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

Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2009

Ever since former president George W. Bush unveiled plans for the new presidential center in his name which would focus on fiscal restraint, he has faced fair amount of…

Media

Read More: Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

Energy

Alternative Energy Mandates

  • November 18, 2009

Pennsylvania law requires utility companies to produce a certain percentage of their electricity from alternative sources in future years. Proposed legislation would increase this percentage and require new carbon sequestration…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Alternative Energy Mandates

Government Accountability

The Illusion of Shrinking State Government

  • November 18, 2009

Back in September of 2008, Governor Rendell announced a state-wide hiring freeze in all agencies under his control to help curb declining revenues and a weakened national economy. Now,…

Media

Read More: The Illusion of Shrinking State Government

Taxes & Economy

Government Authors More “Jobs Created” Fiction

  • November 17, 2009

The recovery.gov website lists a number of job creation success stories in congressional districts accross many states. For instance, in Arizona’s 15th congressional district 30 jobs were created…

Media

Read More: Government Authors More “Jobs Created” Fiction

Taxes & Economy

Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2009

Alan Reynolds outlines a very basic economic concept: longer limits (and increased benefits) for taxpayer-funded unemployment compensation – as was mandated in the federal stimulus, and repeated by Congress…

Media

Read More: Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

Taxes & Economy

Climate Change in Pennsylvania

  • November 17, 2009

A new report from the Science & Public Policy Institute (SPPI) focuses solely on climate trends in the Pennsylvania. The report highlights climate trends unique to the state…

Media

Read More: Climate Change in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative Directives

  • November 16, 2009

In 2008, the General Assembly passed the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act (Act 70). This act created the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC), which was charged with implementing a study…

Media

Read More: PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative Directives

Health Care

Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2009

WFMZ features a story on a health care protest outside Congressman Charlie Dent’s office, featuring Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who is also challenging Dent (HT Grassroots PA). Callahan…

Media

Read More: Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate

Criminal Justice Reform

Prison Overcrowding Solutions

  • November 16, 2009

Testimony submitted to the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee We would like to thank the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for giving us the opportunity to submit testimony on the…

Testimony

Read More: Prison Overcrowding Solutions

Regulation

Corporate Welfare Goes Green

  • November 13, 2009

The solar industry, teamed with congress, is trying to get the Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act passed. This act creates a 30% tax credit for solar manufactures and makes…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare Goes Green

Health Care

Notes on Health Care Reform

  • November 12, 2009

Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…

Commentary

Read More: Notes on Health Care Reform

Taxes & Economy

The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2009

Many pundits, members of the media, and elected officials (or their spokesman), cite employment data showing “fewer jobs lost” in October (or in the case of the state, September)…

Media

Read More: The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”

Government Accountability

Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue

  • November 12, 2009

The US House health care bill not only has little significant tort reform, it in fact limits states from enacting meaningful tort reform. This statement taken directly from the…

Media

Read More: Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue

Taxes & Economy

Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2009

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued an executive order to stop city officials from asking immigration status for the express purpose of boosting the city’s population in the Census,…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds

Regulation

PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with Renewables

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 11, 2009

Last month the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action plan. While touting the creation of “green jobs”, it did not advocate increasing PA’s…

Media

Read More: PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with Renewables

Government Accountability

Break Up SEPTA

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 10, 2009

How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.

Commentary

Read More: Break Up SEPTA

Regulation

Gambling – The Savior to PA’s Fiscal Problems?

  • November 10, 2009

Any prudent individual would not plan on gambling winnings to become prosperous or even to get out of debt. But the state of Pennsylvania, turns to gambling to resolve all…

Media

Read More: Gambling – The Savior to PA’s Fiscal Problems?

Health Care

Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2009

Marty Feldstein has an editorial in the Washington Post detailing how the current health care reform proposals in Congress could actually increase the number of uninsured individuals. Namely, he…

Media

Read More: Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured

Taxes & Economy

More Proof that Government Spending Hurts the Economy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 10, 2009

The Tax Foundation highlights a new NBER paper by Harvard economists, “Large Changes in Fiscal Policy: Taxes Versus Spending,” which analyzes the fiscal policies of OECD countries from…

Media

Read More: More Proof that Government Spending Hurts the Economy

Taxes & Economy

Alliance Still Fighting to Stop I-80 Tolling

  • November 9, 2009

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again – seems to be the motto of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as they seek once again to Toll I-80. The…

Media

Read More: Alliance Still Fighting to Stop I-80 Tolling