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.
Taxes & Economy
Transportation Special Session Survival Guide
Gov. Rendell has called a special session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to discuss transportation funding. Here are some resources on financing and managing Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Transportation Special Session Survival GuideState Budget
Maybe Gov. Rendell Needs to Listen to Different Advisers
Pennsylvania has a massive state budget hole, and it can be chalked up to one cause – listening to the wrong people. Gov. Rendell put his faith in folks at…
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Read More: Maybe Gov. Rendell Needs to Listen to Different AdvisersTaxes & Economy
PennFuture Pal Lets the Truth Out
Katrina Currie’s excellent posts during the last two weeks, which refuted PennFuture’s absurd claims about job creation and cost savings tied to alternative energy, as well…
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Read More: PennFuture Pal Lets the Truth OutHealth Care
Devasting Critique of New Health Care Law
John Goodman offers a fine summary of a devastating critique of ObamaCare, produced by … the Obama Administration: Health care costs will go up, not…
Media
Read More: Devasting Critique of New Health Care LawTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Taxes Across the States
Gov. Rendell and other advocates for a natural gas severance tax make the claim that Pennsylvania is the only major gas producing state not to impose this tax and therefore…
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Read More: Natural Gas Taxes Across the StatesTaxes & Economy
Will Work Sharing Bill Save Jobs?
On Monday, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed HB 2160, the “work-share” bill. The legislation is designed to encourage employers to reduce employees hours instead of laying off workers.
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PA Needs Infinity Dollars to Repair Roads
The Tribune Review has a story that transportation advocates are now claiming that Pennsylvania needs $3 billion in additional revenue per year just to keep roads and bridges up…
Media
Read More: PA Needs Infinity Dollars to Repair RoadsRegulation
Environmental Victories or Taxpayer Liabilities?
The left leaning group, PennFuture, recently celebrated a number “Environmental Victories,” though Pennsylvania taxpayers have little to celebrate from the new mandates and regulations. Here are some of the things…
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Read More: Environmental Victories or Taxpayer Liabilities?Regulation
Numbers Guy: Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products Overblown
The Wall Street Journal’s “Numbers Guy” takes a look at the effects of smokeless tobacco. Many supporters of a tobacco tax use the argument that it would provide public…
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Read More: Numbers Guy: Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products OverblownTaxes & Economy
Climate Debate Fact Check
During a climate change policy debate between CF’s Matt Brouillette and PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett, Jarrett gave the audience some misleading statements which I think should be addressed. First, Jarrett…
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Re: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!
On Tuesday I posted about Minnesotans for Global Warming’s new parody video about Climategate hockey stick scientist Michael Mann, from Penn State. Yesterday YouTube removed the video allegedly because…
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Read More: Re: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!Taxes & Economy
Obstructionist PennFuture Rants Again
Yesterday PennFuture demonstrated in Pittsburgh in support of a moratorium on any new drilling on Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas formation, in an effort to “save the…
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Talking about PA Taxes
If you missed our Policies and Principles luncheon with Scott Hodge of the Tax Foundation, Eric Boehm of PA Independent has a write-up of the event, and also recorded…
Media
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Hide the Decline, Part Doh!
After receiving litigation threats from Climategate scientist Michael “Hockey Stick” Mann (of Penn State) over the use of his image in the enormously popular “Hide the Decline” video,…
Media
Read More: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!Regulation
Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity
The PA House Democrats unveiled their “jobs plan” yesterday. In short, it is more of the same failed policies of the past, i.e. those of Ridge-Rendell and…
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Read More: Another Plan to Spend Our Way to ProsperityTaxes & Economy
PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings
This month, the American Legislative Exchange Council released their third annual ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index. Unfortunately, in the last three years Pennsylvania’s economic rankings not only have been…
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Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!
Federal, state, and local taxes consume about 28% of the income earned by Pennsylvania residents, in the aggregate. This represents 103 days – meaning…
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Read More: Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!Taxes & Economy
How Fast Is Harrisburg Spending Your Money?
Pennsylvania state government is spending $66 Billion of YOUR money this fiscal year at a clip of $180,000,000 per day. $7,500,000 per hour.
Press Release
Read More: How Fast Is Harrisburg Spending Your Money?Taxes & Economy
Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and Reprioritization
Now that the federal government has rejected the ill-conceived plan to toll I-80 for a third, and supposedly final time, Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly must implement serious solutions…
Commentary
Read More: Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and ReprioritizationTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission Gambles with Billions
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has recently added to its long track record of inefficiency and corruption by using taxpayer funds to enter into 26 interest rate swaps tied…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission Gambles with BillionsTaxes & Economy
Happy Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania
Today is Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania. This day, calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, puts into easily understandable terms how much residents pay in taxes. Federal, state,…
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