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

Steelers for sale?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2008

In what may be a shock to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the Wall Street Journal reports the Rooney family may be looking to sell the team (also see Tribune Review article).

Media

Read More: Steelers for sale?

State Budget

Gambling in PA … with a $28 billion budget

  • July 7, 2008

No one can say we didn’t warn lawmakers that their 4.06% increase in spending for the 2008-09 fiscal year was not fiscally prudent. The AP reports that Rendell,…

Media

Read More: Gambling in PA … with a $28 billion budget

Regulation

Time to end earmarks and WAMs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 7, 2008

Good op-ed in the Patriot News by William G. Williams on the need to end Congressional earmarks and WAMs by the PA General Assembly: For years in…

Media

Read More: Time to end earmarks and WAMs

Taxes & Economy

Impeach JFK

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 7, 2008

Evergreen Freedom Foundation blog highlights the NEA convention adopting a resolution stating The National Education Association believes that any president who starts a war with another country without a…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Silent Cal Speaks Loudly

  • July 7, 2008

The Wall Street Journal’s Notable & Quotable provides us with some nuggets from Calvin Coolidge’s marking of the 150th anniversary of the Delcaration of Independence. Coolidge gave us some…

Media

Read More: Silent Cal Speaks Loudly

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

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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