Regulation
Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Vice President Kamala Harris wants to make groceries cheaper. However, her vague proposal to ban “price gouging” will have the opposite effect. Economists,…
Read More: Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic EconomicsEvery 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.
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Health Care
Health care in US and Canada compared
I doubt this will surprise regular readers of this blog, but Canada’s single payer health system isn’t all that Michael Moore makes it out to be. From a new…
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Read More: Health care in US and Canada comparedTaxes & Economy
How Government Stoked the Mania
Great read in the Wall Street Journal on How Government Stoked the Mania, starting with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and later how the Community Reinvestment Act, and the…
Media
Read More: How Government Stoked the ManiaHealth Care
RendellCare 3.0
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has revised his proposal to increase government spending and eligibility for health insurance yet again. The latest edition has lowered the cost of the program…
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Read More: RendellCare 3.0Health Care
McCain is Right on Interstate Health Insurance
Merrill Matthews in the Wall Street Journal writes that John McCain’s plan to allow individuals and small businesses to buy insurance across state lines – a policy championed in…
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Read More: McCain is Right on Interstate Health InsuranceTaxes & Economy
That’s our General Assembly
With a budget deficit and possible tax increase looming, federal denial of I-80 tolling opening up a gap in transportation funding (and the Turnpike Commission borrowing against future…
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Read More: That’s our General AssemblyTaxes & Economy
Free market groups opposing bailout
A coalition of 27 organizations, including the Commonwealth Foundation, have signed on to an open letter to US Senators put together by NTU in opposition to the $700…
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Read More: Free market groups opposing bailoutState Budget
PA Budget Deficit Growing
The latest Pennsylvania Revenue Department report indicates that collections were $160 million below estimates in September, and $280 million below for the fiscal year which began in July.
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Read More: PA Budget Deficit GrowingState Budget
Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later
$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation renewed its call for Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to take action to prevent a…
Press Release
Read More: Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes LaterRegulation
Convention Center no economic savior
Post-Gazette looks at the failure of the $373 million Pittsburgh convention center to create an economic boom – or even to outdraw the old convention center (HT: Grassroots…
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Read More: Convention Center no economic saviorTaxes & Economy
Not facing a Great Depression
Here are a couple of good articles on the bailout (and the rhetoric in favor of it) by Cato scholars. Alan Reynolds writes that “saying we’re in for another…
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Read More: Not facing a Great DepressionTaxes & Economy
Never mind the Commission behind the curtain
Our news release today, What Will the General Assembly Do?, focuses on the need to consider the consequences of failing to act on the $12.8 billion bid to lease…
Media
Read More: Never mind the Commission behind the curtainHealth Care
Converting Medicaid into Premium Assistance
The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder (click here for PDF) on how states can convert Medicaid spending into premium assistance for insurance – a proposal which would…
Media
Read More: Converting Medicaid into Premium AssistanceHealth Care
Bailing Out Massachusetts
The Foundry Blog of the Heritage Foundation has discovered that the federal government will “bail out” Massachusetts troubled health care plan (e.g. RomneyCare) with a $4.2 billion increase…
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Read More: Bailing Out MassachusettsTaxes & Economy
Root causes of the financial “crisis”
I attended a conference late last week feature a number of economists, and was surprised to discover a great deal of disagreement about what caused the “crisis” in the financial…
Media
Read More: Root causes of the financial “crisis”Government Accountability
Perzel’s Parking Authority
Here is a funny video in which “Manatee” declares his desire to run the Philadelphia Parking Authority, so that he can work as little as possible, hire all his…
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Read More: Perzel’s Parking AuthorityTaxes & Economy
Bailout Fails
In case you missed it, the vote on the bailout failed. GrassrootsPA has the PA Delegation Bailout Vote. The Club for Growth blog has a lot more on…
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Read More: Bailout FailsTaxes & Economy
Property Taxes by State and by County
The Tax Foundation has a new analysis of property taxes by state and by county. The state data shows that Pennsylvania ranks 15th in median property taxes ($2,159),…
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Read More: Property Taxes by State and by CountyTaxes & Economy
No immediate fiscal crisis?
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports on the drop in transportation funding due to the rejection of the Turnpike Commission’s I-80 tolling plan. Under Act 44, the Turnpike Commission will borrow…
Media
Read More: No immediate fiscal crisis?Taxes & Economy
Bailout Updates
Bill Text Side-by-Side Comparisons CNN Summary Sales Pitch Summary Boehner’s Sales Pitch Bush’s Sales Pitch WSJ Summary Rep. Mike Pence: “Republicans…
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Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?
Morning Call editorial blasts lawmakers for failing to even consider a lease deal: Once again, the small-idea, under-achieving Pennsylvania Legislature has let down the people they serve. The…
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Read More: Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?Taxes & Economy
The case Barlett hasn’t made
Bruce Bartlett attempts to justify the bailout (“The case Bush hasn’t made”) by explaining that the financial sector is different than other sectors, that a collapse in the financial…
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Read More: The case Barlett hasn’t made