State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh 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
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 1791Education
PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support
Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in SupportHealth Care
Obama’s Health Care Quackery
Shikha Dalmia has a piece on Reason.com discussing the falacy that “universal health care.” The Obama plan would in fact, move the US closer to European countries, Canada, and…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care QuackeryState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell
Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under RendellRegulation
What Cap and Trade Will Cost
A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that proposed “Cap and Trade” legislation will cost the average American family $3,900 per year. The chart to the left compares the cost…
Media
Read More: What Cap and Trade Will CostHealth Care
Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada
John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care. The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…
Media
Read More: Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v CanadaTaxes & Economy
Remembering 9/11 Through Coercion
Cato has a post on eminent domain abuse in rural Pennsylvania and the flight 93 9/11 memorial. The contention centers on 7 owners and their 500 acres of the…
Media
Read More: Remembering 9/11 Through CoercionTaxes & Economy
What Are They Drinking in DC?
Ok, this is getting pathetic. I was going to ridicule Obama’s proposal to cut $17 billion from the federal budget, just as I ridiculed his previous proposal to cut…
Media
Read More: What Are They Drinking in DC?Regulation
Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?
Some early criticism coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate budget is that cuts to the Department of Agriculture will result in less farming and possibly event mass…
Media
Read More: Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?Regulation
Pennsylvania’s Path to Prosperity
In any economic crisis, politicians scramble to “do something” to show voters they’re “on the job.” Ironically, the greatest threat to our recovery is not government’s inaction, but rather its…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Path to ProsperityTaxes & Economy
Specter on Curing Cancer
The Wall Street Journal takes Sen. Arlen Specter to task for claiming Jack Kemp would still be alive if only taxpayers spent more on cancer research. Not only for…
Media
Read More: Specter on Curing CancerRegulation
Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices Down
Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on Allegheny Power buying additional electric power cheaply on the wholesale market, while…
Media
Read More: Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices DownTaxes & Economy
PA Senate Budget by the Numbers
Jake Corman, PA Senate Appropriations Chairman, has introduced the Senate Republicans version of the state budget (SB 850). The $27.3 billion General Fund budget represents a $1.7 billion reduction…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Budget by the NumbersTaxes & Economy
Industry Leaders Fact Check Misleading Severance Tax Report
Last week, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) released a report advocating for a severance tax on natural gas and other extracted natural resources. In response, three of the…
Media
Read More: Industry Leaders Fact Check Misleading Severance Tax ReportState 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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
Read More: Wrong Time for a Severance Tax