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 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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Health Care

Q& A on State Health Care Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2008

The NCPA has a new report on State Health Care Reform: Key Questions and Answers, highlighting many of the key policy questions, including “Does universal health coverage lower health…

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Taxes & Economy

The Truth about Milton Friedman

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2008

David Henderson has a detailed reponse on the Cato-at-liberty blog to a New York Times article on the economic legacy of Milton Friedman. The Times piece presented the…

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Taxes & Economy

Flat Tax vs. Fair Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2008

Below is a video from the Center from Freedom and Prosperity on proposals for an overall of the tax system. We covered both the flat tax and fair…

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Health Care

Health Savings Sabotage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2008

The Wall Street Journal has a column on a bill that passed the US House that would undermine Health Savings Accounts (also see the SPN blog on this…

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Health Care

The Health Insurance Mafia

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2008

Here is a great editorial in the Wall Street Journal on how the health insurance industry acts like the Mafia: Most discussions about the rising…

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Taxes & Economy

Getting Better, Not Bitter, in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2008

WebMemo from the Heritage Foundation about whether Pennsylvanians should be “bitter” over all the jobs “lost”. I would point readers to my commentary on Prospering in Pennsylvania, but…

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State Budget

Make Cardboard Checks Vanish

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

Senator Eichelberger’s stand against posing with cardboard checks when handing out taxpayer-funded grants is getting attention across the state, with a story in the Morning-Call, and…

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Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

Governor Rendell has announced that bids for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be due at or near the end of April. He also announced many of the terms…

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Taxes & Economy

Candidate Surveys

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2008

Here are some candidate surveys for state legislative candidates: PA Right to Work Stop Teacher Strikes Democracy Rising Project Vote Smart…

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