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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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

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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