Prosperity
Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperity
Originally published on LNP On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his first annual state budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While he hasn’t unveiled the details of…
Read More: Reforms would reduce poverty, increase prosperityEvery 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.
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Taxes & Economy
Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s Goal
In the movies, values like hope, joy, and peace ultimately triumph over materialism. Unfortunately, government has yet to grasp that stuff alone doesn’t bring lasting happiness…
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End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands Legislature Sends State Budget to Governor’s Desk December 23, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state legislature, with bi-partisan support, sent a $30.26…
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Senate Passes Budget, Sends to Governor
Things have changed quickly in the Capitol this week. On Monday, we wrote about a potential House vote on an emergency funding bill. That plan was scrapped. Yesterday, we talked…
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Read More: Senate Passes Budget, Sends to GovernorState Budget
A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works
In an unexpected move, the House voted to revive the Senate’s $30.8 billion budget yesterday, which many thought was dead after a pension reform bill went down in defeat…
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Read More: A Christmas Spending Spree is in the WorksEducation
Students Need Scholarships, Not Sympathy
Gov. Tom Wolf’s insistence on higher taxes blocks state funding from school districts and jeopardizes private school scholarships for thousands of low- and middle-income students.
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Moving on From Budget Gridlock
Editor's note: Recent legislative developments have made an emergency funding plan unlikely. For the latest on the budget impasse, read this blog. Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee voted…
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Read More: Moving on From Budget GridlockState Budget
Framework Dead, Time for a No-Tax Hike Spending Plan
Despite legislative action this past weekend, a “framework budget” and a looming vote to raise taxes now appear to be off the table. The next step must be to pass…
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Santa Claus Budgeting
With Christmas fast approaching, children are busy creating wish lists for Santa Claus. While most kids eventually outgrow a belief in Santa — and realize it’s their family buying their…
Commentary
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Government Liquor is a Liability
Liquor privatization came dangerously close to reality this year with a true privatization plan passing both houses of the legislature in June only to be stonewalled by the governor. So…
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Read More: Government Liquor is a LiabilityTaxes & Economy
Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 Jobs
If Gov. Wolf succeeds in raising Pennsylvania’s personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.30 percent (an increase of 7.5 percent in the rate), what will be the impact on…
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Read More: Latest Wolf Tax Plan Eliminates 6,500 JobsState Budget
Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas Past
Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas Past New Tax Plan Would Hit Working Families of all Income Groups December 18, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Nearly six months into…
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Read More: Lawmakers Must Reject Tax Hike of Christmas PastPublic Union Democracy
Tax Hike of Christmas Past?
Given the rumblings of an imminent vote on higher income taxes, it's important to remember what happened 12 years ago (nearly to the day!) with our state budget. Ed Rendell was…
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State Budget Should Consider Pa. Freedom Index
State Budget Should Consider Pa. Freedom Index Commonwealth Ranks Mediocre 21st in Economic Freedom December 16, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania may be home to the cradle of liberty, but…
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House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right Direction
The pension reform bill is quickly making its way through the Pa. House. The latest iteration, SB 1071, mirrors the Senate's version (SB 1082; read our summary here),…
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Read More: House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right DirectionState Budget
Spending Increases in the “Framework Budget”
As pointed out yesterday, one of the six sticky items in the Pennsylvania budget negotiations is how much taxpayer money to spend. The $30.788 billion “framework budget” passed by…
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Six Unresolved Issues in PA Budget
The PA House is back in session this week, “sorting through hundreds of pages of legislation” related to the state budget. As Bob points out, while passing a…
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Crisis Budgeting Isn’t Governing
By vetoing budget after budget, denying funds to schools and nonprofits, and even holding up scholarships for low-income students to attend schools of their choice, Gov. Wolf has done…
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Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’
Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’ Budget Plan Flush with Slush Fund Increases December 9, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The state Senate’s $30.8 billion budget plan rushed through Monday…
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Read More: Senate Budget Hides Millions in ‘Walking-Around Money’State Budget
House Budget Lives within Taxpayers’ Means
House Budget Lives within Taxpayers’ Means $30.3 Billion Plan Avoids Overspending & Excessive Taxation December 8, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Yesterday, the Senate rushed through a $30.8 billion budget that…
Press Release
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Latest Pension Bill a Mixed Bag
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5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers
5 Ways Senate’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers Walking-Around Money Gets Big Boost in $30.8 Billion Budget December 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state Senate passed a $30.8…
Press Release
Read More: 5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers