High 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

Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage.  (HT to Carpe…

Media

Read More: Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

State Budget

Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 15, 2009

Yesterday, blogger for the Time Herald/State Senator Daylin Leach attacked ATR’s no-tax pledge and Sen. Orie for signing it a few years ago before voting to increase taxes…

Media

Read More: Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Corrections Spending

  • October 15, 2009

Facing a massive budget deficit, and with sizeable financial obligations looming, Pennsylvania needs to re-examine how taxpayer dollars are spent.  Spending on the Department of Corrections has grown far beyond…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections Spending

Taxes & Economy

New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 13, 2009

A new study on the impact of tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania by Grove City College economist Tracy Miller highlights several flaws in the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll…

Media

Read More: New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling Plan

Health Care

Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 12, 2009

A report by Dr. Sven Larson from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation examines policies to remove government barriers and restore competition to the market for individual…

Media

Read More: Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs

Taxes & Economy

Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax Revenues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 12, 2009

The Tax Foundation has a new report profiling the percentage of state and local government tax revenues by source for each state.  Here is how Pennsylvania compares (getting a…

Media

Read More: Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax Revenues

Taxes & Economy

Competition Emerges as PPL Completes Supply Auctions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 9, 2009

Yesterday, PPL completed it’s last auction to for power to serve customers after rate caps expire on January 1st 2010. PPL has been procuring power in phases since 2007 in…

Media

Read More: Competition Emerges as PPL Completes Supply Auctions

Health Care

My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2009

I just uploaded my video message to Congress on health care reform.  This is part of a project of the National Taxpayers Union, who is preparing DVDs…

Media

Read More: My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform

State Budget

100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • October 8, 2009

The budget impasse has been analogized and analyzed to death in the past couple months. It’s rich fodder for politico pundits and reporters. Some have compared it to a…

Media

Read More: 100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!

State Budget

PA Budget Deal Means Pledge-Breaking

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 8, 2009

Today GrassrootsPA features the five Pennsylvania lawmakers who signed, then violated, Americans For Tax Reform’s pledge to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to raise taxes“.

Media

Read More: PA Budget Deal Means Pledge-Breaking

State Budget

PA House Votes to De-fund ACORN

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2009

In addition to concurring with the tax hikes previously approved by the Senate, the Pennsylvania House voted earlier today 157-42 in favor of an amendment to HB 1407…

Media

Read More: PA House Votes to De-fund ACORN

Taxes & Economy

Dollar’s Dramatic Free Fall – Coming Soon!

  • October 7, 2009

The title might be too much to stomach for some, but such is the tone of Fred Kingery’s commentary, published by the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City…

Media

Read More: Dollar’s Dramatic Free Fall – Coming Soon!

State Budget

Realities of Severance Tax

  • October 6, 2009

On Friday, the Pennsylvania House passed a tax bill with numerous tax hikes (and a few cuts).

Media

Read More: Realities of Severance Tax

Regulation

Arnold Kling’s Diagnosis of the Financial Crisis

  • October 6, 2009

In his paper titled NOT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND: A History of Policies that Produced the Financial Crisis of 2008, Arnold Kling provides historical context and analysis to…

Media

Read More: Arnold Kling’s Diagnosis of the Financial Crisis

State Budget

The Best And Worst Ways To Eliminate A Budget Deficit

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 5, 2009

John Nothdurft of The Heartland Institute wrote this last February…  Anybody listening in Harrisburg? Legislatures in at least 39 states will have to take steps by the end of…

Media

Read More: The Best And Worst Ways To Eliminate A Budget Deficit

Health Care

NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project

  • October 5, 2009

The National Taxpayers Union has recently announced a new video project aimed at letting the American taxpayer have their say in the healthcare debate. Entitled the “Special Delivery Project”, NTU is encouraging Americans…

Media

Read More: NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project

State Budget

“Big Helicopter” and Big Hollywood

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2009

While debating their myriad of tax increases (which was eventually approved by the chamber), Pennsylvania House Democrats continued to demonize “Big…

Media

Read More: “Big Helicopter” and Big Hollywood

State Budget

What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2009

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House Rules Committee approved a “gut-and-replace” amendment to HB 1531 – which had previously been a bill to extend tax relief for military families – which…

Media

Read More: What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?

State Budget

October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax Hikes

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 1, 2009

I’ve just received word that Democrats are planning to rush a tax increase vote in the state House of Representatives tomorrow! Specifically, House Democrats are going to hold a vote on legislation…

Media

Read More: October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax Hikes