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

Health Care Reform (the right kind) in the states

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2008

Georgia enacted a few of the health care reforms we have been touting. From the SPN Blog: Georgia eliminates a major tax inequity by allowing individuals to…

Media

Read More: Health Care Reform (the right kind) in the states

Public Union Democracy

In Defense of RINO Hunting

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2008

Pat Toomey lowers the hammer in the Wall Street Journal on the Republican establishment-types, who just want to win elections, regardless of policy, vision, or principles (note: this is…

Media

Read More: In Defense of RINO Hunting

Regulation

Leasing HBG Parking Garages

  • May 8, 2008

Patriot News reports on the Harrisburg Parking Authority’s 3-2 vote last night to contract with a private company to lease nine city parking garages, two public lots and 1,200…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Watch Our Award Winning Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation’s video Frontlines of Liberty won a 2008 Telly Award. GK Visual gets the credit for producing the video (along with all our videos) but…

Media

Read More: Watch Our Award Winning Video

Taxes & Economy

South Carolina vs. PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2008

The Club For Growth has been keeping track of news on potential VP candidates, and this post on SC Mark Sanford stood out. Again, not because John McCain won’t…

Media

Read More: South Carolina vs. PA

Taxes & Economy

Big Farm whips Big Oil

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2008

Great editorial on how “Big Farm” companies dominate “Big Oil” as a special interest, having both “record profits” and government subsidies for ethanol in the wake of a global…

Media

Read More: Big Farm whips Big Oil

Taxes & Economy

Does Marriage Matter?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2008

As the PA Senate is expected to vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment today, I’d thought I’d remind readers that we discussed this proposal with both supporters and opponents…

Media

Read More: Does Marriage Matter?

Health Care

Savings from McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2008

With the re-release of John McCain’s health care plan came a lot of criticism (along with praise) over who benefits from his tax credit. McCain would offer…

Media

Read More: Savings from McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit

Regulation

Harrisburg mayor proposing outsourcing parking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2008

Patriot News reports that Harrisburg mayor Stephen Reed proposing leasing operations of the city’s parking garages and meters to private operators. The deal would fetch $215 million for a…

Media

Read More: Harrisburg mayor proposing outsourcing parking

Taxes & Economy

Is the US in a recession?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2008

Tony Phyrillas writes that the U.S. is not in a recession. John Micek jokes about Phyrillas swallowing Bush’s rhetoric. Of course Tony has the evidence, whereas John is,…

Media

Read More: Is the US in a recession?

Regulation

Pension COLA has hefty price tag

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2008

Charles Thompson has a story in the Patriot News about the high cost to taxpayers of the propose pension COLA. The Tribune Review also had an article last…

Media

Read More: Pension COLA has hefty price tag

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

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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

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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