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

Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2009

John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care.  The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…

Media

Read More: Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada

Taxes & Economy

Remembering 9/11 Through Coercion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2009

Cato has a post on eminent domain abuse in rural Pennsylvania and the flight 93 9/11 memorial. The contention centers on 7 owners and their 500 acres of the…

Media

Read More: Remembering 9/11 Through Coercion

Taxes & Economy

What Are They Drinking in DC?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2009

Ok, this is getting pathetic. I was going to ridicule Obama’s proposal to cut $17 billion from the federal budget, just as I ridiculed his previous proposal to cut…

Media

Read More: What Are They Drinking in DC?

Regulation

Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2009

Some early criticism coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate budget is that cuts to the Department of Agriculture will result in less farming and possibly event mass…

Media

Read More: Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Path to Prosperity

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 7, 2009

In any economic crisis, politicians scramble to “do something” to show voters they’re   “on the job.”  Ironically, the greatest threat to our recovery is not government’s inaction, but rather its…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Path to Prosperity

Taxes & Economy

Specter on Curing Cancer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2009

The Wall Street Journal takes Sen. Arlen Specter to task for claiming Jack Kemp would still be alive if only taxpayers spent more on cancer research.  Not only for…

Media

Read More: Specter on Curing Cancer

Regulation

Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices Down

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2009

Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on Allegheny Power buying additional electric power cheaply on the wholesale market, while…

Media

Read More: Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices Down

Taxes & Economy

PA Senate Budget by the Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2009

Jake Corman, PA Senate Appropriations Chairman, has introduced the Senate Republicans version of the state budget (SB 850). The $27.3 billion General Fund budget represents a $1.7 billion reduction…

Media

Read More: PA Senate Budget by the Numbers

Taxes & Economy

Industry Leaders Fact Check Misleading Severance Tax Report

  • May 5, 2009

Last week, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) released a report advocating for a severance tax on natural gas and other extracted natural resources. In response, three of the…

Media

Read More: Industry Leaders Fact Check Misleading Severance Tax Report

Regulation

Stimulus Money to Help Deal with Pension Crisis?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2009

A number of Pennsylvania House Republicans are proposing using a portion of the federal stimulus money to pay into PSERS, the retirement fund for school employees.  The $435 million…

Media

Read More: Stimulus Money to Help Deal with Pension Crisis?

State Budget

Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget

  • May 4, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today applauded the state Senate for passing a General Fund budget that counters Governor Rendell’s proposal to continue along the failed and unsustainable path…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget

Taxes & Economy

Bailouts and the Press

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 4, 2009

History has a way of repeating itself and all these comparisons between today’s recession and the great depression are sometimes eerily similar. Economic conditions and the popularity of the internet…

Media

Read More: Bailouts and the Press

Taxes & Economy

Obama’s New Business Tax Scheme

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2009

President Obama is set to unveil a plan to crack down on cabinet members corporations that, in his view, are avoiding paying their share in taxes.  Basically the plan…

Media

Read More: Obama’s New Business Tax Scheme

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 Billion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2009

Both the Pennsylvania House Democrats and Republicans are reporting an April General Fund revenue shortfall of $941.5 million. I am still waiting for the report from the Department of…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 Billion

Taxes & Economy

Over $4 Million in PA Unemployment Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2009

WGAL has a story on reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry of over $4 million in fraud in unemployment compensation benefits.  You can assume there is…

Media

Read More: Over $4 Million in PA Unemployment Fraud

State Budget

PA House Dems to Introduce Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2009

Dwight Evans, chair of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee, is scheduled to introduce the 2009-10 budget legislation “using the Rendell budget proposal as the basis.” They are also estimating…

Media

Read More: PA House Dems to Introduce Budget

Taxes & Economy

Wrong Time for a Severance Tax

  • April 30, 2009

The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) released a report this week advocating for a severance tax on natural resource extraction, such as the proposed tax by Governor Rendell…

Media

Read More: Wrong Time for a Severance Tax

Taxes & Economy

How PA Should Use Its Stimulus Money

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 30, 2009

Lawmakers in Missouri announced they are foregoing pet projects in order to temporarily lower the state’s personal income tax from 6% to 5.5%. (HT NTU) Governor Rendell would be…

Media

Read More: How PA Should Use Its Stimulus Money

Taxes & Economy

Amendment to Protect Taxpayers from Unfunded Mandates

  • April 30, 2009

Rep. Mike Peifer proposed a constitutional amendment to ban state legislation that imposes unfunded mandates on local governments. Since Governor Rendell has been lax at cutting wasteful spending…

Media

Read More: Amendment to Protect Taxpayers from Unfunded Mandates

Government Accountability

New Video Contest Entries

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2009

There is one month remaining to submit videos in our Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest with $4,000 in  prizes available. Upload videos to our YouTube Group here.

Media

Read More: New Video Contest Entries

Taxes & Economy

Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2009

Last year the legislature passed Act 128, which forces utilities to force their customers to conserve electricity. Among the provisions is a mandate to install smart meters in every…

Media

Read More: Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?