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.

Health Care

High Risk Pools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2008

One of the key recommendations from Rick Dreyfuss’s health care testimony last week which received a number of questions was creating a state high risk pool. CAHI has…

Media

Read More: High Risk Pools

Taxes & Economy

Judicial Merit Selection?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2008

“Robin Hood” writes on the Keystone Politics Blog against the idea of judicial merit selection. In a pre-rebuttal, JudgesonMerit offers an analysis of what critics of merit selection…

Media

Read More: Judicial Merit Selection?

Taxes & Economy

The Proposed Mortage Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2008

Here are a few resources on the proposed federal mortgage bailout. FreedomWorks has a new site on this issue called AngryRenter.com Heritage Foundation’s research on the “Mortgage…

Media

Read More: The Proposed Mortage Bailout

State Budget

Did Pork cause bridge collapse?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 2, 2008

Yahoo! News has a story about McCain “backing off” an earlier statement that pork barrel projects caused the Minnesota bridge collapse. However, while earmarks didn’t cause the bridge to…

Media

Read More: Did Pork cause bridge collapse?

Public Union Democracy

Right-to-Work leads to Economic Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 2, 2008

The Mackinac Center has a brief analysis the economic climate of Right to Work states and Forced Unionism states. Mark Perry sums it up nicely: What are…

Media

Read More: Right-to-Work leads to Economic Growth

Health Care

Healthcare Affordability

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 1, 2008

Healthcare Reform Principles Every reform action should be tested against two criteria: • Does it take costs out of the system?• Does it price insurance in proportion to expected…

Testimony

Read More: Healthcare Affordability

State Budget

Who Gets Farm Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2008

Environmental Working Group has a comprehensive database of US farm subsidies. (HT Club for Growth). Here are Pennsylvania’s top recipients in 2007.

Media

Read More: Who Gets Farm Subsidies

Taxes & Economy

Ethanol and Rendell

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2008

Many are calling for an end to ethanol mandates because of how they drive up food costs: Aid workers and others contend diverting more than a a quarter…

Media

Read More: Ethanol and Rendell

Health Care

Health Care Affordability Debated

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

Today’s health care hearing, at which Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified, will be airing on PCN tonight; check here for future airings. The York Dispatch also did…

Media

Read More: Health Care Affordability Debated

Regulation

House Committee Votes to Increase Pensions/Property Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

The House State Government Committee passed a Pension COLA bill – AP Story here – which would require a dramatic increase in spending (on top of the expected higher…

Media

Read More: House Committee Votes to Increase Pensions/Property Taxes

Regulation

Two opportunities to shrink state government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

Williamsport SunGazette on the deliver on the promise of smaller government by privatizing the Turnpike Commmission and the Liquor Control Board. Also read Matt Brouillette’s commentary on those…

Media

Read More: Two opportunities to shrink state government

Regulation

Smoke Freedom Day II

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

CBS 21 has a video of “Smoke Freedom Day” protest in Harrisburg. That’s me in the video, absorbing second-hand smoke to make a political statement, like Sam Adams.

Media

Read More: Smoke Freedom Day II

Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus Rebate Calculator

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

Since federal “stimulus” tax rebates will start going out electronically this week (and checks will be mailed in the next few weeks), I thought I’d repost this calculator for…

Media

Read More: Federal Stimulus Rebate Calculator

Taxes & Economy

PA Leadership Conference Round-up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

The PA Leadership Conference this past weekend was a great success. Of the keynote speakers, I thought Michael’s Steele gave the best (and funniest) spech (the videos will be…

Media

Read More: PA Leadership Conference Round-up

Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh-area man arrested for complaining about government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

A Bridgeville man was arrested for harassment for doing too much complaining to, and about, his government officials. “In section 2709 of the Pennsylvania crimes code, dealing with…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh-area man arrested for complaining about government

Taxes & Economy

The Truth About Oil and Gasoline

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2008

API has produced a nifty primer on oil, gasoline, and other energy sources. Among the interesting graphs: where does each dollar spent on gasoline go (pg 9 in the…

Media

Read More: The Truth About Oil and Gasoline

Taxes & Economy

State and Local Business Tax Report

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2008

The Council On State Taxation has released their 2008 summary of state and local business taxes, with the national picture, state-specific and industry-specific data. Click here for the summary…

Media

Read More: State and Local Business Tax Report

Government Accountability

Show Me the Spending, PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

Sen. Browne has introduced legislation that would create a free, online database of state spending (contracts and grants over $25,000) along with details about individual line items in the…

Media

Read More: Show Me the Spending, PA

Taxes & Economy

Election Reflection from Democracy Rising

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2008

Tim Potts over at Democracry Rising has an analysis of the election that features a roundup of results, (Grassroots PA has the full rundown), but also raises the…

Media

Read More: Election Reflection from Democracy Rising

Taxes & Economy

Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2008

Here is a something a bit lighter for anyone with an election day hangover: Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video The national Tax Freedom Day is today, as calculated…

Media

Read More: Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video