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

Losers and Phony-Baloneys

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2015

Last week, Gov. Wolf unveiled new, bad policy ideas—to slightly adjust a misguided pension proposal, and to propose a private manager to a government run liquor monopoly.  But just as…

Media

Read More: Losers and Phony-Baloneys

State Budget

Audio: A Path of Compromise

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 21, 2015

Refusing to abandon his demands for the highest tax increase in state history, Gov. Wolf continues to fuel a budget impasse that has left human-services agencies and schools without…

Media

Read More: Audio: A Path of Compromise

Regulation

New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2015

Yesterday, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—hiring a private contractor to manage the government liquor…

Media

Read More: New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy

Taxes & Economy

Leader of the Free World?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 16, 2015

What do Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Canada have in common? Their citizens all enjoy more economic freedom than Americans. According to the 2015 Economic Freedom of the World Index,…

Media

Read More: Leader of the Free World?

Regulation

Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 16, 2015

A majority of Pennsylvanians support a privatized liquor industry, but government unions use their financial clout to ensure the state government maintains a monopoly over wine and spirits. WILK’s…

Media

Read More: Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

Education

Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics

  • James Paul
  • September 15, 2015

The first month of a new school year is an exciting—but stressful—time for school teachers. This is particularly true for young, newly-hired teachers who must quickly acclimate to their students,…

Media

Read More: Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics

State Budget

Free the Budget Hostages

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • September 15, 2015

This week, lawmakers are expected to vote for a “stop-gap budget”—funding state services and programs for a few months, while continuing to negotiate a budget compromise. Yet, some politicians oppose…

Media

Read More: Free the Budget Hostages

Regulation

The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s Gatekeeper

  • September 14, 2015

Last week 90.5 WESA published a story about the PA Preferred Wine Program—a tool designed to help promote Pennsylvania wines. The program allows in-state wine producers to apply for…

Media

Read More: The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s Gatekeeper

Public Union Democracy

Setting the Record Straight on Pensions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 11, 2015

Government union leaders argue against meaningful pension reform with radical rallying cries like, “Your pension is under attack!” and mounds of other misinformation. Here's a quick fact check on some…

Media

Read More: Setting the Record Straight on Pensions

Education

Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 10, 2015

With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question.  CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…

Media

Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

Regulation

Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

  • September 9, 2015

State officials often hail the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP or R-Cap) as a tool for “economic development” projects across the commonwealth. The program uses borrowed money—with interest payments financed by taxpayers—to…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

Public Union Democracy

Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 8, 2015

Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…

Commentary

Read More: Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

State Budget

Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 4, 2015

Gov. Wolf still refuses to back down from his budget demands–which include the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania’s history. Not only would this add an additional $1,425 in taxes on every family of…

Media

Read More: Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?

State Budget

Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 4, 2015

Debbie is a small business owner. She operates Pealer's Flowers with her husband in Camp Hill, and they're worried about Gov. Tom Wolf's tax hikes. Debbie explains: “We're all doing…

Media

Read More: Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop

Regulation

Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 2, 2015

Another day passes without a state budget in Pennsylvania, causing panic among public officials who can't pay the bills and among parents who have children attending schools unable to make payroll.  Still, Gov.

Media

Read More: Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse

Regulation

Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-B

  • September 1, 2015

When it comes to government corruption investigations, Attorney General Kathleen Kane has dominated the conversation this summer. But now, as if seemingly miffed at the spotlight being taken away from…

Media

Read More: Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-B

Regulation

PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal

  • August 31, 2015

Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, [email protected] PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal  Ethics Charges Latest in String of Corruption   Good evening, Today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB)…

Press Release

Read More: PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal

Regulation

Ridesharing Freedom En Route to Pennsylvania

  • James Paul
  • August 28, 2015

Uber and Lyft provide inexpensive rides to customers across the country despite numerous regulatory hurdles—chief among them the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which has previously thwarted the businesses from…

Media

Read More: Ridesharing Freedom En Route to Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Location, Location, Location

  • August 26, 2015

What do real estate values and tax bills have in common? Both are driven by location. In a new report, the Tax Foundation provides a comprehensive analysis of the tax burdens…

Media

Read More: Location, Location, Location

Regulation

Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 26, 2015

As state budget negotiations drag on, Gov. Wolf is pointing the finger at Republicans, claiming they have refused to move after he made “concessions on everything.” So what compromises are included in…

Media

Read More: Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”