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.
Regulation
Do we need to subsidize our 22nd largest industry?
A news story on Philly.com covers some Republican lawmakers complaints that Governor Rendell budget cuts are too steep, at least in regard to agriculture subsidies (HT Grassroots PA). …
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Read More: Do we need to subsidize our 22nd largest industry?Taxes & Economy
Bushels of Bibles for Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Mario Cattabiani has a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the cost of new Bibles (and other holy books) for lawmakers to be sworn in on – $13,700.
Media
Read More: Bushels of Bibles for Pennsylvania LawmakersTaxes & Economy
Federal stimulus is a trap for states
The Wall Street Journal today looks at governors considering rejecting the federal stimulus dollars, as it will increase the cost to states. For example, the stimulus expands Medicaid subsidies,…
Media
Read More: Federal stimulus is a trap for statesEducation
Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis
The American Legislative Exchange Council has released their annual Report Card on American Education. The report is filled with education data – spending, inputs, academic performance – with a…
Media
Read More: Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State AnalysisTaxes & Economy
Rendell admits “stimulus” may not stimulate
Governor Rendell has acknowledged that he’s not sure the stimulus legislation just passed will actually help the economy (HT PA Watercooler). On the one hand, I’ll like to…
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Read More: Rendell admits “stimulus” may not stimulateTaxes & Economy
Policies that Produce Real Growth
Dan Mitchell has another educational video produced by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. He uses the Fraser Institute Economic Freedom of the World (Heritage has a…
Media
Read More: Policies that Produce Real GrowthTaxes & Economy
Roots of the Crisis
FreedomWorks has a great looking redesign of their website. They also have a new feature article on the “roots of the financial crisis“, which is full…
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Read More: Roots of the CrisisTaxes & Economy
Cutting Governor’s Schools of Excellence is a “Washington Monument Ploy”
The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is an ongoing gag to connect any person to actor Kevin Bacon in under six moves. If news stories count, I am tied…
Media
Read More: Cutting Governor’s Schools of Excellence is a “Washington Monument Ploy”Taxes & Economy
Is tolling I-80 dead?
Some of the Turnpike Commissioners think that tolling I-80 across PA remains a strong possibility, and that the federal government did not “reject” the tolling plan. See the…
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Read More: Is tolling I-80 dead?Taxes & Economy
Rendell should reject the federal “stimulus” money
I know it will never happen — just like asking him to pass on a greasy cheese steak sub — but Gov. Rendell should reject the…
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Read More: Rendell should reject the federal “stimulus” moneyRegulation
Rendell administration: Commonwealth Foundation is right about government spending
A Capitolwire (subscription) headline reads “DCED acting secretary says little state can do to create jobs,” after a hearing in which Secretary Cornelius notes that “economic development” programs have…
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Read More: Rendell administration: Commonwealth Foundation is right about government spendingState Budget
What do Economists Agree On?
Greg Mankiw posts a selection from his textbook on what economists agree on, from a survey. I am not suprised to see economists overwhelmingly support free trade, as that…
Media
Read More: What do Economists Agree On?Regulation
Update on the Boscov’s Bailout
John Micek has a summary of the new PA DCED secretary’s explanation of the Boscov’s bailout, during a hearing today. Secretary Cornelius noted that bailouts encourage companies to start…
Media
Read More: Update on the Boscov’s BailoutGovernment Accountability
Pay to Play Culture in Harrisburg
ABC 27 has a story/video highlighting the “pay-to-play” cronyism in Harrisburg, specifically the $11 million in outside legal fees (despite hundreds of lawyers on staff) going to Ballard Spahr…
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Read More: Pay to Play Culture in HarrisburgTaxes & Economy
New Study of Business Tax Burdens
The Council on State Taxation has released a new study on state and local business taxes. It is a good primer on what taxes business pay (for instance, I…
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Read More: New Study of Business Tax BurdensTaxes & Economy
A tax code even a congressman can understand
Andrew Moylan editorializes that simplifying the federal tax code would provide an economic “stimulus.” Individual taxpayers spend more than 3.5 billion hours complying with the code. That …
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Read More: A tax code even a congressman can understandHealth Care
Health Care Policies and Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new report ranking states in terms of their health care policy, as it pertains to small business. Pennsylvania gets a fairly…
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Read More: Health Care Policies and Small BusinessHealth Care
Health Care Policies and Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new report ranking states in terms of their health care policy, as it pertains to small business. Pennsylvania gets a fairly…
Media
Read More: Health Care Policies and Small BusinessTaxes & Economy
Feulner blast stimulus process
Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner has a scathing open letter to Congress on the stimulus bill: In addition to being the single most expensive bill ever proposed,…
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Read More: Feulner blast stimulus processTaxes & Economy
The Burden of PA Business Taxes
The Tribune Review has a story featuring Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge discussing Pennsylvania’s business tax climate at an appearance in Pittsburgh: The state needs…
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Read More: The Burden of PA Business TaxesGovernment Accountability
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…
Report
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