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
Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea Party
The Tribune Review reports that several thousand protesters showed up to the Pittsburgh Tea Party held today (HT GrassrootsPA). Instapundit has more, including a picture…
Media
Read More: Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea PartyTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)
The AP is reporting that a natural gas firm, previously agreeing to pay $31 million for a lease of lands in the Marcellus Shale formation, has backed out of…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)Taxes & Economy
PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional Grades
The National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) has released their annual report card for Congress for 2008, giving a record number of members the ignominious title “Big Spender”, including 12 members…
Media
Read More: PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional GradesTaxes & Economy
Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?
“‘We tried that, and it didn’t work,’ Obama and his partisans sneer in response to arguments that tax cuts are the key to restoring economic growth.” But as Peter…
Media
Read More: Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?Taxes & Economy
Video: Understanding The Financial Crisis
Great (and frightening) video from Stop Spending Our Future on the costs of “fixing” the financial crisis.
Media
Read More: Video: Understanding The Financial CrisisTaxes & Economy
Philadelphia Tries to Stop Tea Party
UPDATE: Victory ‘Thanks for everyone’s help in putting pressure on the city of Philadelphia! The problem has been resolved. They tea party is only required to pay for…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Tries to Stop Tea PartyTaxes & Economy
Big Business Still Loves Big Government
HT to Joe Collins for pointing me to Timothy Carney’s article in the Washington Examiner. Despite the oft-repeated rhetoric that free market advocates are the puppets of big…
Media
Read More: Big Business Still Loves Big GovernmentRegulation
Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 Million
A new report from the Tax Foundation looks at the cost of the recent federal tax hike on cigarettes, an increase of 39 cents to $1.01 per pack, state…
Media
Read More: Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 MillionTaxes & Economy
The Sunspot Recession Crisis
According to NASA, we are in the midst of the greatest sunspot recession since 1913. Analysts believed the sunspot recession had hit bottom in 2008, but activity has continued…
Media
Read More: The Sunspot Recession CrisisEnergy
Electricity Deregulation: A Successful Transition
Most Pennsylvania residents will soon see significant increases in their electricity bills. Many state lawmakers are concerned about the political backlash they will receive as a result. But it is…
Commentary
Read More: Electricity Deregulation: A Successful TransitionTaxes & Economy
Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea Parties
The Pittsburgh Tribune review has a story on Tea Parties going on in Pennsylvania, and specifically in Pittsburgh, which has upcoming events with Alan Keyes and Glen Meakem speaking. …
Media
Read More: Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea PartiesRegulation
A Tale of Three Cities: Pennsylvania’s Retiree and Medical Liability Challenges
Pennsylvania maintains over 3,000 public pension plans at the state, city and municipal levels, the most of any state and approximately 25% of all such plans in America. Over 2,200…
Fact Sheet
Read More: A Tale of Three Cities: Pennsylvania’s Retiree and Medical Liability ChallengesTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | April 2009
Update on Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the March revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.61 billion short…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | April 2009Taxes & Economy
Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline Extended
The deadline for the Please No More Taxes Video Contest has been extended to June 1st! Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please…
Media
Read More: Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline ExtendedTaxes & Economy
FASB Eases “Mark to Market”
The Federal Accounting Standards Board voted to ease “mark to market” accounting rules, which forced financial firms to markdown the value of their assets. This is pretty wonkish, but…
Media
Read More: FASB Eases “Mark to Market”Taxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14
The Tax Foundation has released the latest report on Tax Freedom Day (get the Full Report in PDF). This year Tax Freedom Day will occur on April 13…
Media
Read More: Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14Taxes & Economy
A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollars
John Baer has a pop quiz on Pennsylvania’s recent government spending. How much do you know about taxpayer-funded bonuses to legislative staffers, legal fees to defend those bonuses, international…
Media
Read More: A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollarsTaxes & Economy
PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too Early
Governor Rendell has a great April Fool’s gag, announcing a Pennsylvania “Stimulus Czar” (like anyone would think that’s a real job) that pays $120,000 per year for part-time work.
Media
Read More: PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too EarlyState Budget
Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections
Following an Open Records request, the PA Office of the Budget provided us the their latest projections for General Fund revenue collections. The number for media, lawmakers, and policy nerds…
Media
Read More: Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall ProjectionsGovernment Accountability
Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Board
John Micek has the list of appointees (sans the GOP caucus appointments) to Gov. Rendell’s Stimulus Oversight Commission. Unfortunately, the panel includes no representation by taxpayers, with the exception…
Media
Read More: Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight BoardTaxes & Economy
Rich State, Poor State
ALEC has released the 2nd edition of their Economic Competitiveness Index – Rich States, Poor States – which looks at which policies drive economic growth among states, and which…
Media
Read More: Rich State, Poor State