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.

State Budget

Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 21, 2009

The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings on the vesion of the state budget passed by the Senate (see here for more on that) today and tomorrow. Yet…

Media

Read More: Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget in Focus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 21, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation will be testifying on the state budget today. Here are some quick facts on the budget: PA Senate Budget by the Numbers Pennsylvania Deficit…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget in Focus

Regulation

The Horrors of Private Sponsorship?

  • May 20, 2009

NBC Philadelphia reported that due to proposed budget cuts, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission may be forced to turn to private sponsorship in order to maintain such historic…

Media

Read More: The Horrors of Private Sponsorship?

Taxes & Economy

Why Government Can’t Run a Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 20, 2009

John Steele Gordon has a good op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on why government attempts to run a business always fall short – whether that be health care,…

Media

Read More: Why Government Can’t Run a Business

Taxes & Economy

Who Watches the Watchmen?

  • May 19, 2009

From Plato’s Republic to…well…The Watchmen (2009), the question of “Who watches the watchmen?” has remained unanswered. This problem continues with the government’s stimulus plan with its…

Media

Read More: Who Watches the Watchmen?

Health Care

Obama’s Health Care Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 19, 2009

A good article in The American on health care costs, The initial tax hikes on the quarter-million-dollar club are projected to raise $318 billion over ten…

Media

Read More: Obama’s Health Care Plan

Regulation

The Case for Privatizing State Parks

  • May 18, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced they would have  to close at least 35 state-controlled parks due  under the proposed Senate budget plan. According…

Media

Read More: The Case for Privatizing State Parks

Taxes & Economy

Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 18, 2009

The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…

Media

Read More: Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?

State Budget

Video: “Driving” Federal Debt

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 18, 2009

Here is a great video explaining the growth in federal debt in an easy to understand metaphor – i.e. how fast presidents are driving. George W. Bush “drove” faster…

Media

Read More: Video: “Driving” Federal Debt

Taxes & Economy

High Costs of State Regulated Electricity

  • May 15, 2009

Like many states, Montana experimented with restructured electricity markets. However, at the bidding of Public Service Commissioner Ken Toole, the state re-regulated the industry. Now, the Commission is expected to…

Media

Read More: High Costs of State Regulated Electricity

Regulation

Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2009

Harley Davidson’s announcement that they may shut down their plant in York illustrates the problem with taxpayer funded corporate welfare. For starters, Harley Davidson has received $4.3 million…

Media

Read More: Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate Welfare

Taxes & Economy

PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2009

The Vice Chairman and two other Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission sent a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation in opposition to proposed cap and trade legislation.  …

Media

Read More: PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade

State Budget

Taxing An Infant Industry to Death

  • May 13, 2009

Home to the first oil well in the United States, Pennsylvania has returned to the drilling scene in recent years, looking to tap into an estimated 50 trillion cubic feet…

Commentary

Read More: Taxing An Infant Industry to Death

Taxes & Economy

Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2009

Robert Samuelson has an outstanding piece in the Washington Post, exposing many of the myths exposed by Obama’s plan to crack down on “corporate loopholes”.

Media

Read More: Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”

Government Accountability

Paying for Criminals’ Pensions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 12, 2009

Yesterday, the PA House passed an amendment making it illegal for public employees to request lump-sum pension payments after they have been convicted of a crime related to their…

Media

Read More: Paying for Criminals’ Pensions

Education

PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 12, 2009

Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…

Media

Read More: PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support

Health Care

Obama’s Health Care Quackery

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 12, 2009

Shikha Dalmia has a piece on Reason.com  discussing the falacy that “universal health care.”  The Obama plan would in fact, move the US closer to European countries, Canada, and…

Media

Read More: Obama’s Health Care Quackery

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2009

Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell

Regulation

Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2009

Township Supervisors in Cromwell Township (Huntington County) are fighting a mandate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install a public sewer system.  The supervisors claim such a system…

Media

Read More: Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.

Regulation

What Cap and Trade Will Cost

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2009

A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that proposed “Cap and Trade” legislation will cost the average American family $3,900 per year. The chart to the left compares the cost…

Media

Read More: What Cap and Trade Will Cost