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.
State Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today applauded the state Senate for passing a General Fund budget that counters Governor Rendell’s proposal to continue along the failed and unsustainable path…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate BudgetTaxes & Economy
Bailouts and the Press
History has a way of repeating itself and all these comparisons between today’s recession and the great depression are sometimes eerily similar. Economic conditions and the popularity of the internet…
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Read More: Bailouts and the PressTaxes & Economy
Obama’s New Business Tax Scheme
President Obama is set to unveil a plan to crack down on cabinet members corporations that, in his view, are avoiding paying their share in taxes. Basically the plan…
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Read More: Obama’s New Business Tax SchemeState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 Billion
Both the Pennsylvania House Democrats and Republicans are reporting an April General Fund revenue shortfall of $941.5 million. I am still waiting for the report from the Department of…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 BillionTaxes & Economy
Over $4 Million in PA Unemployment Fraud
WGAL has a story on reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry of over $4 million in fraud in unemployment compensation benefits. You can assume there is…
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Read More: Over $4 Million in PA Unemployment FraudState Budget
PA House Dems to Introduce Budget
Dwight Evans, chair of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee, is scheduled to introduce the 2009-10 budget legislation “using the Rendell budget proposal as the basis.” They are also estimating…
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Read More: PA House Dems to Introduce BudgetTaxes & Economy
Wrong Time for a Severance Tax
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) released a report this week advocating for a severance tax on natural resource extraction, such as the proposed tax by Governor Rendell…
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Read More: Wrong Time for a Severance TaxTaxes & Economy
How PA Should Use Its Stimulus Money
Lawmakers in Missouri announced they are foregoing pet projects in order to temporarily lower the state’s personal income tax from 6% to 5.5%. (HT NTU) Governor Rendell would be…
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Read More: How PA Should Use Its Stimulus MoneyTaxes & Economy
Amendment to Protect Taxpayers from Unfunded Mandates
Rep. Mike Peifer proposed a constitutional amendment to ban state legislation that imposes unfunded mandates on local governments. Since Governor Rendell has been lax at cutting wasteful spending…
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Read More: Amendment to Protect Taxpayers from Unfunded MandatesGovernment Accountability
New Video Contest Entries
There is one month remaining to submit videos in our Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest with $4,000 in prizes available. Upload videos to our YouTube Group here.
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Read More: New Video Contest EntriesTaxes & Economy
Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?
Last year the legislature passed Act 128, which forces utilities to force their customers to conserve electricity. Among the provisions is a mandate to install smart meters in every…
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Read More: Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?Public Union Democracy
Right-to-Work Works
Mark J. Perry queries, using the ALEC report Rich States, Poor States: “What feature do 15 out of the top 16 states for economic outlook have in…
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Read More: Right-to-Work WorksTaxes & Economy
Rendell’s Pants are on Fire
Governor Rendell, in comments made today about Sen. Specter, claimed that Specter is “being criticized by his party for voting for the stimulus … which is something every conservative economist…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Pants are on FireGovernment Accountability
Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?
Governor Rendell has declared that Pennsylvania no longer has a “crisis” in medical malpractice lawsuits, citing recent declines in the number of suits filed. Critics claimed that reform have…
Media
Read More: Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?Taxes & Economy
PA is 29th Best State for Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new ranking of the best state tax systems for small business. Pennsylvania ranks 29th (1 being the best). Click here…
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Read More: PA is 29th Best State for Small BusinessGovernment Accountability
Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA
Some coverage of our inaugural Live Free PA event featuring Ted Nugent. Lancaster Online: Open Season: Guitarist Ted Nugent rocks local crowd with riffs on gun control and…
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Read More: Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePATaxes & Economy
Should State Taxpayers Fund Television
Governor Rendell has proposed cutting funding for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (about $12 million) from the state budget for next year. This has obviously led those who receive taxpayer…
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Read More: Should State Taxpayers Fund TelevisionTaxes & Economy
Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – Failure
Story from CNN Money covers testimony from the special inspector overseeing the TARP program, i.e. the financial bailout (HT Brian Ellis): Barofsky said his top concern was…
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Read More: Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – FailureTaxes & Economy
Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee
Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…
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Read More: Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes CommitteeTaxes & Economy
Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”
President Obama has told his cabinet he want to them to cut $100 million from the federal budget to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. While $100 million is certainly a lot…
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Read More: Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”Taxes & Economy
School Board Transparency Recognized
Carlisle School Board member Fred Baldwin wins award for Commonwealth Foundation project promoting open school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA — Fred Baldwin, manager of the Commonwealth Foundation’s School Board…
Press Release
Read More: School Board Transparency Recognized