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.
Taxes & Economy
The Case for Corporate Tax Cuts
The NCPA has a short primer on why the US (and Pennsylvania) should cut corporate tax rates. The US has the 2nd highest (to Japan) combined corporate tax rate. …
Media
Read More: The Case for Corporate Tax CutsGovernment Accountability
Buckeye Institute files Rico suit against ACORN
Our sister think tank in Ohio has filed a RICO suit (i.e. for organized crime) against ACORN for voter fraud. The full complaint is here. Since stories…
Media
Read More: Buckeye Institute files Rico suit against ACORNTaxes & Economy
Business Owners: Economy and elected officials are bad, drilling and nuclear power needed
The Lincoln Institute has release their Fall 2008 Keystone Business Climate Survey covering a range of business and political issues. Some of the more interesting findings: Almost…
Media
Read More: Business Owners: Economy and elected officials are bad, drilling and nuclear power neededHealth Care
Where will Canadians go for health care?
A Canadian commented on a previous post that – even though he had to come to the US to receive health care – the Canadian system is better because…
Media
Read More: Where will Canadians go for health care?Taxes & Economy
Make the bailout “investments” voluntary
Letter I sent to the President and my representatives in Congress: The recent bailout plan approved by Congress authorized the Dept. of the Treasury to purchase mortgages securities at above-market…
Media
Read More: Make the bailout “investments” voluntaryState Budget
Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)
Recently, state Senators Gibson Armstrong (R, Lancaster) and Vince Fumo (D, Philadelphia) sounded the alarm that Pennsylvania will be facing a massive budget deficit by the end of the…
Commentary
Read More: Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)Health Care
Is choosing your health care plan dangerous?
Michael Cannon’s latest commentary on health care reform is a must read: What I saw next was even scarier: The presidential debate, where Barack Obama told me how…
Media
Read More: Is choosing your health care plan dangerous?Taxes & Economy
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must go
Good article in the Christian Science Monitor on the need to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Heritage Foundation blog also discusses how Fannie Mae and Freddie…
Media
Read More: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must goTaxes & Economy
Re-regulating Electricity
The Tribune-Review has an article breaking down the latest energy bill (HB2200). The bill seeks to regulate the “deregulation” process by: Mandating the installation of smart meters over a…
Media
Read More: Re-regulating ElectricityRegulation
Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and Parking
There are several stories on privatization in the news lately on a number of fronts. First up is in the real value of toll roads – which should be read…
Media
Read More: Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and ParkingTaxes & Economy
Rate Mitigation Debate Far From Over
In the past few weeks legislators have been negotiating to mitigate future electricity rate increases once rate caps expire. Here’s the details: The Governor and assembly leaders…
Media
Read More: Rate Mitigation Debate Far From OverPublic Union Democracy
Talking Teacher Strikes and the Bailout
Audio from yesterday’s Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio show hosted by Matt Brouillette is available for download. For individual segments: Matt talks with Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes…
Media
Read More: Talking Teacher Strikes and the BailoutHealth Care
Debate Watching Tips
While the talking heads may analyze how many points McCain and Obama score with witty jabs, there might also be some policy issues discussed in tonight’s presidential debate. Check…
Media
Read More: Debate Watching TipsTaxes & Economy
“Deregulation” and a “Great Depression”
While you listen to Matt Brouillette ( to chat with Matt and listeners on TalkShoe click here) discuss the bailout and the causes of the financial “crisis”, here…
Media
Read More: “Deregulation” and a “Great Depression”Taxes & Economy
Throwing more gasoline on the economic fire
Just in case you missed it yesterday, the Patriot-News ran Matt Brouillette’s commentary on the federal bailout under the headline “Throwing more gasoline on the economic fire” If you…
Media
Read More: Throwing more gasoline on the economic fireTaxes & Economy
Tax Increase Coming to Pennsylvania
State Senators Gib Armstrong and Vince Fumo are both projecting a massive budget deficit ($2.5 billion according to Fumo) and believe that the only way to pay for it is with…
Media
Read More: Tax Increase Coming to PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Business Tax Climate below average
The Tax Foundation has released its latest State Business Tax Climate Index. Pennsylvania ranks a middling 28th on the index, which takes into account five factors (listed in order…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Business Tax Climate below averageState Budget
How much of a budget deficit is Pennsylvania facing?
Capitolwire.com is reporting that there is a top-secret memo from one of the four legislative caucuses estimating that Pennsylvania is facing a potential $2.5 billion budget deficit going into…
Media
Read More: How much of a budget deficit is Pennsylvania facing?Taxes & Economy
A Replay Of 1929? Don’t Count On It
Investor’s Business Daily editorial helps make the point that the panicked actions of President Bush and Congress to thwart another Great Depression were/are unsubstantiated, something Matt Brouillette also stated…
Media
Read More: A Replay Of 1929? Don’t Count On ItTaxes & Economy
Marx was Right (Groucho, that is)
Washington’s response to the current financial trouble has affirmed Groucho Marx’s definition of “Politics”: “The art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong…
Commentary
Read More: Marx was Right (Groucho, that is)Health Care
McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit
Following Joe Biden’s claim that McCain’s health care plan will result in millions of workers being dropped from employers’ health care plans a number of free-market thinkers have rebutted. …
Media
Read More: McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit