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.
Taxes & Economy
Yet Another Rendell No-Bid Contract
Just as it seemed the dust was settling in the fight to lease state land for shale exploration, recent closed-door meetings (Capitolwire, subscription needed) conducted by the Rendell Administration…
Media
Read More: Yet Another Rendell No-Bid ContractState Budget
Yes, We Really Do Mistrust Lawmakers
Gerald Prante of the Tax Foundation raises a philosophical question about state spending limits. Namely he wonders, if we don’t trust how legislators spend money now – a…
Media
Read More: Yes, We Really Do Mistrust LawmakersGovernment Accountability
Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State Taxpayers
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner issued a scathing rebuke of the Rendell administration’s use of no-bid contracts, specifically in relation to over a half-billion dollars given to Deloitte for…
Media
Read More: Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
ACORN Sting in Philadelphia
BigGovernment.com has released their video from Philadelphia’s ACORN office from July 24. As in other videos, ACORN Philadelphia provided advice to the fake pimp and prostitute for what sort…
Media
Read More: ACORN Sting in PhiladelphiaState Budget
PA Business Survey: Bad Budget Deal
The Lincoln Institute released its Fall Business Climate Survey for Pennsylvania (mostly surveying small business owners). Click here for results and here for a summary of findings. Not…
Media
Read More: PA Business Survey: Bad Budget DealHealth Care
Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals
President Obama has pushed national health care reform, making it a priority. While there is no official "Obama plan," and several different proposal in Congress, the leading proposals have several…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Guide to National Health Care Reform ProposalsGovernment Accountability
Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care Debate
The discussion surrounding tort reform is often subdued when talking about health care costs. Trial lawyers, like the American Association for Justice, claim that undermine litigation costs as a part…
Media
Read More: Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care DebateTaxes & Economy
Map of State and Local Sales Tax Rates
The Tax Foundation has a new map showing sales tax rates by state – including both the state rate and the average local rate. With the local included, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Map of State and Local Sales Tax RatesHealth Care
Health Care “Facts” Disputed
Michael Cannon and Ramesh Ponnuru have an editorial challenging the assertions of Obama on health care. The article came out a few weeks ago, and specifically cites claims made…
Media
Read More: Health Care “Facts” DisputedTaxes & Economy
Job Losses in Pennsylvania Counties
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data on county employment and wages today. It is a little dated (March 2009) relative to national data, but does offer a profile…
Media
Read More: Job Losses in Pennsylvania CountiesHealth Care
Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care
Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage. (HT to Carpe…
Media
Read More: Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health CareState Budget
Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?
Yesterday, blogger for the Time Herald/State Senator Daylin Leach attacked ATR’s no-tax pledge and Sen. Orie for signing it a few years ago before voting to increase taxes…
Media
Read More: Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?Taxes & Economy
Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in Pennsylvania
Eliminating the Death Tax could create over 1.5 million jobs for small and family business workers, including 64,442 jobs in Pennsylvania. An increase in the Death Tax rates to 55%…
Report
Read More: Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in PennsylvaniaCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Corrections Spending
Facing a massive budget deficit, and with sizeable financial obligations looming, Pennsylvania needs to re-examine how taxpayer dollars are spent. Spending on the Department of Corrections has grown far beyond…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections SpendingTaxes & Economy
New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling Plan
A new study on the impact of tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania by Grove City College economist Tracy Miller highlights several flaws in the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll…
Media
Read More: New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling PlanHealth Care
CF Joins 32 State Think Tanks in Offering Alternative, Patient-Centered Reforms
The Commonwealth Foundation joined leaders from 32 other state think tanks in announcing a “patient-centered” plan for health care reform. In response to national calls for an alternative to Obamacare…
Media
Read More: CF Joins 32 State Think Tanks in Offering Alternative, Patient-Centered ReformsHealth Care
Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs
A report by Dr. Sven Larson from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation examines policies to remove government barriers and restore competition to the market for individual…
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Read More: Competition in Health Care would Lower CostsTaxes & Economy
Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax Revenues
The Tax Foundation has a new report profiling the percentage of state and local government tax revenues by source for each state. Here is how Pennsylvania compares (getting a…
Media
Read More: Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax RevenuesTaxes & Economy
Competition Emerges as PPL Completes Supply Auctions
Yesterday, PPL completed it’s last auction to for power to serve customers after rate caps expire on January 1st 2010. PPL has been procuring power in phases since 2007 in…
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Read More: Competition Emerges as PPL Completes Supply AuctionsHealth Care
My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform
I just uploaded my video message to Congress on health care reform. This is part of a project of the National Taxpayers Union, who is preparing DVDs…
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Read More: My Message to Congress on Health Care ReformState Budget
100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!
The budget impasse has been analogized and analyzed to death in the past couple months. It’s rich fodder for politico pundits and reporters. Some have compared it to a…
Media
Read More: 100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!