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.

Government Accountability

What can we cut?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 5, 2008

An anonymous poster to GrassrootsPA defends the recently enacted state budget against criticism from the Commonwealth Foundation, along with that in other comments. The budget…

Media

Read More: What can we cut?

Government Accountability

More Spending, More Debt, Less Transparency

  • July 4, 2008

Commonwealth Foundation expresses disappointment in overall budget deal HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation provided its perspective on the FY 2008-09 budget agreement making its way to the governor’s…

Press Release

Read More: More Spending, More Debt, Less Transparency

State Budget

New budget may mean deficit, higher taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2008

Marc Levy of the AP reports that the new $28.2 budget agreement may, according to Senate officials (both Republicans and Democrats), result in a budget deficit of $1 billion…

Media

Read More: New budget may mean deficit, higher taxes

Regulation

Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2008

Props to state Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, and 71 state House members, who attempted to end the use of taxpayer funds for a soccer stadium. Here is our recent…

Media

Read More: Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0

Health Care

Questionable Benefits of State Mandates for Health Insurance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2008

The Pacific Research Institute a new study on the cost of health insurance mandates.  As would be expected (see our commentary on autism and slacker mandates), they find…

Media

Read More: Questionable Benefits of State Mandates for Health Insurance

Health Care

New Mandates A Step Backwards in Health Care Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 2, 2008

State lawmakers claim to hear the cries of Pennsylvania residents about the escalating costs of health care. Unfortunately, instead of pushing reforms to help lower the costs of care, some…

Commentary

Read More: New Mandates A Step Backwards in Health Care Reform

State Budget

PA Budget Secrecy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 2, 2008

Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire asks an interesting question. Since lawmakers are likely to vote on the budget tomorrow (given they don’t want to come in on the 4th and they…

Media

Read More: PA Budget Secrecy

Regulation

How long will PA’s smoking ban last?

  • July 1, 2008

Of course, Pennsylvania’s criminalization of smoking in private establishments hasn’t even gone into effect yet, but Jeremy Richards writes in the Heartland Institutes’s Budget & Tax News that “History…

Media

Read More: How long will PA’s smoking ban last?

State Budget

New borrowing in budget deal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 1, 2008

While we are still waiting to see many of the details on the budget agreement, here are the numbers on borrowing that have been revealed. The new agreement…

Media

Read More: New borrowing in budget deal

Government Accountability

The state budget: Secret sham

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 1, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorializes on the secret nature of the budget negotiations and the wheeling and dealing that occurs behind closed doors.

Media

Read More: The state budget: Secret sham

State Budget

Budget Deal Reached

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 30, 2008

While taxpayers and state workers slept, lawmakers shook hands on a budget deal. John Micek has some of the details, as does the Patriot News. General Fund budget:…

Media

Read More: Budget Deal Reached

Taxes & Economy

Congressional Guardian of Worker Freedom Rankings

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2008

Alliance for Worker Freedomhas released an index rating members of Congress by their votes on worker freedom or for the big labor agenda. Here are the House ratings.

Media

Read More: Congressional Guardian of Worker Freedom Rankings

Regulation

Senate passes transporation P3 bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2008

The Senate yesterday passed a bill allowing for Public Private Partnerships in transportation (bill text). The big Kahuna, the Turnpike lease, is exempted from the legislation, but it…

Media

Read More: Senate passes transporation P3 bill

Taxes & Economy

Mexicans and Machines

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2008

The latest Drew Carey video on Reason TV tackles NAFTA, robots stealing jobs, and the benefits of creative descrution. I don’t know whether I laughed harder at the machines…

Media

Read More: Mexicans and Machines

Regulation

Soccer Stadium Plans: No Goal

  • June 26, 2008

Recently, Governor Rendell and Republican state lawmakers stood side-by-side to announce a multi-million dollar taxpayer grant to build a soccer stadium in Chester, under the guise of "economic development."  Major…

Commentary

Read More: Soccer Stadium Plans: No Goal

State Budget

Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!

  • June 26, 2008

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation sounded an alarm today that both Governor Rendell and state lawmakers are poised to take citizens deeper into debt. “Putting the people of…

Press Release

Read More: Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!

Taxes & Economy

Right to Bear Arms Still Exists

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 26, 2008

The Supreme Court ruled that individuals have the right to own guns. Click here for the Patriot News story. Some early commentary from Reason Foundation, Amanda Carpenter,…

Media

Read More: Right to Bear Arms Still Exists