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.
Health Care
Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care Bill
Attorneys General from 13 states, including Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett, have threatened a lawsuit over pending health care legislation. (HT Tony…
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The Success of Electricity Deregulation in Texas
Here are some recent numbers, from our friends at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, illustrating the success of electricity deregulation. Since 2007 Texas’ electricity market has been fully deregulated…
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Cynics on Why to Support the Health Care Bill
Quiet Declarations has a good blog post on why to support the Senate health care bill, basically outlining three rationales. One, if you want to pass any bill to…
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Read More: Cynics on Why to Support the Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Major Victory for Electricity Generators on Mercury Rule
Last Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a decision made earlier this year by a Pennsylvania Court Judge who decided the Department of Environmental Protection’s attempt to regulate statewide…
Media
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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…
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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
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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