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

Economists against a “stimulus”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 7, 2009

Even though the Obama administration claims all economists recognize the inherent brilliance of a proposed economic stimulus (which includes a bailout of the states, “infrastructure” spend, and “rebate” checks…

Media

Read More: Economists against a “stimulus”

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | January 2009

  • January 6, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the December revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $815 million short for the fiscal year to date. This shortfall exceeds the…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | January 2009

Education

Film: A Stone’s Throw

  • January 6, 2009

Our sister think tank, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, recently released “A Stone’s Throw.” The film documents the frustrations of parents in Mississippi–a state notorious for its low…

Media

Read More: Film: A Stone’s Throw

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania budget shortfall more than expected

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 6, 2009

In our latest Pennsylvania Deficit Watch update, we take a look at the current state revenue shortfall, noting Governor Rendell’s revised estimate of a $1.6 Billion shorftall for…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania budget shortfall more than expected

Government Accountability

Another $1 million spent to defend lawmakers in “Bonusgate”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 6, 2009

As new legislators are coming to Harrisburg to be sworn in, Brad Bumsted reports that the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have spent $1 million in legal fees (despite the number…

Media

Read More: Another $1 million spent to defend lawmakers in “Bonusgate”

Regulation

Downsize the Federal Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 2, 2009

Cato Institute video on “Downsizing the Federal Government” starting with the US Department of Agriculture. If, like me, you thought that the Dept. of Agriculture was a relatively small…

Media

Read More: Downsize the Federal Government

Regulation

New Pollution Regulations Will Cost You

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 30, 2008

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania DEP reinstated CAIR (the Clean Air Interstate Rule) after a successful appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In July, the…

Media

Read More: New Pollution Regulations Will Cost You

Taxes & Economy

Is Christmas bad for the Economy?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 29, 2008

Readers who are spending this week returning gifts they don’t really want – or those who think Wal-Mart playing Jingle…

Media

Read More: Is Christmas bad for the Economy?

Regulation

Snyder County refuses Boscov’s Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 29, 2008

Officials in Snyder County are refusing to back a loan as part of the Boscov’s Bailout – even though Pennsylvania officials are pressuring them to do so, arguing…

Media

Read More: Snyder County refuses Boscov’s Bailout

Regulation

The Year in Bans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 29, 2008

Reason TV video looks at the latest examples of the Nanny State Mentality, highlighting some of the many things banned in 2008.

Media

Read More: The Year in Bans

Taxes & Economy

When has an “economic stimulus” ever worked?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 23, 2008

The Club for Growth recently put out a statement opposing a federal “economic stimulus” plan, like that currently being pushed by the incoming administration (and lobbied for by…

Media

Read More: When has an “economic stimulus” ever worked?

Taxes & Economy

Residents Still “Movin Out” of Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 23, 2008

The Census Bureau released the latest annual population estimates.  The trends for Pennsylvania remain much the same: Pennsylvania grew by 0.2% between July 2007 and July 2008 – ranking…

Media

Read More: Residents Still “Movin Out” of Pennsylvania

Government Accountability

Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and the Growth of Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 22, 2008

Americans for Prosperity has a new analysis of taxpayer-funded lobbying of the federal government.  I don’t want to point out the obvious, but this taxpayer-funded lobbying is almost all…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and the Growth of Government

Regulation

Taxpayers helping millionaires

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 22, 2008

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed celebrates the end of a long-standing tradition of sending taxpayers money to sports stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – or rather, the extension of that tradition…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers helping millionaires

Regulation

Ed Rendell and Rosie O’Donnell

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 19, 2008

Q: What do Governor Ed Rendell and Rosie O’Donnell have in common (hint: it has nothing to do with food)? A: They have both gotten on Donald Trump’s bad side.

Media

Read More: Ed Rendell and Rosie O’Donnell

Regulation

Government Knows Best: New Mandates in Philly

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 19, 2008

Philadelphia passed a new law (HT:Grassroots) mandating Carbon Monoxide detectors in every newly constructed home. The story reminded me of…

Media

Read More: Government Knows Best: New Mandates in Philly

Taxes & Economy

Corporatism vs. Socialism vs. Free Markets

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 19, 2008

As President Bush announces a revised bailout for automakers, David Boaz examines the policies of Bush and proposals of Obama and concludes neither is a “socialist”, but neither…

Media

Read More: Corporatism vs. Socialism vs. Free Markets

Regulation

Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 18, 2008

This is somewhat old news, but its new to me: Mario Lemieux admitted in August that he never thought of moving the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was still able to…

Media

Read More: Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”

State Budget

Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 18, 2008

An audit of the General Assembly found there is $200 million in legislative surplus, and called for most of it to be returned to the taxpayers who paid for…

Media

Read More: Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?

Public Union Democracy

Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2008

Every other Tuesday, Matt Brouillette hosts The Politics of Business on Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio on WMNY 1360 AM from 2-6pm. This week he tackled a variety of issues that rankled at…

Media

Read More: Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”

Regulation

Smoking ban is bad for business, say casinos

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2008

Pennsylvania’s slots casinos are complaining that the recently enacted state smoking ban is hurting their revenues (we told you so) and are asking that their exemption be increased…

Media

Read More: Smoking ban is bad for business, say casinos