State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh taxes make for a slow-growing economy. And communities feel the pinch of high taxes as more and more native Pennsylvanians leave the Keystone State to prosper elsewhere. To remain economically competitive, Pennsylvania must lower state taxes and ensure businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Lower taxes will incentivize more individuals to call Pennsylvania their home, ultimately spurring our statewide economy forward.
Government Accountability
PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers
According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced…
Commentary
Read More: PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying LaunderersGovernment Accountability
PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…
Press Release
Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal LobbyingTaxes & Economy
New EPA Rules Will Increase Electricity Costs
Only a few weeks after the failure of the Murkowski resolution to block the EPA’s power grab, the agency is seeking approval of a new regulation that could significantly increase…
Media
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PennFuture’s Lobbying
PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future), the organization founded by Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger over 10 years ago, frequently criticizes the lobbying by traditional energy industries. But…
Fact Sheet
Read More: PennFuture’s LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Continued Hypocrisy of “Conservation” Groups
Previously, we highlighted how the group Conservation Voters of PA lambasted Tom Corbett for receiving campaign contributions from the Anadarko company PAC – but failing to note Gov. Rendell…
Media
Read More: Continued Hypocrisy of “Conservation” GroupsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Tax on Porn Either
Paul Carpenter writes a piece in the Morning Call arguing that Pennsylvania, by not passing a cigar tax, is subsidizing the industry – and (sarcastically) we should do the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Tax on Porn EitherTaxes & Economy
Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections Working
The Department of Agriculture quarantined 28 cows on a farm in Tioga county near a natural gas well in early May. Department officials report the cows are suspected of…
Media
Read More: Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections WorkingTaxes & Economy
EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in Pittsburgh
On July 22nd, the EPA will hold a 6:00pm public meeting in Canonsburg to gather input for a upcoming study on hydraulic fracturing. The EPA’s 2004 study on the drilling techinque concluded…
Media
Read More: EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in PittsburghGovernment Accountability
The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246
Citizens to Protect PA Jobs recently issued an action alert on HB 2246, which flies in the face of the type of tort reform Pennsylvania needs. A hindrance…
Media
Read More: The Tort Anti-Reform of HB 2246Taxes & Economy
The Scientific Consensus
Last week, Reason came out with an interesting article on scientific consensuses. On July 1, 1979 the Washington Post reported “The real issue raised by saccharin [the artificial…
Media
Read More: The Scientific ConsensusState Budget
PA Relies on Federal Bailout of Unemployment Fund
A tsunami of debt is scheduled to hit the state in the next two years. One aspect, the pension bomb, has been well publicized, but the $3 billion in…
Media
Read More: PA Relies on Federal Bailout of Unemployment FundTaxes & Economy
Excessive Government Spending Weighs Down the Economy
In the midst of economic turmoil, much like we have seen recently, many politicians believe that government spending needs to increase. But is increased government spending truly beneficial to the…
Media
Read More: Excessive Government Spending Weighs Down the EconomyTaxes & Economy
Penn State Fronts for GE
The New York Times reports today that companies are responding to new rules on earmark bans for private business by either setting up their own nonprofits, or…
Media
Read More: Penn State Fronts for GEGovernment Accountability
Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?
The delay to include the proposed Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) is just legislators’ latest attempt to resist the transparency and accountability legislation Pennsylvanians deserve. According to John Micek at…
Media
Read More: Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?Government Accountability
Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?
With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office. That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…
Media
Read More: Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?Education
Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in Climategate
Unsurprisingly, Penn State’s second investigation into its own faculty member, Michael Mann, cleared him of any scientific misconduct charges today. Among the reasons for clearing Mann, the report notes:…
Media
Read More: Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in ClimategateTaxes & Economy
Wind Power May Kill You
With the recent fatalities resulting from disasters at the Deep Water Horizon drilling rig and Massey’s Upper Big Branch coal mine, many may begin to think that such…
Media
Read More: Wind Power May Kill YouTaxes & Economy
2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for Future
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to the announced Pennsylvania state budget deal: “It’s difficult to negotiate a sane budget…
Press Release
Read More: 2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for FutureEducation
Politics Making a Mess of Education
It appears Gov. Rendell has succeeded in getting an increase in education spending for the FY 2010-11 budget. Despite the fact that enrollment is down across the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Politics Making a Mess of EducationRegulation
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate Taxes
The Commonwealth has the second highest state corporate income tax (behind Iowa, which has more generous deductions and exemptions). When compounding state and federal corporate taxes, Pennsylvania's corporate income tax…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate TaxesGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Commission IDs Spending Cuts
In February, the Senate established a bipartisan commission to identify cost-savings measure for the Pennsylvania state budget could save money. David Argall, the chairman of…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Commission IDs Spending Cuts