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
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 JobsRegulation
Legislators Wambling with PA Table Games
After reportedly taking “WAMs” out of the state budget, it appears Pennsylvania lawmakers are may create a new pot of funds for WAMs in the table games bill – i.e.
Media
Read More: Legislators Wambling with PA Table GamesState Budget
Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0
The Wall Street Journal has a good discussion of yet another stimulus – correctly identify it as Stimulus III (noting both the $787 billion stimulus from earlier this year,…
Media
Read More: Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0Government Accountability
Pennsylvania House Passes Spending Transparency
The Pennsylvania House today passed HB 1880, by a unanimous vote. The bill would create an online, searchable database of all state spending. We are told Gov. Rendell sent…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania House Passes Spending TransparencyRegulation
Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania
Between 2000 and 2008, Pennsylvania suffered the depletion of one of its most valuable resources - people. During this period, the state lost 56,000 net residents, according to U.S. Census…
Commentary
Read More: Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part II
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? Part IIEducation
Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) Heat
Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s call for a legislative inquiry into use of tax dollars to stifle, rather than foster, scientific inquiry in the case of Penn State professor Michael…
Media
Read More: Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) HeatTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents Out
The Tax Foundation has a new Fiscal Fact on Pennsylvania’s tax system and its impact on inter-state migration. After profiling Pennsylvania’s tax climate (hint: it is…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents OutGovernment 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 Givewaways