Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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.
Taxes & Economy
Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?
Alan Reynolds takes a nuanced approach to where stimulus funding went, and why it didn’t “create jobs” or increase GDP, and probably increased unemployment: [T]he GDP report clearly…
Media
Read More: Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?Regulation
How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania Businesses
For the second year in a row, Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, assuming this will have no impact on jobs or the economy. (As…
Media
Read More: How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania BusinessesTaxes & Economy
When Alternative Energy Subsidies End . . .
Jim Panyard from the PA Independent reports on Rep. Scavello’s plan to secure $26 to $54 million in stimulus funding for residents who own Thermal Storage Unit heating systems.
Media
Read More: When Alternative Energy Subsidies End . . .Government Accountability
Where has PA Stimulus Money Gone?
I’ve gotten a couple requests for information on where Pennsylvania’s stimulus money has gone. The Pennsylvania stimulus site is here. …
Media
Read More: Where has PA Stimulus Money Gone?Taxes & Economy
Some Stimulating Numbers
On the one year anniversary of the “stimulus”, OpenMarket.org has some numbers on how well the stimulus has worked: * The unemployment rate has increased since the stimulus bill…
Media
Read More: Some Stimulating NumbersState Budget
The Unemployment Compensation Hole
Yesterday, Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandy Vito testified before the House Appropriations Committee in the usual round of budget hearings. She reported that the unemployment compensation fund is $2.2…
Media
Read More: The Unemployment Compensation HoleState Budget
The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation
Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009, the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, unemployment continues to grow,…
Commentary
Read More: The True Cost of Unemployment CompensationTaxes & Economy
There PennFuture Goes Again!
This morning on Harrisburg’s NPR station WITF (audio), Commonwealth Foundation adjunct scholar Andrew Langer debated Jan Jarrett of PennFuture. Afterward Jarrett slammed us…
Media
Read More: There PennFuture Goes Again!Energy
Business Guide to Electric Choice & Competition
In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Business Guide to Electric Choice & CompetitionHealth Care
Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act
The Virginia House of Representatives passed SB 417, sending it on to Gov. McDonnell, who is expected to sign it. The legislation would state, in defiance of health…
Media
Read More: Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom ActRegulation
Tracking the Bailout Money
Propublica has a good tool tracking all the money the federal government has given out in both the TARP bailout and the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Media
Read More: Tracking the Bailout MoneyTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling
Toll Roads News reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is seeking bids for consultants for the conversion of the highway to a toll road. The four contracts would each…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 TollingTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars
Here is a video listing the 74 items currently exempt from the Pennsylvania sales tax that Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing – set to the introduction of Star Wars…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star WarsEducation
Climategate is an Embarassment
Penn State sophomore Samuel Settle pens a letter on why he is embarrassed of professor Michael Mann’s behavior, and his school’s white-washing of an investigation. Click here for our…
Media
Read More: Climategate is an EmbarassmentState Budget
The Merits of an Expanded Sales Tax
Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute has a recent op-ed on the idea of states broadening their sales tax base, noting that several states are looking this direction.
Media
Read More: The Merits of an Expanded Sales TaxState Budget
Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories
As part of his budget, Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania’s sales tax from 6% to 4% (Philadelphia has an additional 2% and Allegheny County 1% on top of the…
Media
Read More: Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion CategoriesTaxes & Economy
Perpetuating Fraud And Mismanagement
The Department of Public Welfare will receive additional federal funding to support its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This amount will be used to increase grants by…
Media
Read More: Perpetuating Fraud And MismanagementTaxes & Economy
Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?
Yes, to answer the question posed by the title, the state can mandate the creation of “green jobs” via alternative energy mandates – just as it…
Media
Read More: Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?Taxes & Economy
Natural Gas Tax: One Thoughtful Editorial, One…Not So Much
In their editorial on a natural gas severance tax, likely to be part of Gov. Rendell’s budget proposal on Tuesday, the Patriot News highlights some facts that don’t ever…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Tax: One Thoughtful Editorial, One…Not So MuchTaxes & Economy
Final Nail in I-80 Tolling’s Coffin?
The FHWA is expect to announce shortly that, once again, the have rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s bid to toll I-80 across the state. Eric Boehm has the details…
Media
Read More: Final Nail in I-80 Tolling’s Coffin?Public Union Democracy
Dude, Where’s My Raise?
A struggling economy and high unemployment left many without their yearly raise or bonus in 2009. That is, of course, unless you were a government employee. As originally reported on…
Media
Read More: Dude, Where’s My Raise?