Prosperity
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Read More: New Year, New Taxes in PennsylvaniaHigh 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
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?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 Plan