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.
Government Accountability
Spending Transparency & Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Transparency & AccountabilityTaxes & Economy
The Minimum Wage Myth
As unemployment continues to rise and talk of a jobs stimulus circulates some are advocating for another increase in the minimum wage. But such a move would destroy jobs instead…
Media
Read More: The Minimum Wage MythTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business Climate
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released their Small Business Survival Index 2009 on Tuesday. Pennsylvania ranks 27th on the Index (1 being the best state for small businesses). …
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business ClimateEducation
Pittsburgh Tuition Tax Podcast
Elizabeth Bryan and I discuss the proposed tuition tax in Pittsburgh in a podcast. Joining us for part of the conversation is Aaron Gross, a student…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Tuition Tax PodcastTaxes & Economy
Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”
The Wall Street Journal today features a important read on what lies behind climate research, in the wake of the email…
Media
Read More: Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”Education
Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”
Penn State University is going to “look into” the emails from and about university professor Michael Mann, which indicate, among other things,…
Media
Read More: Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”Education
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill
With jobs losses continuing to mount, Congress is considering a third economic “stimulus” (pundits often ignore the Bush stimulus of 2008) in…
Media
Read More: Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” BillState Budget
Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar GivewawaysTaxes & Economy
Legislating Prices for Legal Ads
What do you do when something costs too much? You don’t buy it. Or if you’re the state, you simply mandate a new lower price. The State House…
Media
Read More: Legislating Prices for Legal AdsTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?
Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%, which is a fair and simple distribution of taxation. Yet some people are imprudently calling for a state-wide graduated…
Media
Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?Taxes & Economy
Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal
Britain’s Climate Research Unit verified hackers confiscated email correspondence between top climatologists, putting Penn State’s director of Earth System Science Center, Michael E. Mann, directly in the middle of…
Media
Read More: Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology ScandalHealth Care
US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill
The Association of Physician and Surgeons has a one-page handout on some number and facts about the latest Senate health care bill.
Media
Read More: US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”
Much mockery has been made of the reported “jobs created or saved” by the stimulus package – from jobs created in Congressional districts that don’t exist to the…
Media
Read More: Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”Health Care
Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and Economics
My prepared remarks to the “Million Med March” in Harrisburg Thank you. Good afternoon. Thanks for everyone here for coming out – I know none of us really want to…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
State Tax Trends
ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…
Media
Read More: State Tax TrendsGovernment Accountability
What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?
Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…
Media
Read More: What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?Taxes & Economy
New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks Credibility
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s ill-advised attempts to toll I-80 continues; yesterday, Brian Chase, an independent consultant, spoke to the House Republican Policy Committee (PLS Subscription) about the validity…
Media
Read More: New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks CredibilityHealth Care
Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill
Yesterday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth a new, 2,074 page health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the next few days.
Media
Read More: Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Electric Choice is Gaining Steam
With the expiration of rate caps in 2010 I've been tracking the entrance of new residential suppliers in the central PA electricity market. These days it's rare to see actual…
Media
Read More: Electric Choice is Gaining Steam