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

Reps to Guv: Reject Medicaid Expansion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 5, 2012

In July, 45 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent a letter to Gov. Corbett calling for him to opt out of the Medicaid expansion and the insurance…

Media

Read More: Reps to Guv: Reject Medicaid Expansion

Regulation

PLCB Drinks Taxpayers Under Table

  • August 31, 2012

Thirsty for better selection and prices, lawmakers failed to quench citizens’ desire to end Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era liquor system before leaving for summer break. Some politicians defended the government’s liquor monopoly…

Media

Read More: PLCB Drinks Taxpayers Under Table

Health Care

Medicaid Myth #3: Ryan Plan Kicks Folks Off Of Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2012

This concludes our blog series on the myths of the Ryan Medicaid plan. Wednesday‘s blog showed why Ryan’s plan would preserve rather than gut Medicaid and yesterday‘s post…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Myth #3: Ryan Plan Kicks Folks Off Of Medicaid

Health Care

Medicaid Myth #2: Medicaid Expansion Helps Poor

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Priya Brannick
  • August 30, 2012

Yesterday, we began a series on the many myths surrounding Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan’s plan to reform Medicaid. We started with the myth that Ryan would gut Medicaid,…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Myth #2: Medicaid Expansion Helps Poor

Regulation

Principles for Public Pension Reform

  • August 30, 2012

Projected taxpayer contributions for PSERS and SERS will increase from $1.7 billion in 2011-12 to more than $6.2 billion in 2016-17—a 263% increase. Contributions will continue to rise at a…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Principles for Public Pension Reform

Health Care

Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2012

The 2012 campaign continues to center on candidates and their allies calling the other guys “extremists,” and few bear the title as often as Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan.  For…

Media

Read More: Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?

Health Care

Fact Check: Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity and Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2012

Far from hurting the poor, Ryan's Medicaid plan will preserve their access to health care by making the government health care program affordable and sustainable. The plan has three main…

Memo

Read More: Fact Check: Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity and Medicaid

Regulation

Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible Funding

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 24, 2012

Thirty counties have applied for slots in the Department of Public Welfare’s Human Services County Block Grant pilot program.  Unfortunately, the pilot program was limited to 20 counties. The…

Media

Read More: Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible Funding

State Budget

Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2012

A recent memo from Gov. Corbett to all state agencies offers budget-saving tips, reminding officials that Pennsylvania faces a four alarm fiscal fire. PA Independent has…

Media

Read More: Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo

Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2012

PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

Regulation

Booze Bosses Busted?

  • August 22, 2012

The unethical behavior of top Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board executives, including “CEO” Joe Conti, has landed the Kings of Cabernet under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The…

Media

Read More: Booze Bosses Busted?

Taxes & Economy

Fix Welfare to Protect Poor, Save Taxpayers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 21, 2012

Despite prevalent evidence showing the current welfare system does irreparable harm by trapping families and children in a cycle of poverty, presumptive Republican vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to…

Commentary

Read More: Fix Welfare to Protect Poor, Save Taxpayers

Taxes & Economy

Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else Too

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 20, 2012

Bernard Hinault, five-time cycling champion of the Tour de France, once grumbled that the French government taxed the rich so heavily, the state had claim to three pumps of…

Media

Read More: Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else Too

Public Union Democracy

Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 15, 2012

CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…

Media

Read More: Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms

Health Care

ACA a Boon to Special Interests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…

Media

Read More: ACA a Boon to Special Interests

Health Care

Pizza, Burgers and Health Care Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 10, 2012

The devastating side effects of the Affordable Care Act are multiplying every day. It’s not uncommon to hear that premiums are rising, about 7 percent next year, according to the…

Media

Read More: Pizza, Burgers and Health Care Reform

Government Accountability

Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down Drain

  • August 10, 2012

Need some Zeppelin with your zinfandel, Coldplay with your chardonnay or Seger with your Seagrams?  Well, wait no more music and driving fans, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has a…

Media

Read More: Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down Drain

Regulation

No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2012

Pennsylvania Independent’s Melissa Daniels writes that corporate welfare programs to benefit solar companies are on their way out in Pennsylvania, saving consumers more than $100 million.  Two major state…

Media

Read More: No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?

Public Union Democracy

Taxpayer Tornado Sweeps Through Kansas, Union Party Swept Away

  • Charles Mitchell
  • August 8, 2012

What’s one of the few things stranger than a CF staffer reading the Huffington Post? Easy.  A CF staffer reading on the Huffington Post about a great victory for the…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer Tornado Sweeps Through Kansas, Union Party Swept Away

Health Care

State Officials Give Medicaid Expansion a Thumbs Down

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 7, 2012

Is expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act a good idea for states? According to state budget directors across the country, the answer is a resounding no.  A recent survey conducted by…

Media

Read More: State Officials Give Medicaid Expansion a Thumbs Down

Regulation

Liquor Lies Dropping Like Flies

  • August 6, 2012

State-run liquor store advocates are watching as their most commonly trumpeted arguments drop like flies in recent weeks. First there’s the debunking of the erroneous claim that government-run liquor…

Media

Read More: Liquor Lies Dropping Like Flies