Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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.
Education
Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Spending Increases by DepartmentTaxes & Economy
Are Higher Taxes a “Centrist” Position?
Sharon Ward of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) writes to the Tribune Review complaining about being a labeled “liberal” or “far left”. To be fair to Ward,…
Media
Read More: Are Higher Taxes a “Centrist” Position?Government Accountability
More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher Taxes
The Rendell administration is going on another taxpayer funded bus trip across the state for higher spending (and the higher taxes need to pay for them). The target this…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying for Higher TaxesState Budget
PA House Democrat Pushing for Higher Taxes
Pennsylvania House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans is again trumpeting the calls for a higher state income taxes in the Tribune Review. Despite billions in federal dollars flowing into…
Media
Read More: PA House Democrat Pushing for Higher TaxesTaxes & Economy
What Will Higher Business Taxes Get You?
Bloomberg, via the Club for Growth, has a troubling lesson for those who want to hike business taxes. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that if Obama’s new corporate…
Media
Read More: What Will Higher Business Taxes Get You?Public Union Democracy
Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
The Manufacturer & Business Association sent an action alert yesterday on Sen. Brubaker’s proposal to place a three-year moratorium on Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage requirement (SB 695). Click…
Media
Read More: Action Alert on Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawRegulation
New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores Economics
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issued a report on the state’s film tax credit, concluding that the $75 million program generates over $500 million in economic activity…
Media
Read More: New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores EconomicsTaxes & Economy
Proposed Power Authority Would Manipulate the Market
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee last week held a hearing to discuss legislation proposed in 2008 to create a Pennsylvania Power Authority to oversee the state’s electricity…
Media
Read More: Proposed Power Authority Would Manipulate the MarketTaxes & Economy
Increasing Personal Income Tax Will Increase Volatility (Draft)
The Wall Street Journal ran an article today on the widespread state budget deficits and how this problem will not only persist but worsen in coming years.
Media
Read More: Increasing Personal Income Tax Will Increase Volatility (Draft)Taxes & Economy
Rendell Budget 2.0
In remarks yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced that he will cut at least $400 million from his earlier spending plan. He then went on to berate himself for being…
Media
Read More: Rendell Budget 2.0Taxes & Economy
Threat of State Park Closures “Ridiculous”
According to state Senator Mary Jo White, Gov. Rendell ordered every department secretary to issue press releases, blasting the Senate’s proposed budget and the “meanâ€? cuts that would ensue.
Media
Read More: Threat of State Park Closures “Ridiculous”Health Care
Still Looking for Free Market Health Care Proposals
Ryan Ellis has a good post over on RedState on the Congressional Republican health care plan (see previous post here) and offering much more serious proposal for transforming…
Media
Read More: Still Looking for Free Market Health Care ProposalsTaxes & Economy
Budget deficit was predicted, and ignored.
This was our blog post from July 04, 2008…yes, Independence Day, but also the day Gov. Ed Rendell signed the 2008-09 budget despite clear evidence that it was unrealistic in…
Media
Read More: Budget deficit was predicted, and ignored.Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 Billion
The latest report from the PA Department of Revenue, through the end of May, indicate that Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue shortfall has now reached $2.8 billion for the fiscal…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 BillionTaxes & Economy
June 9th Taxpayers’ Protest
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is helping to coordinate a “Taxpayer’s Protest” on June 9 in Harrisburg. All taxpayers are encouraged to come down to the state…
Media
Read More: June 9th Taxpayers’ ProtestTaxes & Economy
Government Intervention Prolongs Recessions
Recessions are a tough time for all—many lose their jobs, family incomes shrink, and budgets are squeezed. But recessions are natural and, in the long-run, foster a stronger economy. It…
Commentary
Read More: Government Intervention Prolongs RecessionsRegulation
Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?
Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…
Media
Read More: Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?Taxes & Economy
Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?
With the federal government taking control over Chrysler and GM, ill-conceived ideas are sure to ensue. The planned restructuring of GM (soon be renamed Government Motors?) is one…
Media
Read More: Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80
Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette has a story on how some Pennsylvania lawmakers, who hail from nowhere near the I-80 corridor, want the Turnpike Commission to reapply to toll…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80Health Care
Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?
Congressional Republicans unveiled an alternative health care reform proposal last week. Grace Marie Turner and Joseph Antos offer a glowing review of the plan. John Goodman offers a…
Media
Read More: Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?Taxes & Economy
Lose-Lose on Biofuels?
The American Magazine features an update on misguided ethanol and biofuel mandates, from a recent EPA report: While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis suggests that the switch…
Media
Read More: Lose-Lose on Biofuels?