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
States Don’t Need a Bailout
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
Read More: States Don’t Need a BailoutTaxes & Economy
Do you support limited government?
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
Read More: Do you support limited government?Taxes & Economy
Don’t bail out out our state!
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
Read More: Don’t bail out out our state!Taxes & Economy
No UAW Bailout
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
Read More: No UAW BailoutTaxes & Economy
Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)
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
Read More: Bush defends Free Market (and Big Government)Taxes & Economy
New Power Lines Reduce Electricity Rates
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
Read More: New Power Lines Reduce Electricity RatesTaxes & Economy
Trashing Friedman’s Economics
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
Read More: Trashing Friedman’s EconomicsTaxes & Economy
RINO Season Is Now Open
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
Read More: RINO Season Is Now OpenPublic Union Democracy
Which Obama Will Be President?
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
Read More: Which Obama Will Be President?Health Care
Where will Obama go on health care?
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
Read More: Where will Obama go on health care?Taxes & Economy
Bailout execs get bonus billions
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
Read More: Bailout execs get bonus billionsHealth Care
Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayer
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
Read More: Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayerTaxes & Economy
Free markets are under attack again
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
Read More: Free markets are under attack againHealth Care
Government Health Care Kills
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
Read More: Government Health Care KillsHealth Care
Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance
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
Read More: Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health InsuranceGovernment Accountability
Bailout Transparency Fading Fast
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
Read More: Bailout Transparency Fading FastTaxes & Economy
Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout
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 BailoutEducation
PA Charter School Laws 12th Strongest in the Nation
The Center for Education Reform ranks Pennsylvania 12th out of 41 states in their 2008 survey of America’s Charter Schools. In…
Media
Read More: PA Charter School Laws 12th Strongest in the NationState Budget
Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers
Dennis Owens of ABC 27 has a story that the latest Capitol Calendars (“courtesy” of your legislator) are now available. Owens recalled our breakdown of the cost of…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakersHealth Care
Taxes, Health Care, and GOP Strategists
Fox News has an article about the future of the GOP, and its search for rising starts. It is a pretty good piece, except for comments by Republican strategist…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Health Care, and GOP StrategistsPublic Union Democracy
Voters still like limited government, lower taxes
A poll from the Club For Growth surveyed voters in 12 competitive Congressional districts; eleven of the 12 switched hands from Republican to Democrat following Tuesday’s elections. The results…
Media
Read More: Voters still like limited government, lower taxes