Over at Cato, Chris Edwards asks Is the Stimulus Working?, taking a look at the components of GDP. As Edwards notes, “Government expansions usually cause private sector contractions” and…

Media

Read More: Is the Stimulus Working?

Health Care

Government Managed Health Care isn’t the “Reform” We Need

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2009

The Independence Institute has another great video on the problems when government makes health care decisions – this time use Oregon as an example, and how they prioritize Medicaid…

Media

Read More: Government Managed Health Care isn’t the “Reform” We Need

Regulation

Philadelphia Pension “Reform” is Generational Theft

  • August 12, 2009

CF testifies to PA Senate on HB 1828  HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified today before the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee that changes in the…

Press Release

Read More: Philadelphia Pension “Reform” is Generational Theft

Health Care

Lebanon Health Care Town Hall Anything but Un-American

  • August 11, 2009

I attended the Patient’s First rally in conjunction to with Arlen Specter’s today’s town hall rally at Harrisburg Area Community College in Lebanon today.  The vast majority of the crowd  (inside…

Media

Read More: Lebanon Health Care Town Hall Anything but Un-American

State Budget

How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?

  • August 11, 2009

Since 1990, Pennsylvania has gone from 24th in state and local tax burden to 11th.  Yet Gov. Rendell has proposed another round of tax hikes—including raising the state…

Fact Sheet

Read More: How Do Pennsylvania Taxes Stack Up?