State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh 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
A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The top-heavy PTC, with more than 2,000 employees, is responsible for overseeing an exponentially smaller infrastructure than PennDOT. The PTC manages 537 miles of turnpike highways; PennDOT manages nearly 40,000…
Commentary
Read More: A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionHealth Care
Challenging the Constitutionality of Health Care Legislation
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett is joining with a number of other state AG‘s (latest count is 10 attorneys general) to challenge the “Nebraska Compromise” in the latest…
Media
Read More: Challenging the Constitutionality of Health Care LegislationTaxes & Economy
Climate Change Action Plan Fails to Balance Evidence
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today expressed dissatisfaction with the process and conclusion of the Climate Change Advisory Committee’s (CCAC) action plan for Pennsylvania. The plan deviates from key…
Press Release
Read More: Climate Change Action Plan Fails to Balance EvidenceHealth Care
Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For Themselves
This is the time of the year when most people are so busy with holiday preparations they lose track of what the government is doing with their hard-earned tax money.
Media
Read More: Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For ThemselvesTaxes & Economy
Lessons of Scrooge
Tony Phyrillas points to a DotPenn article on “Why Scrooge is a Progressive.” While DotPenn is typically a satire/humor blog, the the lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge is…
Media
Read More: Lessons of ScroogeTaxes & Economy
Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJ
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute updates the numbers on federal spending under George W. Bush with the final spending for FY 2009 in the books. While some of…
Media
Read More: Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians More Unhappy Than Most
As the winter rolls around there is a lot to be unhappy about especially in the northeast regions of the United States. It is no wonder the a new…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians More Unhappy Than MostEducation
Following Our Bad Example: The Tuition Tax Idea Spreads
The consideration of a tuition tax is appealing to populations beyond Pennsylvania as cities look to prop up budgets. Leave it to California to be the first to jump on…
Media
Read More: Following Our Bad Example: The Tuition Tax Idea SpreadsRegulation
Taxpayers Fund Defense of Gaming Board Employees
As table game legislation inches towards final approval another reason to doubt the integrity and fiscal responsibility of the PA Gaming Control board has come to light. The Gaming Control…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Fund Defense of Gaming Board EmployeesTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part III
Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%. In this blog series, I will highlight some real facts about Pennsylvania’s PIT. Visit Who Pays the…
Media
Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part IIITaxes & Economy
PA Highway System Ranked 38th in Nation
Tony Phyrillas highlights Pennsylvania standings in the Reason Foundation’s 18th Annual Highway Report. PA ranks 38 among the most cost-effective state-owned highway systems. The top five include…
Media
Read More: PA Highway System Ranked 38th in NationTaxes & Economy
CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 Tolling
Today, Commonwealth Foundation president Matthew Brouillette sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania’s members of Congress expressing concerns over the proposed tolling of Interstate 80…
Media
Read More: CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 TollingHealth Care
States Push Back Against National Healthcare
With the health care debate still brewing on the floor of the US Senate, states are pushing back against the prospect of a government-run healthcare system. The American Legislative…
Media
Read More: States Push Back Against National HealthcareTaxes & Economy
Cap and Trade Creates Green Jobs, Destroys Others
It is true that if the government levies heavy taxes on carbon dioxide emissions and then provides grants, subsidies, and tax credits to renewable resource development, it will create more…
Media
Read More: Cap and Trade Creates Green Jobs, Destroys OthersHealth Care
The Forgotten Health Care Tax
The Tax Foundation highlights a disturbing trend among states – new taxes on health care providers. Significant taxes on health providers and hospital taxes are on the books in…
Media
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Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity
Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…
Commentary
Read More: Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s ProsperityState Budget
Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Health
In his budget mid-year briefing, Gov. Rendell cited, repeatedly, a Pew study on states’ fiscal outlook. While it is true that Pennsylvania is in better shape than states like…
Media
Read More: Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal HealthHealth Care
National Health Care Could Bankrupt Pennsylvania
The US Senate health care bill includes a mandate to increase the cut off level for Medicaid eligibility. This increased cut off for Medicaid will increase costs for Pennsylvania and…
Media
Read More: National Health Care Could Bankrupt PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Podcast: Rich States, Poor States
If you missed last week’s luncheon, you can down the latest podcast, in which Matt Brouillette talks with Jonathan Williams of the American Legislative Exchange Council about their report,…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Rich States, Poor StatesState Budget
Revisiting a Natural Gas Severance Tax
The state budget passed in October did not include a severance tax on natural gas. The tax would’ve impeded the development of…
Media
Read More: Revisiting a Natural Gas Severance TaxTaxes & Economy
We Don’t Need No Stinking Jobs
Don Boudreaux has an outstanding op-ed explaining the futility, and the misnomer, of “creating jobs” Jobs are not scarce. They never have been. They’re all around us. There…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need No Stinking Jobs