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.

Regulation

Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2009

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.

  • July 15, 2009

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

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State Budget

Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2009

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 Numbers

Education

Will “State-Related” Universities Get Stimulus Funding, No Stimulus Funding, or No Funding at All?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 14, 2009

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 14, 2009

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 Numbers

State Budget

PA Budget Craziness

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2009

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 Craziness

Education

Rendell Administration Continues to Lie on Education Funding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2009

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 Funding

Taxes & Economy

Stop the PA Rip-off: End Rate Caps

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 13, 2009

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

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Education

“Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed Bump

  • July 11, 2009

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 Bump

Health Care

Socialized Health-Care Not Paying Off

  • July 10, 2009

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

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State Budget

Obituary for the Pennsylvania Income Tax Hike

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2009

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 Hike

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Gambling Addiction

  • July 9, 2009

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

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State Budget

Balancing the Budget: Another Rendell Lie?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2009

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?

Health Care

Video: Health Reform and Wait Times (In Lego!)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2009

Here is a good video comparing health care wait times in Atlanta and Boston – home to the failed Massachusetts health care reform, which serves as a model…

Media

Read More: Video: Health Reform and Wait Times (In Lego!)

State Budget

Rendell’s Actual Budget Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2009

Number crunchers around Harrisburg may remember last week, I posted a spreadsheet of the Pennsylvania state budget proposals, but had to guess at Governor Rendell’s allocation of federal stimulus…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Actual Budget Proposal

Taxes & Economy

Climate Change Alarmists Seek to Educate NEPA Taxpayers

  • July 8, 2009

The Mertz-Gilmore Foundation, a self-described “sustainable environment” grant making institution based out of New York City, recently announced its plan to give a $50,000 grant to PennFuture, to “support…

Media

Read More: Climate Change Alarmists Seek to Educate NEPA Taxpayers

State Budget

Budget Facts 2009: PA State Budget Overview

  • July 8, 2009

Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing spending.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2009: PA State Budget Overview

State Budget

PA House Democrats Against Tax Hikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2009

Contrary to the Rendell administration’s claims that many Republicans will support a personal income tax increase, the opposite it likely true.  John Micek writes that there are maybe…

Media

Read More: PA House Democrats Against Tax Hikes

State Budget

Reject Rendell’s Zugzwang

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 7, 2009

Observers of the state budget process under Gov. Rendell and a divided General Assembly know that it is akin to a high-stakes chess match, replete with public relations offensives and…

Commentary

Read More: Reject Rendell’s Zugzwang