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.

Regulation

More on the PA Pension “Spike”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2009

A couple of editorials on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis from the Daily Review and the Courier Express.  Both called for depoliticizing the plans by moving…

Media

Read More: More on the PA Pension “Spike”

State Budget

What do Economists Agree On?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2009

Greg Mankiw posts a selection from his textbook on what economists agree on, from a survey.  I am not suprised to see economists overwhelmingly support free trade, as that…

Media

Read More: What do Economists Agree On?

Regulation

Update on the Boscov’s Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2009

John Micek has a summary of the new PA DCED secretary’s explanation of the Boscov’s bailout, during a hearing today.  Secretary Cornelius noted that bailouts encourage companies to start…

Media

Read More: Update on the Boscov’s Bailout

Government Accountability

Pay to Play Culture in Harrisburg

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2009

ABC 27 has a story/video highlighting the “pay-to-play” cronyism in Harrisburg, specifically the $11 million in outside legal fees (despite hundreds of lawyers on staff) going to Ballard Spahr…

Media

Read More: Pay to Play Culture in Harrisburg

Regulation

PA pension funds report major losses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2009

Mark Scolforo summarizes the reports from Pennsylvania two statewide pension funds SERS (for state workers) and PSERS (for school district employees): The percentage losses on investments were similar.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

New Study of Business Tax Burdens

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2009

The Council on State Taxation has released a new study on state and local business taxes.  It is a good primer on what taxes business pay (for instance, I…

Media

Read More: New Study of Business Tax Burdens

Taxes & Economy

A tax code even a congressman can understand

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2009

Andrew Moylan editorializes that simplifying the federal tax code would provide an economic “stimulus.” Individual taxpayers spend more than 3.5 billion hours complying with the code. That …

Media

Read More: A tax code even a congressman can understand

Health Care

Health Care Policies and Small Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2009

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new report ranking states in terms of their health care policy, as it pertains to small business.  Pennsylvania gets a fairly…

Media

Read More: Health Care Policies and Small Business

Health Care

Health Care Policies and Small Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2009

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new report ranking states in terms of their health care policy, as it pertains to small business.  Pennsylvania gets a fairly…

Media

Read More: Health Care Policies and Small Business

Regulation

Philadelphia’s Pension Non-Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2009

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is proposing addressing the city’s unfunded pension liability by, essentially, not paying as much as the city should (HT GrassrootsPA). Like Pennsylvania’s state…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia’s Pension Non-Reform

Taxes & Economy

Feulner blast stimulus process

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2009

Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner has a scathing open letter to Congress on the stimulus bill: In addition to being the single most expensive bill ever proposed,…

Media

Read More: Feulner blast stimulus process

Taxes & Economy

The Burden of PA Business Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2009

The Tribune Review has a story featuring Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge discussing Pennsylvania’s business tax climate at an appearance in Pittsburgh: The state needs…

Media

Read More: The Burden of PA Business Taxes

Government Accountability

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2009

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…

Report

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Regulation

CF Report Finds $5 billion in Gov’t Waste

  • February 12, 2009

State gov’t overspending is impeding prosperity and burdening taxpayers HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today released Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009, a report that spotlights how the…

Press Release

Read More: CF Report Finds $5 billion in Gov’t Waste

Taxes & Economy

State Budget Shortfalls: Opportunity for Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2009

The Tax Foundation has a new report (released yesterday) on state budget shortfalls.  Their report concludes that overspending is largely the explanation for state shortfalls today.  (Full report…

Media

Read More: State Budget Shortfalls: Opportunity for Reform

Government Accountability

An end to cronyism in state government?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2009

The Pennsylvania House GOP has unveiled several proposals to end “pay to play” – including cracking down on the ability of the administration to award of no-bid contracts.  In…

Media

Read More: An end to cronyism in state government?

Taxes & Economy

CF Budget Forum on PCN

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2009

If you missed todays lunch discussion with Sens. Jake Corman and Jay Costa on the Pennsylvania budget, it is set to air tomorrow at 1 pm on PCN, with…

Media

Read More: CF Budget Forum on PCN

Taxes & Economy

CF Budget Forum on PCN

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2009

If you missed todays lunch discussion with Sens. Jake Corman and Jay Costa on the Pennsylvania budget, it is set to air tomorrow at 1 pm on PCN, with…

Media

Read More: CF Budget Forum on PCN

Taxes & Economy

Tax and Spend Polices are Recipe for Disaster

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2009

My letter to the editor in the Post-Gazette: The state’s tax-and-spend policies are a recipe for disasterSharon Ward’s Jan. 28 Perspectives piece (“Keep…

Media

Read More: Tax and Spend Polices are Recipe for Disaster