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.

Public Union Democracy

Right-to-Work Works

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2009

Mark J. Perry queries, using the ALEC report Rich States, Poor States: “What feature do 15 out of the top 16 states for economic outlook have in…

Media

Read More: Right-to-Work Works

Taxes & Economy

Rendell’s Pants are on Fire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2009

Governor Rendell, in comments made today about Sen. Specter, claimed that Specter is “being criticized by his party for voting for the stimulus … which is something every conservative economist…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Pants are on Fire

Government Accountability

Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2009

Governor Rendell has declared that Pennsylvania no longer has a “crisis” in medical malpractice lawsuits, citing recent declines in the number of suits filed.  Critics claimed that reform have…

Media

Read More: Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?

Regulation

Public Television Subsidies

  • April 28, 2009

Testimony from the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Pennsylvania House State Government CommitteeApril 28, 2008 We would like to thank the members of the House State…

Testimony

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Regulation

PA Liquor Stores Want a Better Monopoly

  • April 27, 2009

Brian O’Neill with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that the PA Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has spent $3.7 million to develop a new name for their stores in an…

Media

Read More: PA Liquor Stores Want a Better Monopoly

State Budget

More on Murtha Airport

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2009

Congressman John Murtha’s monument to himself – John Murtha airport – has gotten a lot of coverage lately. First, here is the CNN Clip, in which the airport…

Media

Read More: More on Murtha Airport

Taxes & Economy

PA is 29th Best State for Small Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2009

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new ranking of the best state tax systems for small business. Pennsylvania ranks 29th (1 being the best). Click here…

Media

Read More: PA is 29th Best State for Small Business

Government Accountability

Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 26, 2009

Some coverage of our inaugural Live Free PA event featuring Ted Nugent. Lancaster Online: Open Season: Guitarist Ted Nugent rocks local crowd with riffs on gun control and…

Media

Read More: Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA

Taxes & Economy

Should State Taxpayers Fund Television

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2009

Governor Rendell has proposed cutting funding for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (about $12 million) from the state budget for next year. This has obviously led those who receive taxpayer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – Failure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2009

Story from CNN Money covers testimony from the special inspector overseeing the TARP program, i.e. the financial bailout (HT Brian Ellis): Barofsky said his top concern was…

Media

Read More: Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – Failure

Taxes & Economy

Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 22, 2009

Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…

Media

Read More: Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee

Taxes & Economy

Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 22, 2009

President Obama has told his cabinet he want to them to cut $100 million from the federal budget to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.  While $100 million is certainly a lot…

Media

Read More: Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”

Taxes & Economy

School Board Transparency Recognized

  • April 21, 2009

Carlisle School Board member Fred Baldwin wins award for Commonwealth Foundation project promoting open school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA — Fred Baldwin, manager of the Commonwealth Foundation’s School Board…

Press Release

Read More: School Board Transparency Recognized

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009

  • April 21, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the April revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $2.55 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell had estimated…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009

Government Accountability

Big Government, Big Corruption

  • April 21, 2009

Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity links the connection between government growth and corruption in this clip. He notes that rather than promoting honest dealings,…

Media

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Government Accountability

Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus Oversight

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2009

Auditor General Jack Wagner believes Pennsylvania is ill-suited to provide transparency and oversight on the stimulus money coming to the state in a letter he sent to the federal Government…

Media

Read More: Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus Oversight

Taxes & Economy

Energy Facts and Myths

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2009

The Manhattan Institute has release an new edition of their publication, Energy and the Environment: Facts and Myths. A great tool for both interested citizens and for policy makers,…

Media

Read More: Energy Facts and Myths

Taxes & Economy

Polling on Tea Parties

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2009

Rasmussen has an interesting poll on people’s attitudes toward recent tea parties (top line results), finding that 51% of respondents have favorable views of Tea Parties (vs 33%…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Un-Silent Majority

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2009

Nearly 10,000 Pennsylvanians rallied on Tax Day, April 15th, against wasteful government spending, high and rising taxes, and burgeoning government debt and deficits.  The nonpartisan, anti-establishment “Tea Parties” were held…

Commentary

Read More: The Un-Silent Majority

State Budget

Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha Airport

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2009

This has been making the rounds, but the Washington Post has a detailed article about how Congressman Jack Murtha has gotten hundreds of millions of dollars over the years,…

Media

Read More: Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha Airport

Taxes & Economy

Latest Pennsylvania Job Numbers (March 2009)

  • April 20, 2009

According to the State Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania lost 30,500 jobs in March alone. The data indicate that since the recession began – officially in…

Media

Read More: Latest Pennsylvania Job Numbers (March 2009)