High 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

Pennsylvania’s Unrealistic Climate Plan

  • May 4, 2010

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

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State Budget

Big Brother Want Your Back Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 4, 2010

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

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State Budget

Rendell vs. Rendell on New Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 3, 2010

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

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Taxes & Economy

Climate Change “Deniers” Protest in Pittsburgh

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 3, 2010

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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Taxes & Economy

Transportation Special Session Survival Guide

  • May 3, 2010

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

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State Budget

Maybe Gov. Rendell Needs to Listen to Different Advisers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 3, 2010

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…

Media

Read More: Maybe Gov. Rendell Needs to Listen to Different Advisers

Taxes & Economy

PennFuture Pal Lets the Truth Out

  • April 29, 2010

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…

Media

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Health Care

Devasting Critique of New Health Care Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2010

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

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Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas Taxes Across the States

  • April 28, 2010

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…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Will Work Sharing Bill Save Jobs?

  • April 27, 2010

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.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA Needs Infinity Dollars to Repair Roads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2010

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

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Regulation

Environmental Victories or Taxpayer Liabilities?

  • April 26, 2010

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…

Media

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Regulation

Numbers Guy: Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products Overblown

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 26, 2010

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…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Climate Debate Fact Check

  • April 22, 2010

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…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Re: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!

  • April 22, 2010

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…

Media

Read More: Re: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!

Taxes & Economy

Obstructionist PennFuture Rants Again

  • April 21, 2010

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…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Talking about PA Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2010

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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Taxes & Economy

Hide the Decline, Part Doh!

  • April 20, 2010

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2010

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…

Media

Read More: Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity

Taxes & Economy

PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings

  • April 15, 2010

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…

Media

Read More: PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings

Taxes & Economy

Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!

  • April 15, 2010

Federal, state, and local taxes consume about 28% of the income earned by Pennsylvania residents, in the aggregate. This represents 103 days – meaning…

Media

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