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.

Health Care

Is Dissent Still the Highest Form of Patriotism?

  • August 5, 2009

It seems that the President is very upset that people are actually questioning his health care plan. So much so that the White House wants to be informed…

Media

Read More: Is Dissent Still the Highest Form of Patriotism?

Taxes & Economy

Make Drill Here, Drill Now a Reality

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 5, 2009

Remember Drill Here Drill Now campaign? It’s one approval away from becoming a reality. As of October 1, 2008 no moratoriums exist on offshore oil and gas development, however,…

Media

Read More: Make Drill Here, Drill Now a Reality

State Budget

Ed Rendell Demands More Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 5, 2009

At a press conference yesterday, Gov. Rendell says he will “compromise” on the budget – so long as he gets $1.6 billion in new revenue.  That he, he needs…

Media

Read More: Ed Rendell Demands More Taxes

Health Care

Universal Healthcare Will Render Us Poorer

  • August 4, 2009

The democrat health-care system is a systematic move toward a single payer universal health-care system. President Barack Obama has contended that the private system will continue to exist, but…

Media

Read More: Universal Healthcare Will Render Us Poorer

State Budget

State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant Positions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2009

In response to a recent question posed us – about how many actual workers vs. unfilled positions Gov. Rendell would have to eliminate when he talks about cutting state…

Media

Read More: State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant Positions

State Budget

What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the July 2009 revenue collections yesterday.  The state collected $1.65 billion in General Fund revenue in July. Normally, this report would include how…

Media

Read More: What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?

State Budget

States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal Mess

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2009

Steve Chapman writes on Reason.com that there’s nothing surprising about the crises in state budgets though it apparently caught many governors and legislators by surprise. States dramatically increased spending…

Media

Read More: States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal Mess

State Budget

What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2009

If you are following any of the proceedings on the Pennsylvania budget – such as #pabudget on Twitter – you will find a lot has changed with nothing really…

Media

Read More: What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?

Health Care

The Two Big Lies of Health Care “Reform”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2009

Here are a couple of good readings on health care policy: The Hoover Institution has a “second opinion” with ten reasons why health care in the U.S. is…

Media

Read More: The Two Big Lies of Health Care “Reform”

Taxes & Economy

Where Were These Guys a Few Months Ago?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2009

At a recent town-hall meeting, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said he had to ‘hold my nose’ over bailouts. I wish he had expressed some of those misgivings when…

Media

Read More: Where Were These Guys a Few Months Ago?

Taxes & Economy

Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 3, 2009

Studies from the McKinsey group and National Research Council released this week claim that we can substantially reduce the country’s energy usage (15-32% by 2020) by replacing inefficient appliances…

Media

Read More: Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you

  • July 31, 2009

The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee contracted with Economics Research Associates (ERA)1 to analyze Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit (FTC).  In general, the ERA report, “Pennsylvania’s Film Production Tax Credit…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you

Health Care

Reasons ObamaCare Is Wrong for America

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has, on their new health care website, the Top 10 Reasons Obamacare Is Wrong for America, starting with the fact that individuals would lose their current…

Media

Read More: Reasons ObamaCare Is Wrong for America

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on Sunshine

  • July 31, 2009

Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to closed-door budget negotiations between Gov. Rendell and selected legislative leaders: “A mere…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on Sunshine

Taxes & Economy

Federal Spending by the Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has a new report on federal spending. The short document includes lots of good tables and charts showing the effects of Bush-Obama spending increases.

Media

Read More: Federal Spending by the Numbers

Energy

Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps

  • July 30, 2009

With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is more accurately…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps

Regulation

Rendell, Harley Davidson, and Lando

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2009

In Empire Strikes Back, Lando Calrissian tells his old friend Han Solo that “I’ve just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever” before leading…

Media

Read More: Rendell, Harley Davidson, and Lando

Government Accountability

Victory for Transparency in State Government

  • July 29, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matt Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to the General Assembly’s decision to make Conference Committee meetings on the state…

Press Release

Read More: Victory for Transparency in State Government