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

Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and Parking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2008

There are several stories on privatization in the news lately on a number of fronts. First up is in the real value of toll roads – which should be read…

Media

Read More: Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and Parking

Taxes & Economy

Rate Mitigation Debate Far From Over

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 8, 2008

In the past few weeks legislators have been negotiating to mitigate future electricity rate increases once rate caps expire. Here’s the details: The Governor and assembly leaders…

Media

Read More: Rate Mitigation Debate Far From Over

Public Union Democracy

Talking Teacher Strikes and the Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 8, 2008

Audio from yesterday’s Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio show hosted by Matt Brouillette is available for download. For individual segments: Matt talks with Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes…

Media

Read More: Talking Teacher Strikes and the Bailout

Health Care

Debate Watching Tips

  • October 7, 2008

While the talking heads may analyze how many points McCain and Obama score with witty jabs, there might also be some policy issues discussed in tonight’s presidential debate. Check…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

“Deregulation” and a “Great Depression”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2008

While you listen to Matt Brouillette ( to chat with Matt and listeners on TalkShoe click here) discuss the bailout and the causes of the financial “crisis”, here…

Media

Read More: “Deregulation” and a “Great Depression”

Taxes & Economy

Throwing more gasoline on the economic fire

  • October 7, 2008

Just in case you missed it yesterday, the Patriot-News ran Matt Brouillette’s commentary on the federal bailout under the headline “Throwing more gasoline on the economic fire” If you…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Increase Coming to Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2008

State Senators Gib Armstrong and Vince Fumo are both projecting a massive budget deficit ($2.5 billion according to Fumo) and believe that the only way to pay for it is with…

Media

Read More: Tax Increase Coming to Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Business Tax Climate below average

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2008

The Tax Foundation has released its latest State Business Tax Climate Index. Pennsylvania ranks a middling 28th on the index, which takes into account five factors (listed in order…

Media

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State Budget

How much of a budget deficit is Pennsylvania facing?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2008

Capitolwire.com is reporting that there is a top-secret memo from one of the four legislative caucuses estimating that Pennsylvania is facing a potential $2.5 billion budget deficit going into…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

A Replay Of 1929? Don’t Count On It

  • October 6, 2008

Investor’s Business Daily editorial helps make the point that the panicked actions of President Bush and Congress to thwart another Great Depression were/are unsubstantiated, something Matt Brouillette also stated…

Media

Read More: A Replay Of 1929? Don’t Count On It

Taxes & Economy

Marx was Right (Groucho, that is)

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 6, 2008

Washington’s response to the current financial trouble has affirmed Groucho Marx’s definition of “Politics”: “The art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong…

Commentary

Read More: Marx was Right (Groucho, that is)

Health Care

McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 5, 2008

Following Joe Biden’s claim that McCain’s health care plan will result in millions of workers being dropped from employers’ health care plans a number of free-market thinkers have rebutted. …

Media

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Government Accountability

Update: State Spending Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 3, 2008

A reader emailed to ask if there are examples of states with online spending databases. Indeed states across the country are adopting transparency legislation while state officials and think tanks…

Media

Read More: Update: State Spending Transparency

Taxes & Economy

Are bailout proponents con artists?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2008

In addition to the rhetoric that we need a bailout now, or we will face a great depression (which has been debunked), bailout proponents are selling the idea…

Media

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Health Care

Health care in US and Canada compared

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2008

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…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

How Government Stoked the Mania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2008

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

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Health Care

RendellCare 3.0

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: RendellCare 3.0

Health Care

McCain is Right on Interstate Health Insurance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: McCain is Right on Interstate Health Insurance

Taxes & Economy

That’s our General Assembly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: That’s our General Assembly

Taxes & Economy

Free market groups opposing bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Free market groups opposing bailout