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.

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

Government Accountability

Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2009

With the approach of June 30th and the end of the state’s fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania’s budget.  With Senate Republicans having passed a spending…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate

Taxes & Economy

Rendell Budget 2.0

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2009

In remarks yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced that he will cut at least $400 million from his earlier spending plan.  He then went on to berate himself for being…

Media

Read More: Rendell Budget 2.0

Taxes & Economy

Threat of State Park Closures “Ridiculous”

  • June 3, 2009

According to state Senator Mary Jo White, Gov. Rendell ordered every department secretary to issue press releases, blasting the Senate’s proposed budget and the “meanâ€? cuts that would ensue.

Media

Read More: Threat of State Park Closures “Ridiculous”

Health Care

Still Looking for Free Market Health Care Proposals

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 2, 2009

Ryan Ellis has a good post over on RedState on the Congressional Republican health care plan (see previous post here) and offering much more serious proposal for transforming…

Media

Read More: Still Looking for Free Market Health Care Proposals

Taxes & Economy

Budget deficit was predicted, and ignored.

  • June 2, 2009

This was our blog post from July 04, 2008…yes, Independence Day, but also the day Gov. Ed Rendell signed the 2008-09 budget despite clear evidence that it was unrealistic in…

Media

Read More: Budget deficit was predicted, and ignored.

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 Billion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2009

The latest report from the PA Department of Revenue, through the end of May, indicate that Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue shortfall has now reached $2.8 billion for the fiscal…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 Billion

Regulation

Another Bad Pension Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2009

The Post-Gazette has a story of another reform to municipal pension plans. The plan would be to put all new municipal employees into a statewide, defined benefit pension system.

Media

Read More: Another Bad Pension Proposal

Taxes & Economy

June 9th Taxpayers’ Protest

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 29, 2009

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is helping to coordinate a “Taxpayer’s Protest” on June 9 in Harrisburg. All taxpayers are encouraged to come down to the state…

Media

Read More: June 9th Taxpayers’ Protest

Taxes & Economy

Government Intervention Prolongs Recessions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 29, 2009

Recessions are a tough time for all—many lose their jobs, family incomes shrink, and budgets are squeezed. But recessions are natural and, in the long-run, foster a stronger economy.  It…

Commentary

Read More: Government Intervention Prolongs Recessions

Regulation

Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 29, 2009

Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley   Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…

Media

Read More: Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?

Taxes & Economy

Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2009

With the federal government taking control over Chrysler and GM, ill-conceived ideas are sure to ensue.   The planned restructuring of GM (soon be renamed Government Motors?) is one…

Media

Read More: Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?