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

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

Regulation

Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2009

A coalition of business groups released their proposals aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s economic climate. Among the top of their list were state spending limits, lower business taxes, health care reform,…

Media

Read More: Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy

State Budget

Rendell’s propaganda machine

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2009

Brad Bumsted’s latest column wraps up some of the more absurd rhetoric coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate version of the Pennsylvania budget: The bill…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s propaganda machine

Taxes & Economy

“Stimulus” Kills Pennsylvania Steel Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2009

Redstate notes how the “buy American” provision of the so-called stimulus bill is already putting some Pennsylvania’s out of of work.  See the original Canadian Press article here.

Media

Read More: “Stimulus” Kills Pennsylvania Steel Jobs

Education

“Is public education socialism?”

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 13, 2009

In defense of a single-payer health care system, possible U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Dravosburg) asked, “Is public education socialism? No. This is the same thing.”…

Media

Read More: “Is public education socialism?”

Taxes & Economy

How Much Would Cap and Trade Cost Your Family?

  • June 12, 2009

The Tax Foundation today released a calculator for families to estimate the annual household cost of a cap and trade system. It’s based on their recent study, “Who…

Media

Read More: How Much Would Cap and Trade Cost Your Family?

State Budget

Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2009

The Sun-Gazette has a recent article on the Pennsylvania state budget titled “Rendell lashes out at Senate plan”.  It didn’t sound like something that would surprise me – but…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black

Health Care

Warmed-Over RendellCare Includes a New Tax on Health Insurance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2009

The Pennsylvania State House has been debating HB 1, which would expand the state’s Adult Basic program, to make more individuals eligible for government health care. The Commonwealth Foundation…

Media

Read More: Warmed-Over RendellCare Includes a New Tax on Health Insurance

State Budget

Do PA Democrats Really Want Higher Taxes? Probably Not.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2009

While Gov. Rendell and House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans are talking up a potential increase in Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax, some of the rank and file Democrats are…

Media

Read More: Do PA Democrats Really Want Higher Taxes? Probably Not.

Taxes & Economy

Cap and Trade: An Energy Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2009

Pretty good video from American Solutions on Cap and Trade. They also have a place on their site to take action.

Media

Read More: Cap and Trade: An Energy Tax

Education

Bob Casey Still Needs to Read the Stimulus Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2009

Sen. Bob Casey – in remarks designed to counter the facts laid out by the Commonwealth Foundation, namely that Pennsylvania school districts will get a dramatic increase in…

Media

Read More: Bob Casey Still Needs to Read the Stimulus Bill

Regulation

Why Corporate Welfare Fails

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2009

Tad Dehaven has a worthwhile read on the Cato Institute's blog about why state corporate welfare subsidies make good politics, but bad economics: Instead of competing with…

Media

Read More: Why Corporate Welfare Fails

Education

Bonus Fact Check: Government Preschool

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2009

One point that has been raised during the Rendell administration’s taxpayer funding lobbying campaign for higher taxes was the benefits of the Pre-K Counts programs. On this, we…

Media

Read More: Bonus Fact Check: Government Preschool

Education

Fact Check: K-12 Education Support Increase Under SB 850

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2009

While the Rendell administration is burning your tax dollars funding a bus tour across Pennsylvania to ask for more education spending (and the higher taxes needed to pay for…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: K-12 Education Support Increase Under SB 850

Regulation

Big Ideas for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2009

The Patriot News has a series of “Big Ideas for Pennsylvania”, including a couple we have championed –  privatizing the state-owned liquor stores and reforming the state…

Media

Read More: Big Ideas for Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2009

Reading Eagle writer Mary Young opines that, in the state budget debate, both sides should simply get along. She advocates basically splitting the difference between the Senate’s $27.3…

Media

Read More: Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Taxes & Economy

Good Thing We Got That Stimulus!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 7, 2009

Gov. Rendell claimed Arlen Specter “saved the county” with his vote on the “stimulus” legislation. Here is a chart to turn your laughter into tears, courtesy of…

Media

Read More: Good Thing We Got That Stimulus!

State Budget

“Cuts First, Taxes Last”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 7, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer comes out with an editorial calling for cutting wasteful spending in the state budget before talking about a tax increase. Here are some of the points…

Media

Read More: “Cuts First, Taxes Last”