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

Bailout Bandwagon – The Rendell Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 27, 2008

As hope for the proposed Turnpike Lease dwindles, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is asking Congress to add $100 billion in transportation money to the $700 billion bailout deal.

Media

Read More: Bailout Bandwagon – The Rendell Plan

Taxes & Economy

Free Market Alternatives to the Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2008

Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth hosted a conference a call to discuss the economics of the proposed bailout. Toomey commented that the financial market does not seem…

Media

Read More: Free Market Alternatives to the Bailout

Taxes & Economy

$12.8B lease opportunity is all but lost

  • September 26, 2008

The opportunity to plug a massive transportation funding gap will be lost because of legislative inaction. Although Gov. Rendell plans to try to revive the turnpike lease in 2009, one…

Media

Read More: $12.8B lease opportunity is all but lost

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Lease Bid expiring – what now?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2008

With the Turnpike lease bid expiring – and indications are there will be no extension of the $12.8 billion bid – both Governor Rendell and some lawmakers have…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Legislators should do their jobs

  • September 26, 2008

The Altoona Mirror takes legislative leaders to task for failing to do their jobs: Senate Republican leaders – President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Transportation funding options

  • September 26, 2008

The Derrick in Clarion provides a good synopsis of Matt Brouillette’s presentation on Pennsylvania’s transportation funding situation. What isn’t covered in the article was the discussion about the other…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Competition Encourages Utilities to Help Consumers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 26, 2008

Yesterday, Met-ed and Penelec filed their own pre-payment plan with the PUC. The proposal is similar to PPL’s recently launched effort to mitigate the expected jump in electricity prices…

Media

Read More: Competition Encourages Utilities to Help Consumers

Government Accountability

Talking Free Markets with Karl Rove

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2008

I had the chance to hear Karl Rove speak at a conference hosted by Hillsdale College on “Economics and the 2008 Election.”  Rove had some interesting things to say:…

Media

Read More: Talking Free Markets with Karl Rove

Public Union Democracy

The “Disability Epidemic” Among Union Employees

  • September 25, 2008

If you don’t want to get angry after reading these first couple of paragraphs of this New York Times story, then don’t click through here: To understand what it’s…

Media

Read More: The “Disability Epidemic” Among Union Employees

Taxes & Economy

“Crisis of subsidization and intervention”

  • September 25, 2008

The Washington Post got the perspective of the Cato Institute on the $700B+ federal bailout: “The biggest emotion we’re feeling right now is frustration that the media narrative is…

Media

Read More: “Crisis of subsidization and intervention”

Health Care

PA Senate passes “slacker mandate”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2008

The Pennsylvania Senate today passed by a 50-0 vote a “slacker mandate,” (SB 1453) requiring insurance companies to cover single, childless children of policy holders (at the policy holder’s…

Media

Read More: PA Senate passes “slacker mandate”

Taxes & Economy

Offshore drilling ban to expire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2008

Democrats to let offshore drilling ban expire; the American Future Fund has the details.This means that beginning October 1, companies can begin drilling in the areas highlighted…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Illegal Immigration in Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 24, 2008

Yesterday, Rep. Metcalfe held a press conference promoting the National Security Starts at Home reform package. The bills would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to live and…

Media

Read More: Illegal Immigration in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Upwardly Mobile America?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2008

Good article in The American Magazine on income growth and mobility in America. If you’re like me, you can skim the text and just read the charts.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

Was Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s speech before Congress plagiarized?  It sounds a lot like this clip from The Office. Here is Dwight’s presentation, with Paulson’s edits: This…

Media

Read More: Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?

Regulation

Financial “crisis” a failure of government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

While some pundits and media, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, point to the proposed bailout as demonstration of the failure of the free market, in fact it is a…

Media

Read More: Financial “crisis” a failure of government

Taxes & Economy

Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nonsensical editorial opposing Mike Turzai and Mike Mustio’s legislation which would allow competition in mass transit in Pittsburgh. Currently the Port Authority of Allegheny…

Media

Read More: Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies

Taxes & Economy

Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad Policy

  • September 23, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation Urges Action on Lease Legislation  HARRISBURG, PA—Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called on the Pennsylvania legislature to consider Turnpike lease legislation before the end of the current legislative session. …

Press Release

Read More: Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad Policy

Taxes & Economy

More on the Proposed Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

More responses and info about the proposed federal bailout: Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Reason: Assessing the $700 billion bailout NTU: Taxpayers are Sick…

Media

Read More: More on the Proposed Bailout

Taxes & Economy

“Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”

  • September 22, 2008

… so said a commentary distributed by the Susquehanna Valley Center (see below). Either they didn’t bother to read the lease agreement or they are intentionally trying to mislead the…

Media

Read More: “Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”

Government Accountability

Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2008

After numerous complaints about the lack of action on reform bills (including from yours truly) the House State Government committee today voted to send two “bonus ban” bills…

Media

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