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

Speaker McCall Throws Support behind Income Tax Hike

  • June 23, 2009

Pressured by a looming June 30th budget deadline and Gov. Ed Rendell’s economic team, House Speaker Keith McCall of Carbon County announced yesterday his support for a 16% increase…

Media

Read More: Speaker McCall Throws Support behind Income Tax Hike

State Budget

Why Don’t Men Like to Wear Condoms?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2009

No, we haven’t been spammed. But if the question of ‘Why men don’t like to wear condoms?’ doesn’t seem an apt topic for PolicyBlog, does it seem an appropriate subject…

Media

Read More: Why Don’t Men Like to Wear Condoms?

State Budget

Lawmakers Working Hard on the PA Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2009

If fundraising for the next campaign is considered working out the details of the state budget, Pennsylvania lawmakers are hard at it.  John Micek points out no fewer than…

Media

Read More: Lawmakers Working Hard on the PA Budget?

State Budget

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Who Signed No Taxes Pledge

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2009

Twenty-nine Pennsylvania Legislators have signed American for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, including six Democrats.  Click here to see exactly what they pledged not to do.  Assuming politicians…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Who Signed No Taxes Pledge

Health Care

Get Informed and Active on Health Care Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2009

On multiple occasions, we have suggested, or passed along the advice of others saying the same, that Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, and free market advocates need to get serious…

Media

Read More: Get Informed and Active on Health Care Reform

Regulation

Thumbs Down on Film Tax Credit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2009

The Patriot News has a scathing editorial against Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit.  Here is the deathblow: A closer look at the “motion picture industry” employment statistics(cited in…

Media

Read More: Thumbs Down on Film Tax Credit

Taxes & Economy

Axe Taxes Not Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2009

Here is a pretty cool site, with info based on your location, primarily on alcohol and liquor taxes.

Media

Read More: Axe Taxes Not Jobs

State Budget

Cash for Rich People Who Drive Hummers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2009

It is pretty clear that the Cash for Clunkers proposal is a dumb idea to intervene government in the economy and distort the market (or as Charlie Dent…

Media

Read More: Cash for Rich People Who Drive Hummers

Taxes & Economy

Liberals Who OpposeTax Hikes During Recession

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2009

Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell renewed his call for higher taxes today, claiming it was ludicrous to think higher taxes would cost jobs. Who would argue with that? Well certainly…

Media

Read More: Liberals Who OpposeTax Hikes During Recession

Taxes & Economy

States Lose Jobs Due to Severance Tax

  • June 18, 2009

Florida’s legislature just passed new legislation to ease the severance tax burden on small oil and gas producers in the state. Drilling companies in the state have been forced…

Media

Read More: States Lose Jobs Due to Severance Tax

Regulation

Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor Rendell

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2009

At the cabinet meeting yesterday (which the Commonwealth Foundation was escorted out of by security, being told it was a “closed meeting”, while media and staff for the PA…

Media

Read More: Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor Rendell

Taxes & Economy

Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest Winners

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 17, 2009

First Place: $2,500“Taxesâ€? by Colin Jones, Bethel Park PA (watch for a cameo from “Governor Rendell”) Second Place: $1,000“Where’d My Paycheck Go?â€? by Robert Madeley, Mohnton PA…

Media

Read More: Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest Winners

Government Accountability

State Spending Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 17, 2009

Testimony of Elizabeth Bryan to the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee, June 18, 2009 Good morning, I am Elizabeth Bryan, a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market public…

Testimony

Read More: State Spending Transparency

Regulation

Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood Consultants

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 17, 2009

One of our PolicyBlog readers sent us a note that the researchers contracted to do the study of the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit (click here for our comments on…

Media

Read More: Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood Consultants

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Income Tax Competitiveness

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 17, 2009

The New York Times covered Gov. Rendell’s proposed 16% increase in the Personal Income Tax. Immediately before citing the Commonwealth Foundation, the article states that “Pennsylvania currently has the…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Income Tax Competitiveness

Taxes & Economy

Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2009

I’ve gotten a couple of question on the “how” and “why” we estimate that Rendell’s personal income tax increase will cost 24,000 Pennsylvania jobs. The estimate of 24,000 jobs…

Media

Read More: Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 Jobs

Taxes & Economy

Commonwealth Foundation Joins Farmers in Fight Against Higher Taxes

  • June 16, 2009

Harrisburg, PA — Straight from the fields of their small, family farms, a contingent of Pennsylvania farmers today traveled to the state Capitol to join the Commonwealth Foundation in speaking…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Joins Farmers in Fight Against Higher Taxes

Taxes & Economy

Gov. Rendell Proposes Firing 24,000 Pennsylvania Workers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2009

Governor Rendell announced today that to satisfy his appetite for more spending, he would like to increase Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) by 0.5 percentage points – to…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Proposes Firing 24,000 Pennsylvania Workers

Health Care

What not to like about ObamaCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2009

The Cato Institute has a recent publication out highlighting “Seven Bad Ideas” of President Obama’s health care plan. Here are some more on two of those bad ideas: Paying…

Media

Read More: What not to like about ObamaCare