Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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
Financial “crisis” a failure of government
While some pundits and media, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, point to the proposed bailout as demonstration of the failure of the free market, in fact it is a…
Media
Read More: Financial “crisis” a failure of governmentTaxes & Economy
Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nonsensical editorial opposing Mike Turzai and Mike Mustio’s legislation which would allow competition in mass transit in Pittsburgh. Currently the Port Authority of Allegheny…
Media
Read More: Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopoliesTaxes & Economy
Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad Policy
Commonwealth Foundation Urges Action on Lease Legislation HARRISBURG, PA—Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called on the Pennsylvania legislature to consider Turnpike lease legislation before the end of the current legislative session. …
Press Release
Read More: Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad PolicyTaxes & Economy
More on the Proposed Bailout
More responses and info about the proposed federal bailout: Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Reason: Assessing the $700 billion bailout NTU: Taxpayers are Sick…
Media
Read More: More on the Proposed BailoutTaxes & Economy
“Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”
… so said a commentary distributed by the Susquehanna Valley Center (see below). Either they didn’t bother to read the lease agreement or they are intentionally trying to mislead the…
Media
Read More: “Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”State Budget
Check out Pork Parade
Congressman Jeff Flake has a new website to expose Pork from Washington. To contribute to the discussion, you can twitter with the code #pork. Twitter users can also…
Media
Read More: Check out Pork ParadeTaxes & Economy
Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy
The lastest state job numbers indicate that Pennsylvania has 100,000 more unemployed persons that one year ago. Yet, Governor Rendell announces that this is due to national trends -his…
Media
Read More: Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economyTaxes & Economy
Thoughts on the bailout plan
Heritage Foundation has a Webmemo on the federal plans to bail out the mortgage market, along with a list of recommendations. You can get the legislation…
Media
Read More: Thoughts on the bailout planTaxes & Economy
Indiana Toll Road private operator eliminates tolls to help in flood
Despite not being required to by the lease agreement, the private operator of the Indiana Toll Road — an “evil foreign” consortium of Spanish and Australian companies — suspended the…
Media
Read More: Indiana Toll Road private operator eliminates tolls to help in floodTaxes & Economy
Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Rendell is looking at a gas tax increase in light of the refusal of legislative leaders to consider the lease. “To make up the shortfall, we’re…
Media
Read More: Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?Taxes & Economy
Senate Republican Leader Chooses Turnpike Commission Over Taxpayers
Senate Republican Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi told the AP that he won’t allow a debate or vote to occur on the Senate floor regarding the leasing of the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Senate Republican Leader Chooses Turnpike Commission Over TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008
The American Magazine has an article on the worst energy ideas, including: “energy independence,” and “green jobs”. On that front, Pete DuPont has a WSJ column on the…
Media
Read More: The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008Taxes & Economy
Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease
ABC 27 News story on the Turnpike Lease, featuring the motley crew of supporters: Matt Brouillette, Gov. Ed Rendell, Howard Yerusalim (former PennDOT Secretary under Bob Casey) and Rep.Dan…
Media
Read More: Supporters Argue for Turnpike LeaseTaxes & Economy
Are lower taxes unpatriotic?
Alex Charyna from PA Watercooler told me we are being unpatriotic. Why? While we are calling for budgetary measures to avoid higher taxes, Joe Biden is telling us…
Media
Read More: Are lower taxes unpatriotic?Taxes & Economy
Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?
Budget revenue shortfalls on track to produce multi-billion dollar tax increase in 2009 HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined State Rep. Sam Rohrer, State Senator John Eichelberger,…
Press Release
Read More: Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?Taxes & Economy
Scarnati’s “Save the Turnpike Commission” Plan
In an obvious attempt to divert attention from his vote and support of tolling Interstate-80, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati writes today in a Courier Express commentary that…
Media
Read More: Scarnati’s “Save the Turnpike Commission” PlanPublic Union Democracy
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…
Media
Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?Taxes & Economy
Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy Sense
Introduction How should Pennsylvania pay for its transportation infrastructure, now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s application to toll Interstate 80? Gas taxes? Vehicle fees? …
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy SenseTaxes & Economy
New Efforts to Address Expiring Rate Caps
Yesterday, Rep. Mike Turzai, along with Rep. Stan Saylor, unveiled a new bill to stabilize electric rates after the expiration of rate caps (Turzai Press…
Media
Read More: New Efforts to Address Expiring Rate CapsState Budget
Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze
Following reports that tax revenue is well behind projections, Governor Rendell has announced plans to reduce state spending by $200 million, including ending (taxpayer funded) out-of-state travel by…
Media
Read More: Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freezeTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Lease Back On The Table
The Philadelphia Bulletin has an article on the Turnpike lease facing real consideration now; the Daily Collegian and the Daily Item have similar pieces (HT GrassrootsPA).
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Back On The Table