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.

Education

Will Wolf Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2015

On June 30, state lawmakers passed a budget that offers $10.4 billion in state support for public schools. This represents an all-time high—indeed, an increase from last year’s all-time high—and…

Media

Read More: Will Wolf Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer?

Regulation

Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2015

Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…

Commentary

Read More: Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

Energy

Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 24, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new severance tax on natural gas extraction, which he claims will generate more than $1 billion annually for public schools. The proposal fails to consider…

Memo

Read More: Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax

Taxes & Economy

Taxes and Taxes and Taxes, Oh My!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2015

A recent NPR article notes that Pennsylvania “gathers less than 1 percent of its total tax receipts from an impact fee” on natural gas production (emphasis mine). Naturally, the…

Media

Read More: Taxes and Taxes and Taxes, Oh My!

Regulation

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Gambling Problem

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 21, 2015

There are numerous ways Gov. Wolf can balance the budget without raising taxes: reforming the pension system, cutting corporate welfare and selling the liquor business. Instead, he…

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Gambling Problem

Public Union Democracy

Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2015

Pennsylvania government unions rely on disproven myths to lobby against pension reform. Their actions, however, demonstrate they don't believe their own snake oil, and offer their employees' the same retirement plans…

Media

Read More: Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension Reform

State Budget

Audio: The Real Danger of a Severance Tax

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 19, 2015

The Pennsylvania state budget remains long overdue, mostly due to Gov. Wolf’s misconstrued idea of compromise. He continues to insist on a severance tax to increase education spending, but…

Media

Read More: Audio: The Real Danger of a Severance Tax

Public Union Democracy

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 19, 2015

Legislative leaders have rightly rejected a so-called pension reform “compromise,” a plan that fails to address the problems in our pension system and continues to put our kids and grandkids on…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

Regulation

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

  • August 18, 2015

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow Who’s Really Being ‘Disingenuous’ During Budget Talks? As budget negotiations continue, Gov. Wolf recently called Republicans “disingenuous” for criticizing his pension “compromise.” But…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

Regulation

Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2015

Gov. Wolf proposed a new “compromise” on pensions and the budget last week, according to news reports. Here is what that compromise includes: A defined contribution plan for new…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

Education

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 17, 2015

I chose teaching because I enjoy interacting with students and helping them learn.  My science classes show students that certain actions yield predictable results.  With this in mind, I am…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Blindspot

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 12, 2015

CF’s Nate Benefield joins Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT to discuss the budget impasse and Gov. Wolf’s misleading claims. During their conversation, Nate shed light on Gov.

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Blindspot

Regulation

Entrepreneurs Speak Out Against the PLCB

  • August 10, 2015

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) partisans are quick to defend the agency as an asset for the state, but the PLCB’s finances—and the entrepreneurs who deal with the booze bureaucracy—tell a different story. On the financial front, the board reported $117 million in net…

Media

Read More: Entrepreneurs Speak Out Against the PLCB

State Budget

A Way Out of Budget Gridlock

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 10, 2015

With budget traffic at a standstill, how do we press through the roadblock to a resolution that benefits all Pennsylvanians?…

Commentary

Read More: A Way Out of Budget Gridlock

State Budget

Listen: Telephone Townhall on PA Budget and More

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 10, 2015

Matt Brouillette and Rich Zeoli of Talk Radio 1210 WPHT answer questions about the Pennsylvania budget during a telephone town hall. Matt explains how Gov. Wolf's tax plan that would smack…

Media

Read More: Listen: Telephone Townhall on PA Budget and More

State Budget

Silly Talk with Gov. Wolf

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 6, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf appeared on Radio Smart Talk yesterday morning. He mostly danced around host Scott LaMar's questions—claiming “You don't know what I’ve been supporting” on pension reform, and…

Media

Read More: Silly Talk with Gov. Wolf

Regulation

Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Gordon Tomb
  • August 5, 2015

180 workers in CONSOL Energy’s coal division recently lost their jobs. Now, Pennsylvania’s legislature may be the only thing standing between the Obama administration and complete destruction of the…

Media

Read More: Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?

Education

Truth Lacking on ‘Schools That Teach’ Tour

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2015

Gov. Wolf’s 'Schools That Teach' public relations tour and statewide ad campaigns supporting him aren’t telling voters the truth about the budget impasse or the governor's tax proposal.

Commentary

Read More: Truth Lacking on ‘Schools That Teach’ Tour

Regulation

Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto Warns Wolf on Pension Bonds

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • July 30, 2015

This week, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto criticized Gov. Wolf’s plan to sell $3 billion in pension obligation bonds. In a meeting with editors and reporters from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto Warns Wolf on Pension Bonds

State Budget

Which States Have the Biggest Tax Increases?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2015

Previously, we blogged on how Gov. Wolf’s tax proposal raises more revenue than the tax proposals in the 49 other states combined. To put this another way, Wolf’s $4.6 billion tax increase is nearly $4 billion more…

Media

Read More: Which States Have the Biggest Tax Increases?