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.
Energy
Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs
With Pennsylvania's unemployment rate at a 25-year high, Gov. Rendell is pushing "green jobs" at every turn. He has doled out nearly $1 billion to renewable energy projects and wants…
Commentary
Read More: Green Jobs Destroy Good JobsGovernment Accountability
Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural Gas
Misinformation spewed continually at Common Cause’s press conference on natural gas campaign contributions (see CF News Release) held today at the Capital. Here are…
Media
Read More: Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural GasTaxes & Economy
Re: What About Jobs of Other Colors?
Katrina’s post on Friday that highlighted Energy Ventures Analysis’s job destruction realism about Pennsylvania’s proposed alternative energy mandates is buttressed by similar research elsewhere, including …
Media
Read More: Re: What About Jobs of Other Colors?Health Care
Obama Concedes CF was Right About Slacker Mandate
I hate to toot my own horn (wink wink), but a few months ago, I wrote that a “slacker mandate” included in the federal health care bill would fail…
Media
Read More: Obama Concedes CF was Right About Slacker MandatePublic Union Democracy
Public vs. Private Employment & Pay
Pennsylvania's private sector lost 113,600 jobs while state and local governments added 40,200 positions between 2000 and 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, public-sector…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public vs. Private Employment & PayPublic Union Democracy
Special Interests Denounce “Special Interests”
HARRISBURG, PA (05.11.10) — The Commonwealth Foundation expressed disappointment today that special interest groups which demand taxpayer subsidies for certain energy companies are attacking Pennsylvania’s natural gas companies for simply…
Press Release
Read More: Special Interests Denounce “Special Interests”Taxes & Economy
Appraising the Candidates on Energy: Mandates Over Markets
PA gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett recently put out a policy paper on energy praising markets: “a properly structured market place can effectively incentivize alternative energy investments – perhaps even…
Media
Read More: Appraising the Candidates on Energy: Mandates Over MarketsTaxes & Economy
Talking Transportation Funding
PA Independent’s Eric Boehm talks with State Rep. Rick Geist about Pennsylvania transportation funding in their latest podcast. For more info on transportation funding, check out our…
Media
Read More: Talking Transportation FundingTaxes & Economy
What about Jobs of Other Colors?
A report by Energy Ventures Analysis set straight erroneous claims made by Black and Veatch’s assessment of HB 80 and its sister bill in the PA Senate, SB92.
Media
Read More: What about Jobs of Other Colors?Taxes & Economy
An Arizona-like Immigration Law for PA?
Following Arizona’s recent enactment of a law intended to enforce federal illegal immigration laws, Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe has introduced similar legislation. The law would force employers…
Media
Read More: An Arizona-like Immigration Law for PA?Public Union Democracy
State & Local Fiscal Reforms
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute recently presented a paper to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis on state and local government fiscal reforms. Edward’s four main themes were:…
Media
Read More: State & Local Fiscal ReformsState Budget
Help Stop a Tax Increase in Pennsylvania
Citizens Against Government Waste has a new action alert about proposed tax hikes in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania already has the highest Corporate Net Income Tax rate in the world,…
Media
Read More: Help Stop a Tax Increase in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
PA Senate Passes High Risk Pool Legislation
The Pennsylvania Senate on Monday passed Sen. Mike Folmer’s high risk pool legislation. The bill, SB 507, would create a pool for insurance companies to provide coverage to…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Passes High Risk Pool LegislationRegulation
Taxing Wind?
Here is one tax proposal I am stunned Gov. Rendell has yet to copy – Wyoming Governor Freudenthal has proposed a tax on wind power. Of course, it would…
Media
Read More: Taxing Wind?Taxes & Economy
More Grief for Mann
Virginia attorney general Kenneth Cuccinelli II has filed an exhaustive investigative request with the University of Virginia, seeking records pertaining to research grants obtained by Climategate scientist Michael Mann.
Media
Read More: More Grief for MannTaxes & Economy
Why a Moratorium on Natural Gas Leasing is Unnecessary
Here’s a letter we sent to Rep. Vitali and other government officials regarding a natural gas leasing moratorium. Natural Gas Leasing…
Media
Read More: Why a Moratorium on Natural Gas Leasing is UnnecessaryState Budget
Yes, a Severance Tax Will Discourage Drilling
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently depicted Gov. Rendell as willing to compromise on a natural gas severance tax in Pennsylvania, asking the industry to accept a fair severance tax. In…
Media
Read More: Yes, a Severance Tax Will Discourage DrillingTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Unrealistic Climate Plan
A macroeconomic study of Pennsylvania's Climate Action Plan, released earlier this month, promises impressive cost savings and job creation for the state, but the report was produced by a global…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Unrealistic Climate PlanState Budget
Big Brother Want Your Back Taxes
Pennsylvania’s latest Orwellian tax amnesty ad – with “We Know Who You Are” – has been making the rounds. Reason, Cato Institute, and Grassroots PA all blog…
Media
Read More: Big Brother Want Your Back TaxesState Budget
Rendell vs. Rendell on New Taxes
Here is a quote from Gov. Rendell, from way back in February in his budget address, discussing the new taxes he was proposing: I want to be crystal clear…
Media
Read More: Rendell vs. Rendell on New TaxesTaxes & Economy
Climate Change “Deniers” Protest in Pittsburgh
Yesterday, PennFuture welcomed Dr. Mann to Pittsburgh as part of the Experts and Heroes conference. As attendees munched on hummus and pita chips some “deniers” protested outside with…
Media
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