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.
Taxes & Economy
Department of Defense Saves Money with Electricity Deregulation
Last month, the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) signed a five-year deal with the Hess Corporation to supply electricity for its 21 agencies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Media
Read More: Department of Defense Saves Money with Electricity DeregulationTaxes & Economy
“Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help Pennsylvania
The Wall Street Journal has an article today on how Maryland’s higher taxes on “the rich” drove millionaires to move to other states. Last week, the NY Post had…
Media
Read More: “Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help PennsylvaniaState Budget
Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?
The Tribune Review has an article today noting that Pennsylvania is one of few states, and the only one of our neighbors, that doesn’t have a speed limit greater…
Media
Read More: Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?Government Accountability
Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it Illegal
A new study finds that 25% of individuals admit they send text messages while driving. Astonishingly, however, 83% want to make it illegal to do so. I am…
Media
Read More: Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it IllegalGovernment Accountability
Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism
The discussion between Jerry Taylor, Dan Mitchell, and Brink Lindsey on the Cato Institute blog (and NRO’s Corner) on Rush Limbaugh, tea parties, and conservative thought have been…
Media
Read More: Conservative Intellectualism vs. PopulismTaxes & Economy
Louisiana Adds 33,000 Natural Gas Jobs
Through increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the desire for a new severance tax, Governor Rendell has undermined Pennsylvania’s budding natural gas industry. Drilling companies are beginning to leave Pennsylvania due…
Media
Read More: Louisiana Adds 33,000 Natural Gas JobsRegulation
Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal Restraint
Testimony of Mathew J. Brouillette President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation, to the PA House Appropriations Committee Thank you for the invitation to share the Commonwealth Foundation’s analysis and perspective on…
Testimony
Read More: Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal RestraintState Budget
Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?
The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings on the vesion of the state budget passed by the Senate (see here for more on that) today and tomorrow. Yet…
Media
Read More: Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?State Budget
Pennsylvania Budget in Focus
The Commonwealth Foundation will be testifying on the state budget today. Here are some quick facts on the budget: PA Senate Budget by the Numbers Pennsylvania Deficit…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget in FocusRegulation
The Horrors of Private Sponsorship?
NBC Philadelphia reported that due to proposed budget cuts, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission may be forced to turn to private sponsorship in order to maintain such historic…
Media
Read More: The Horrors of Private Sponsorship?Taxes & Economy
Why Government Can’t Run a Business
John Steele Gordon has a good op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on why government attempts to run a business always fall short – whether that be health care,…
Media
Read More: Why Government Can’t Run a BusinessTaxes & Economy
Who Watches the Watchmen?
From Plato’s Republic to…well…The Watchmen (2009), the question of “Who watches the watchmen?” has remained unanswered. This problem continues with the government’s stimulus plan with its…
Media
Read More: Who Watches the Watchmen?Health Care
Obama’s Health Care Plan
A good article in The American on health care costs, The initial tax hikes on the quarter-million-dollar club are projected to raise $318 billion over ten…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care PlanRegulation
The Case for Privatizing State Parks
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced they would have to close at least 35 state-controlled parks due under the proposed Senate budget plan. According…
Media
Read More: The Case for Privatizing State ParksTaxes & Economy
Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?
The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…
Media
Read More: Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?State Budget
Video: “Driving” Federal Debt
Here is a great video explaining the growth in federal debt in an easy to understand metaphor – i.e. how fast presidents are driving. George W. Bush “drove” faster…
Media
Read More: Video: “Driving” Federal DebtTaxes & Economy
High Costs of State Regulated Electricity
Like many states, Montana experimented with restructured electricity markets. However, at the bidding of Public Service Commissioner Ken Toole, the state re-regulated the industry. Now, the Commission is expected to…
Media
Read More: High Costs of State Regulated ElectricityTaxes & Economy
PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade
The Vice Chairman and two other Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission sent a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation in opposition to proposed cap and trade legislation. …
Media
Read More: PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and TradeState Budget
Taxing An Infant Industry to Death
Home to the first oil well in the United States, Pennsylvania has returned to the drilling scene in recent years, looking to tap into an estimated 50 trillion cubic feet…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing An Infant Industry to DeathTaxes & Economy
Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”
Robert Samuelson has an outstanding piece in the Washington Post, exposing many of the myths exposed by Obama’s plan to crack down on “corporate loopholes”.
Media
Read More: Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”Taxes & Economy
U.S. Government: Forcing Behavioral Changes through Excise Taxes Since 1791
Even though President Obama previously promised not to raise taxes on the majority of Americans, he supported the federal tax hike on cigarettes, and now, the Senate is pushing…
Media
Read More: U.S. Government: Forcing Behavioral Changes through Excise Taxes Since 1791