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.

Regulation

Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2008

Another case study on corporate welfare for the film industry was featured in the Morning Call. Lackwanna County officials are wondering what happened to the $500,000 of taxpayer money…

Media

Read More: Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?

State Budget

State’s economy, budget are at odds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review question the Rendell administration’s glorious reviews of the state’s economy. The size of the state’s economy grew about 20 percent from 1997 to 2006, but…

Media

Read More: State’s economy, budget are at odds

Taxes & Economy

Is Rendell’s rebate legal?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2008

John Micek in the Morning Call raises some key issues as to Governor Rendell’s proposed “rebate” for low-income Pennsylvanians. First, that the using the Budget Stabilization Reserve (or “Rainy…

Media

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Regulation

Study: Smoking Bans increase drunk driving

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2008

A new study in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Public Economics finds that “smoking bans increase drunken-driving fatalities”; reported on the Marginal Revolution blog. This effect is…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Ethanol: Another dose of snake oil?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Another article, from the Star-Tribune, on the hype of ethanol, which summarizes the issue pretty well: 1)Ethanol results in more carbon emissions – “By clearing forests and grasslands…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Federal “Stimulus” Rebate Calculator

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Here is a tool to calculate for federal rebate under the federal “stimulus” package, courtesy of Consumerism Commentary Blog. (You will need to have or know your 2007 federal…

Media

Read More: Federal “Stimulus” Rebate Calculator

State Budget

Borrowing in 2008-09 Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2008

Below is some more analysis of the proposed borrowing in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget – $2.6 billion in debt will be issued in 2008-09. (More on PA’s Total Debt…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

‘Stimulus’ Nonsense

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2008

Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal on the Stimulus Nonsense of robbing Peter to pay Paul: All of the stimulative effects of the rebate to the recipients…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

States of Opportunity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2008

Wall Street Journal on the net domestic migration from high-tax to low-tax states.

Media

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Health Care

The “Cost of the Uninsured”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2008

Many proposals for “universal health care”, including RendellCare, claim that there will be savings by eliminating what everyone pays on “costs for the uninsured”, or uncompensated care.But a new…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Consumption of the Rich and Poor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2008

Interesting analysis in the New York Times of consumption by income category (for a quick summary, click on the chart): If we look at consumption per person,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Court strikes down EPA’s emissions rule

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2008

A federal court struck down the federal EPA’s emissions rule in a lawsuit partially funded by Pennsylvania Taxpayers. My understanding of the ruling – and feel free to correct…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Living Large

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2008

ReasonTV video with Drew Carey on America’s middle class.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Study: Ethanol may add to global warming

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2008

Another study finds that ethanol and biofuels are not “green” and will only increase greenhouse gasses: The study said that after taking into account expected worldwide land-use changes,…

Media

Read More: Study: Ethanol may add to global warming

Health Care

Health Insurance Mandate Update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2008

Wall Street Journal op-ed by CAHI researchers on the cost of the 1,961 health insurance mandates. A health-insurance “mandate” is a legislative requirement that an insurance company or…

Media

Read More: Health Insurance Mandate Update

State Budget

New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2008

In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…

Media

Read More: New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2008

The Heritage Foundation Foundry Blog sums up the “economic stimulus” package just passed by the US Senate. OMB Director Jim Nussle (advocating in favor of the stimulus package),…

Media

Read More: Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

Taxes & Economy

Proposed PA Budget Details

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2008

For all the budget watchers and number-crunchers out there, here are some additional budget resources: Spreadsheet with all the line items from the proposed General Fund Budget (Microsoft Excel…

Media

Read More: Proposed PA Budget Details

Taxes & Economy

Is Rendell Nuts?

  • February 7, 2008

Pennsylvania governor confuses taxpayers with leprechauns HARRISBURG, PA — In Gov. Ed Rendell’s FY 2008-09 budget address, he called for higher and new taxes that, if passed by the…

Press Release

Read More: Is Rendell Nuts?