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

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

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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”

Education

Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department

  • June 7, 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…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department

Education

Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending

  • June 7, 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…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending

Taxes & Economy

Are Higher Taxes a “Centrist” Position?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2009

Sharon Ward of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) writes to the Tribune Review complaining about being a labeled “liberal” or “far left”.  To be fair to Ward,…

Media

Read More: Are Higher Taxes a “Centrist” Position?

Government Accountability

More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2009

The Rendell administration is going on another taxpayer funded bus trip across the state for higher spending (and the higher taxes need to pay for them).    The target this…

Media

Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher Taxes

State Budget

PA House Democrat Pushing for Higher Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2009

Pennsylvania House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans is again trumpeting the calls for a higher state income taxes in the Tribune Review. Despite billions in federal dollars flowing into…

Media

Read More: PA House Democrat Pushing for Higher Taxes

Taxes & Economy

What Will Higher Business Taxes Get You?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2009

Bloomberg, via the Club for Growth, has a troubling lesson for those who want to hike business taxes.  Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that if Obama’s new corporate…

Media

Read More: What Will Higher Business Taxes Get You?

Public Union Democracy

Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law

  • June 4, 2009

The Manufacturer & Business Association sent an action alert yesterday on Sen. Brubaker’s proposal to place a three-year moratorium on Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage requirement (SB 695). Click…

Media

Read More: Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law

Regulation

New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores Economics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2009

The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issued a report on the state’s film tax credit, concluding that the $75 million program generates over $500 million in economic activity…

Media

Read More: New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores Economics

Taxes & Economy

Proposed Power Authority Would Manipulate the Market

  • June 3, 2009

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee last week held a hearing to discuss legislation proposed in 2008 to create a Pennsylvania Power Authority to oversee the state’s electricity…

Media

Read More: Proposed Power Authority Would Manipulate the Market