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

Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 Application

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2008

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has resubmitted their proposal to toll I-80 – full application, letter from the Governor, and Appendices A through L are available for download here. Readers…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 Application

Regulation

PA Lottery lags overall economic growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2008

There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…

Media

Read More: PA Lottery lags overall economic growth

State Budget

Congress’s Edifice Complex

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 21, 2008

John Fund borrows the epithet Edifice Complex to describe Congressman’s (along with Governor’s) penchant for using taxpayer funds to construct projects named for themselves – e.g. Paul…

Media

Read More: Congress’s Edifice Complex

Taxes & Economy

Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)

  • July 18, 2008

On the air today on WHP 580 AM, Matt read a commentary by Edward Inghrim, a school board member from the Saucon Valley School District. It first appeared in the…

Media

Read More: Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)

Taxes & Economy

Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 18, 2008

The state’s move to lease 74,000 acres in Tioga and Lycoming counties for natural gas drilling has inspired some to call for new energy taxes. One suggestion…

Media

Read More: Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?

Taxes & Economy

High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2008

Americans for Prosperity video highlights Nobel Prize/Oscar winner Al Gore showing up with a motorcade, leaving one car running, before giving a speech demanding audience ride bikes home,…

Media

Read More: High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame

Taxes & Economy

What to do with Fannie and Freddie

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2008

While President Bush and Congress are debating a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (properly the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, which…

Media

Read More: What to do with Fannie and Freddie

Education

PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.

  • July 17, 2008

The Board of Directors of PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association) too umbrage with our highlighting that government agency’s misuse and abuse of taxpayer dollars.  Our response is…

Media

Read More: PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.

Regulation

Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!

  • July 17, 2008

PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…

Media

Read More: Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!

Regulation

Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2008

Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…

Media

Read More: Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)

Regulation

How much do you work for Government?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2008

Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…

Media

Read More: How much do you work for Government?

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2008

Vindy.com has an editorial against I-80 tolling, noting The state pledges to spend nearly $200 million more on maintenance than it is spending now, But revenue from…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow

Taxes & Economy

Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2008

Though the Turnpike Commission unveiled their plan for capital improvements on I-80 (if they get approval to toll it), it remains the case that most of the revenue…

Media

Read More: Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80

Taxes & Economy

Bush: Drill Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 14, 2008

President Bush will repeal the executive order banning offshore drilling. Of course, the executive order was superseded by a law banning offshore drilling, which Congress will have to…

Media

Read More: Bush: Drill Now

Regulation

Lease It, If You Must Toll It

  • July 14, 2008

Turnpike Commission’s plans for I-80 will cost Pennsylvanians billions HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov.

Press Release

Read More: Lease It, If You Must Toll It

Regulation

Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2008

The Tax Foundation points to to proposed changes in law by the IRS and Democrats in Congress that would prevent tax exempt bonds from being used for private sports…

Media

Read More: Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?

Public Union Democracy

Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 11, 2008

The Pittsburgh Port Authority has a website detailing the sticking points of the labor negotiation with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. I think the lesson to be…

Media

Read More: Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online

Taxes & Economy

PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

Not suprisingly, given other state rankings, Pennsylvania gets a mediocre grade on the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America report for 2008. PA ranks tied for 26th…

Media

Read More: PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom

Taxes & Economy

Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…

Media

Read More: Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

Regulation

Banned!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

Latest Drew Carey video for Reason.tv looks at the number of things – many of them absurd – that have been banned by governments out of the nanny…

Media

Read More: Banned!