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

Has Gambling Reduced Property Taxes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 29, 2009

In a press conference last week, Gov. Rendell patted himself on the back for all the property tax relief he has provided via gambling.  But John Delano of KDKA-TV in…

Media

Read More: Has Gambling Reduced Property Taxes?

Health Care

Residents: RomneyCare a Failure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 29, 2009

Rasmussen polling finds that only 26% of Massachusetts residents think the health care reform in that state was a “success”, compared with 37% calling in a failure. The…

Media

Read More: Residents: RomneyCare a Failure

Taxes & Economy

The Road Less Travelled in Pennsylvania

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 26, 2009

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of occasional commentaries on how Pennsylvania can turn around its economic fortune.  In their first installment, “Reviving Pennsylvania,” Brouillette and…

Commentary

Read More: The Road Less Travelled in Pennsylvania

State Budget

Rendell’s “Pay the Inmates, not the Guards” Strategy

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 26, 2009

The Morning Call’s John Micek has a follow-up article to yesterday’s revelation that inmates would be getting paid while the guards would not during the current budget impasse.

Media

Read More: Rendell’s “Pay the Inmates, not the Guards” Strategy

Taxes & Economy

More Mandates=More Expensive Electricity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 25, 2009

On Wednesday the Housed passed a bill to reestablish the State Energy Office, terminated in 1995. HB 287 would resurrect the office to preform vague duties like: Promote…

Media

Read More: More Mandates=More Expensive Electricity

State Budget

Rebutting Rendell’s Rhetoric

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2009

Rendell’s propaganda campaign continues today, with another press conference (his sixty-first, in support of legislation that does not yet exist) with tax eaters asking for more tax dollars. Rendell latest…

Media

Read More: Rebutting Rendell’s Rhetoric

Taxes & Economy

Taxpayers Guide to the Stimulus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2009

Reason Foundation put a new “Taxpayers Guide to the Stimulus” last week that is informative, and an easy-to-digest guide to where all the stimulus money is going.  They also…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers Guide to the Stimulus

Taxes & Economy

Rendell calls CF’s job loss numbers “BS”

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 25, 2009

Last night, Gov. Rendell defended his tax increase proposals on WITF’s state-wide broadcast. Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati also challenged the Governor’s efforts to sell “snake oil”. But when Nell…

Media

Read More: Rendell calls CF’s job loss numbers “BS”

Health Care

Helping the Uninsured

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2009

I had a brief debate via Twitter (I guess it is impossible to have anything but a brief debate on Twitter) with a staffer for the Pennsylvania House…

Media

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Health Care

Free Market Alternatives to the ObamaCare Informercial

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2009

If you are looking for some alternative programming to the Obamacare propaganda scheduled to air tonight, or just want a different point of view (which ABC has refused to…

Media

Read More: Free Market Alternatives to the ObamaCare Informercial

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians are Voting with Their Feet

  • June 24, 2009

I wonder how many believe that forgoing new taxes and cutting back spending would lead the state of Pennsylvania to the “post apocalyptic landscape of Cormac McCarthy’s novel soon-to-be-movie,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians are Voting with Their Feet

Taxes & Economy

A Cap and Trade Call to Action

  • June 24, 2009

Although originally planned for debate after the 4th of July, Congressional Leaders met late Monday night to place H.R. 2454, also known as the “cap and tradeâ€? initiative, on the…

Media

Read More: A Cap and Trade Call to Action

State Budget

Tax Everyone But the Guy Behind the Tree

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2009

Gov. Rendell’s hypocrisy on tax policy is on full display this budget season. While Rendell is demanding higher taxes on individuals and most businesses, he is also working to preserve…

Commentary

Read More: Tax Everyone But the Guy Behind the Tree

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