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.
Regulation
Corporate Welfare Goes Green
The solar industry, teamed with congress, is trying to get the Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act passed. This act creates a 30% tax credit for solar manufactures and makes…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare Goes GreenHealth Care
Notes on Health Care Reform
Two slightly important questions are being neglected regarding the Health Care Reform bills in Congress: their constitutionality and their morality. Are the bill just passed in the House and that…
Commentary
Read More: Notes on Health Care ReformTaxes & Economy
The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”
Many pundits, members of the media, and elected officials (or their spokesman), cite employment data showing “fewer jobs lost” in October (or in the case of the state, September)…
Media
Read More: The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”Government Accountability
Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue
The US House health care bill not only has little significant tort reform, it in fact limits states from enacting meaningful tort reform. This statement taken directly from the…
Media
Read More: Tort Reform – Keep It a State IssueTaxes & Economy
Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued an executive order to stop city officials from asking immigration status for the express purpose of boosting the city’s population in the Census,…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer FundsRegulation
PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with Renewables
Last month the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action plan. While touting the creation of “green jobs”, it did not advocate increasing PA’s…
Media
Read More: PA Should Heed Europe’s Experience with RenewablesGovernment Accountability
Break Up SEPTA
How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.
Commentary
Read More: Break Up SEPTARegulation
Gambling – The Savior to PA’s Fiscal Problems?
Any prudent individual would not plan on gambling winnings to become prosperous or even to get out of debt. But the state of Pennsylvania, turns to gambling to resolve all…
Media
Read More: Gambling – The Savior to PA’s Fiscal Problems?Health Care
Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured
Marty Feldstein has an editorial in the Washington Post detailing how the current health care reform proposals in Congress could actually increase the number of uninsured individuals. Namely, he…
Media
Read More: Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number UninsuredTaxes & Economy
More Proof that Government Spending Hurts the Economy
The Tax Foundation highlights a new NBER paper by Harvard economists, “Large Changes in Fiscal Policy: Taxes Versus Spending,” which analyzes the fiscal policies of OECD countries from…
Media
Read More: More Proof that Government Spending Hurts the EconomyTaxes & Economy
Alliance Still Fighting to Stop I-80 Tolling
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again – seems to be the motto of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as they seek once again to Toll I-80. The…
Media
Read More: Alliance Still Fighting to Stop I-80 TollingEnergy
End Rate Caps to Create Electric Choice and Competition
Concern about potential price hikes in the midst of a recession may motivate some lawmakers to push for legislation to halt or delay that expiration under the guise of consumer…
Commentary
Read More: End Rate Caps to Create Electric Choice and CompetitionTaxes & Economy
A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ Budget
The city of Harrisburg is hiring a consultant to give some tips to balance its budget, ABC 27 reports. Lancaster, PA hired the same firm a few years ago…
Media
Read More: A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ BudgetGovernment Accountability
Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story today that Pennsylvania business groups – especially in natural gas, tobacco, and gambling industries – spent a lot of money lobbying during the…
Media
Read More: Big Government Leads to Big LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Voters Reject Property Tax Hikes
With an already-weakened economy that has put Pennsylvania families on a tight budget, Monroe County taxpayers finally said “enough is enough!” when confronted with two referendums on Tuesday’s ballot calling…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Voters Reject Property Tax HikesTaxes & Economy
Testimony on Proposed Pennsylvania High-Speed MagLev
Testimony of Randal O’Toole On the Proposed Pennsylvania High-Speed MagLev Before the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee, November 6, 2009…
Testimony
Read More: Testimony on Proposed Pennsylvania High-Speed MagLevTaxes & Economy
V and American Politics
While attending a conference in North Carolina, and staying in the same room Yogi Berra did (though not on the same night), Joe Sterns and I caught the premier…
Media
Read More: V and American PoliticsHealth Care
Guide to Pelosi-Care
The Heritage Foundation has some resources on the latest health care bill being pushed by US House Democrats, including a summary of the legislation, and the full…
Media
Read More: Guide to Pelosi-CareTaxes & Economy
Lies, More Lies, and Statistics
On Oct 10, Pennsylvania released a preliminary report on received ARRA (i.e. “simulus”) funds. The study concluded that “$262,592,907.68 has been spent to date and 1,408 direct full-time equivalent…
Media
Read More: Lies, More Lies, and StatisticsRegulation
PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing Industry
The Pennsylvania Legislature’s willingness to succumb to special interests has been well documented by the Commonwealth Foundation, but the amount of attention given to the horse racing industry is…
Media
Read More: PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing IndustryRegulation
Rendell Teaches Obama How to Create Phony Jobs
A report released on Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services shows 7,400 jobs have been either created or retained(Capitolwire Subscription) in Pennsylvania using federal stimulus dollars. Jim…
Media
Read More: Rendell Teaches Obama How to Create Phony Jobs