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.
Health Care
The Trouble with Canadian Healthcare
Brett Skinner has an article in The American magazine on why “a single-payer system is probably the least effective way to achieve universal health insurance coverage.”…
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Read More: The Trouble with Canadian HealthcareRegulation
Cigarette Taxes Encourage Smuggling
A new report from the Mackinac Center (full 99 page report here) estimates the effect of cigarette taxes on smuggling of cigarettes (both “commercial” and “casual” – i.e.
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Read More: Cigarette Taxes Encourage SmugglingTaxes & Economy
Deficit spending, taxes, and economic stimulus
The latest Heritage Foundation WebMemo looks takes on the idea that “deficit spending” is a good stimulus for the economy, given the upcoming federal deficit is going to the…
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Read More: Deficit spending, taxes, and economic stimulusTaxes & Economy
Governors Against State Bailouts
While Governor Rendell and others state executives are asking for taxpayers to bail them out (see related article in The Bulletin) but want to pass the buck…
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Read More: Governors Against State BailoutsState Budget
Spend Like It’s 2007
Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall grows to $658 million HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today renewed its call for restrained state government spending in the wake of a growing revenue…
Press Release
Read More: Spend Like It’s 2007Taxes & Economy
Is Greenspan to blame for the financial crisis?
Over at the Cato Institute, there seems to be some disagreement over to what extent Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve contributed to the present financial “crisis”. Some…
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Read More: Is Greenspan to blame for the financial crisis?Taxes & Economy
The Bailout Explained in Two Minutes
If you’re having trouble understanding all the bailouts in Washington, then watch this two-minute YouTube video clip and you’ll learn everything you need to know… 🙂…
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Read More: The Bailout Explained in Two MinutesTaxes & Economy
Stimulus Follies
OpenMarket.org has a good post on the failure of “stimulus” packages (i.e. government spending) to improve the overall economy.
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Read More: Stimulus FolliesTaxes & Economy
County Commissioner: “Listen to the Commonwealth Foundation”
“The governor and legislators should seriously consider the reports from the Commonwealth Foundation which provided information on how Harrisburg could address the state’s financial situation” That quote comes from Fayette…
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Read More: County Commissioner: “Listen to the Commonwealth Foundation”Taxes & Economy
What happened to the Great Depression II?
Carpe Diem points out that holiday retail sales were up over the weekend from last year. Yet the CNN Money article with the same chart contains more of…
Media
Read More: What happened to the Great Depression II?Regulation
Spreading wealth to Hollywood
Cross Posted at Capitol Domes Giving handouts to Hollywood has become an en vogue method for state governments to stimulate economic growth. According to the Heartland…
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Read More: Spreading wealth to HollywoodRegulation
The Corporate Welfare Mentality
Team 4 Pittsburgh has a well-done, but disturbing, story and video on why government bureaucrats hand out “economic development” grants to companies. Usually, government officials claim that taxpayer “investments”…
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Read More: The Corporate Welfare MentalityTaxes & Economy
Bailouts cost more than WWII, 10 times cost of New Deal
A friend passed along this blog post looking at the cost of recent bailouts compared to the inflation-adjusted cost of other major government expenditures: If we add in…
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Read More: Bailouts cost more than WWII, 10 times cost of New DealTaxes & Economy
Why Permanent Tax Cuts Are the Best Stimulus
John B. Taylor has an article in today’s Wall Street Journal concluding that – and this will shock Governor Rendell and the state treasurer – government spending is…
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Read More: Why Permanent Tax Cuts Are the Best StimulusRegulation
Why government spending is no economic stimulus
In my commentary today, I tackle the idea of “economic development” spending as a stimulus for economic growth, and contrast that with lower taxes. More detailed analysis of…
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Read More: Why government spending is no economic stimulusTaxes & Economy
Don’t know much about history? (or economics)?
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute released their latest report on Americans’ civic literacy (HT to Center for College Affordability). The results are not good. Click here to take…
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Read More: Don’t know much about history? (or economics)?Government Accountability
Cut Legislature First
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorializes that the first item to be cut from the budget should be the legislature’s budget, noting this is the source of funding for bonuses, no-work…
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Read More: Cut Legislature FirstRegulation
Government Can’t Cure Our Economic Woes
Pennsylvania is facing a deep shortfall in revenue which, through October, stands at $565 million. Putting this in perspective, the shortfall in 2002-03—which led to increases in the state…
Commentary
Read More: Government Can’t Cure Our Economic WoesTaxes & Economy
Small Businesses in the Pennsylvania Economy
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…
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Read More: Small Businesses in the Pennsylvania EconomyRegulation
The Boscov’s Bailout
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…
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Read More: The Boscov’s BailoutTaxes & Economy
Latest on automakers bailout
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
Read More: Latest on automakers bailout