High 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

Small Businesses in the Pennsylvania Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2008

The Small Business Administration has published their latest profiles of small businesses in the US and each of the 50 states. Some of the data is a bid old…

Media

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Regulation

The Boscov’s Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2008

I am quoted in Brad Vasoli’s Evening Bulletin article on the Boscov’s Bailout (related stories in the Times-Tribune and the Citizen’s Voice). Let me expound upon my…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Latest on automakers bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2008

The Center for Fiscal Accountability has a letter opposing a bailout of automakers, joining NTU, which sent out their own letter. Alan Reynolds poses the question of…

Media

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Regulation

States Don’t Need a Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2008

Steven Malanga of the Manhattan Institute has an excellent editorial in the Wall Street Journal covering all the major topics of why states overspend – creating or…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Do you support limited government?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2008

Jay P. Greene explains why anyone who believes in limited government and free markets should support the Commonwealth Foundation. Not directly, of course, but his conclusion is that…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Don’t bail out out our state!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation has joined with 58 other groups (led by the NTU) sending a letter to Congress on why a bailout of state and local governments…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

No UAW Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2008

IBD Editorials writes that a bailout of the automakers is a misguided idea, aimed only at protecting their current union contracts (which are largely to blame for their…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2008

In a speech to the Manhattan Institute, President Bush defends the free market.  Let me parse what I consider to be the key paragraph: History has…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

New Power Lines Reduce Electricity Rates

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 17, 2008

The PUC recently approved a small portion (1.5 miles) of the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, Allegheny Energy is responsible for constructing 37.2 miles of the controversial 240 mile transmission line.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Trashing Friedman’s Economics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2008

Crain's Chicago Business speculates that “failure of the free market” and “deregulation” will harm the reputation of the University of Chicago's School of Economics and of any influenced by…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

RINO Season Is Now Open

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

Ted Nugent declares “RINOs” fair game in a poignant piece on Human Events There are really only four things I have a strong aversion to: unloaded guns,…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Which Obama Will Be President?

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

Will an Obama presidency bring a lurch to the political Left in America?  This is of great concern for those of us who believe that our prosperity and security do…

Commentary

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Health Care

Where will Obama go on health care?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

In our commentary today, Matt Brouillette and I argue that President Obama will pursue a somewhat tempered course – we will get the Obama of the general election campaign…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout execs get bonus billions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on how executives of firms getting money from the financial bailout are also getting large bonuses (more at Beyond Bailouts). Personally, I…

Media

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Health Care

Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2008

Cross-Posted at Capital Domes The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently looked at the looming budget shortfall and its potential impact on Medicaid spending. The legislature couldn’t simply…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Free markets are under attack again

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2008

Matt Welch has an excellent article on Reason Magazine on the financial bailout and the debate over the role of government and the free market: President George…

Media

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Health Care

Government Health Care Kills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2008

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is calling on the Pennsylvania Senate leadership to break their pledge not to hold a lame duck session. Among Rendell’s rhetorical arguments is that “nearly…

Media

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Health Care

Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance

  • November 11, 2008

Uninsured citizens fare better than government insured HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today illustrated the absurdity of Gov. Ed Rendell’s politically motivated claim that “two Pennsylvanians die each…

Press Release

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Government Accountability

Bailout Transparency Fading Fast

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 11, 2008

The Tribune-Review reports Bloomberg News has filed a FOIA and a federal lawsuit seeking to force the disclosure of recipients who received $2 trillion in emergency loans from…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2008

A mostly on-target piece in the Wall Street Journal explains why a blank check to the Detroit automakers won’t solve their problems: In return for any direct…

Media

Read More: Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout