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
Legislating Prices for Legal Ads
What do you do when something costs too much? You don’t buy it. Or if you’re the state, you simply mandate a new lower price. The State House…
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Read More: Legislating Prices for Legal AdsTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?
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…
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Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?Taxes & Economy
Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal
Britain’s Climate Research Unit verified hackers confiscated email correspondence between top climatologists, putting Penn State’s director of Earth System Science Center, Michael E. Mann, directly in the middle of…
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Read More: Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology ScandalHealth Care
US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill
The Association of Physician and Surgeons has a one-page handout on some number and facts about the latest Senate health care bill.
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Read More: US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”
Much mockery has been made of the reported “jobs created or saved” by the stimulus package – from jobs created in Congressional districts that don’t exist to the…
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Read More: Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”Health Care
Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and Economics
My prepared remarks to the “Million Med March” in Harrisburg Thank you. Good afternoon. Thanks for everyone here for coming out – I know none of us really want to…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
State Tax Trends
ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…
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Read More: State Tax TrendsGovernment Accountability
What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?
Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…
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Read More: What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?Taxes & Economy
New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks Credibility
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s ill-advised attempts to toll I-80 continues; yesterday, Brian Chase, an independent consultant, spoke to the House Republican Policy Committee (PLS Subscription) about the validity…
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Read More: New I-80 Tolling Study Lacks CredibilityHealth Care
Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill
Yesterday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth a new, 2,074 page health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the next few days.
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Read More: Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Electric Choice is Gaining Steam
With the expiration of rate caps in 2010 I've been tracking the entrance of new residential suppliers in the central PA electricity market. These days it's rare to see actual…
Media
Read More: Electric Choice is Gaining SteamTaxes & Economy
Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?
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…
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Read More: Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?Energy
Alternative Energy Mandates
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 MandatesGovernment Accountability
The Illusion of Shrinking State Government
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,…
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Read More: The Illusion of Shrinking State GovernmentTaxes & Economy
Government Authors More “Jobs Created” Fiction
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…
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Read More: Government Authors More “Jobs Created” FictionTaxes & Economy
Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment
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…
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Read More: Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased UnemploymentTaxes & Economy
Climate Change in Pennsylvania
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…
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PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative Directives
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…
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Read More: PA Climate Change Action Plan Violates Legislative DirectivesHealth Care
Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate
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…
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Read More: Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care DebateCriminal Justice Reform
Prison Overcrowding Solutions
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 SolutionsHealth Care
The Real Fiscal Cost of Health Care “Reform”
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a new video out on the red-ink train wreck of government-run healthcare.
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