Prosperity
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Read More: New Year, New Taxes in PennsylvaniaHigh 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.
Regulation
Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAIL
Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development. Much of what it outlines is simply political rhetoric –…
Media
Read More: Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAILTaxes & Economy
Time to Act on Medicaid Fraud
The Heartland Institute put out a compilation of resources on reducing fraud in Medicaid and Medicare. In Pennsylvania, Auditor General Jack Wagner has found fraud and errors in Medicaid…
Media
Read More: Time to Act on Medicaid FraudTaxes & Economy
Is Minimum Wage the Panacea or the Disease
A new report by the Bureau of Business Research at Ball State University found that the recent minimum wage increases account for 550,000 fewer part-time jobs. According to the…
Media
Read More: Is Minimum Wage the Panacea or the DiseaseHealth Care
Obamacare and Deficits
In campaign-mode fashion, President Obama held a rally at Arcadia University on Monday to sell his plan for health care reform. Filled with the usual rhetoric and emotional, Obama made…
Media
Read More: Obamacare and DeficitsGovernment Accountability
For Whom The Turnpike Tolls
Tolls are appropriate because they are imposed directly upon travelers for their use of roads. However, the plan to toll I-80 represents more than a toll. It is also a…
Commentary
Read More: For Whom The Turnpike TollsTaxes & Economy
Sign the Petition for an Independent Investigation of Dr. Mann
Penn State YAF’s (Young Americans for Freedom) petition for academic integrity is now online! On February 12th almost a hundred students and citizens gathered to demand a fair and thorough…
Media
Read More: Sign the Petition for an Independent Investigation of Dr. MannHealth Care
Buying Insurance Across State Lines
John Goodman summarizes the issue of interestate competition for health insurance: Every state has mandated health insurance benefits. These are laws requiring insurers to cover services ranging from…
Media
Read More: Buying Insurance Across State LinesPublic Union Democracy
Yes, Unemployment Benefits Do Cause Higher Unemployment
David Henderson has a post up on the Econlog blog about how unemployment benefits increase the unemployment rate. He cites himself, the Federal Reserve, and Obama economic advisor Larry…
Media
Read More: Yes, Unemployment Benefits Do Cause Higher UnemploymentGovernment Accountability
State Office Deal Highlights Rendell’s Cronyism
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story about the state paying to lease office space, even though they’ve closed the office. But the more interesting part of the is…
Media
Read More: State Office Deal Highlights Rendell’s CronyismTaxes & Economy
Who are the Tea Partiers?
The Sam Adams Alliance has a new report out presenting findings from a survey of 50 “tea party movement” leaders. Among the more interesting findings 46.9 percent were uninvolved…
Media
Read More: Who are the Tea Partiers?Health Care
HSAs: Efficient Heath Care and Savings for State Taxpayers
A recent op-ed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in the Wall Street Journal highlights the benefits his state has seen since implementing an optional Health Savings Account (HSA) for…
Media
Read More: HSAs: Efficient Heath Care and Savings for State TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
About 25% of Highway Fund Doesn’t go to Highways
Robert Poole has a Washington Times article on how federal gas tax money in the “highway fund” is often diverted to other political purposes. Today, the federal role…
Media
Read More: About 25% of Highway Fund Doesn’t go to HighwaysTaxes & Economy
A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard is Bad Policy
Days before Pennsylvanians rang in the New Year, Gov. Rendell signed an agreement that paves the way for one of the most radical (and expensive) changes in Pennsylvania’s energy history.
Media
Read More: A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard is Bad PolicyState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of February, state General Fund revenues are $477 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010Taxes & Economy
PPL Proposes Distribution Rate Increase
PPL is hoping to “modestly” increase distribution rates next year. This is the regulated part of your electricity bill which is not subject to competition. There is no word…
Media
Read More: PPL Proposes Distribution Rate IncreaseTaxes & Economy
New Jersey Has Lessons for PA?
Yes, New Jersey does have lessons for Pennsylvania. Governor Chris Christie proposed a plan to reduce some unemployment benefits. Employers were about to see an increase in their unemployment…
Media
Read More: New Jersey Has Lessons for PA?Taxes & Economy
Electric Choice Trumps a Rate Cap Phase-in
The York Dispatch reports West Manchester Township is entering into a consortium to hedge against future electricity rate increases as rate caps are set to end for the area…
Media
Read More: Electric Choice Trumps a Rate Cap Phase-inTaxes & Economy
“Jobs Saved” Estimates were Pre-Determined
The Congressional Budget Office announced last month that 1.5 million jobs were created or saved by the $862 billion stimulus package, a number many use to claim the stimulus…
Media
Read More: “Jobs Saved” Estimates were Pre-DeterminedHealth Care
The President’s Empty Health Care Promises
The White House has on its website an article titled, “The President’s Proposal puts American families and small business owners in control of their own health care.” According to…
Media
Read More: The President’s Empty Health Care PromisesTaxes & Economy
Transportation Industry Misleads on I-80 Tolling
A couple of recent editorials in favor of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll I-80 – both by transportation industry insiders – gives some misleading info. Peter Javsicas of…
Media
Read More: Transportation Industry Misleads on I-80 TollingTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Powering Job Growth
TMK-IPSCO, an oil-and-gas pipe maker, recently announced its plan to build a new manufacturing facility roughly 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, just over the Ohio state line. The new…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Powering Job Growth