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.
Government Accountability
Great Website on Fiscal Responsibility
Americans for Tax Reform has launched its Center for Fiscal Responsibility, a fantastic site dedicated to (as the name implies) fiscal responsibility in federal state and local government. I…
Media
Read More: Great Website on Fiscal ResponsibilityTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberation
An anonymous poster remarks that “we don’t want to rush into anything (like leasing the Turnpike)”, and compares it to the rush to pass Act 44. He/she is correct…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberationTaxes & Economy
What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?
Joe Grata has an article in the Post-Gazette on what will happen now that the federal government has rejected I-80 tolling in Pennsylvania. As we pointed out…
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Read More: What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?State Budget
Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMs
LancasterOnline breaks down the taxpayer-funded pork projects (WAMs) awarded by Lancaster County lawmakers. (HT: GrassrootsPA)…
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Read More: Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMsTaxes & Economy
Lease it!, says The Times-Tribune
Editorial from The Times-Tribune makes part of the case for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected a key feature of Act 44…
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Read More: Lease it!, says The Times-TribuneTaxes & Economy
Turnpike lease on the move…
Toll Roads News is reporting that House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans is ready to move the Turnpike lease bill, and additional support is gathering. Of course, the Turnpike…
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Read More: Turnpike lease on the move…Taxes & Economy
Feds Reject Tolls on I-80
It’s official, the Pennyslvania Turnpike Comission’s attempt to toll I-80 has been denied by the Federal Highway Administration. See our news release…
Media
Read More: Feds Reject Tolls on I-80Regulation
Thank You for (Not) Smoking
Pennsylvania’s smoking ban goes into effect today and has created a cloud of controversy statewide, with a less than enthusiastic response from the smoking public. The Department of Health has…
Media
Read More: Thank You for (Not) SmokingTaxes & Economy
The Reemerging Paradigm: Public-Private Partnerships
Government officials continue to decry the terrible condition of the state’s roads, but this time real solutions like public-private partnerships are receiving some support. On Monday, the House Transportation Committee…
Media
Read More: The Reemerging Paradigm: Public-Private PartnershipsHealth Care
State Mandates Result in High Price Tags
A recent news release from the National Center for Policy Analysis underscores the reason for soaring health coverage costs across the nation: state mandates and no national competition. The…
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Read More: State Mandates Result in High Price TagsTaxes & Economy
Extending Rate Caps is Not the Answer
Yesterday, Govenor Rendell declared he would have “no choice” but to support an extension of the rate caps if the legislature fails to act on rising electricity rates. This…
Media
Read More: Extending Rate Caps is Not the AnswerState Budget
Who opposed the Bridge to Nowhere?
NTU sums up the “Bridge to Nowhere” opposition: Sarah Palin has declared she said “thanks, but no thanks” on the Bridge to Nowhere. And it’s true, that she stopped…
Media
Read More: Who opposed the Bridge to Nowhere?Government Accountability
As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending Continues
Senator Vince Fumo's trial began yesterday with the first day of jury selection. In the days leading up to the trial the senator was doing what he does best:…
Media
Read More: As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending ContinuesTaxes & Economy
More comments on the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac takeover
Cato’s Ed Crane writes Fannie and Freddie: Socialist from the Start. His colleague, David Boaz, notes:…
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Read More: More comments on the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac takeoverTaxes & Economy
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Avoiding the Next Big Mistake
As the feds propose a government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Heritage Foundation has a new WebMemo on what to do an what not to…
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Read More: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Avoiding the Next Big MistakeTaxes & Economy
New Facts and Resources on Transportation Funding
We have revised our PolicyPoints on Act 44 and Transportation Funding More Resources: Turnpike Lease/BidTurnpikeFacts.comFull Concession Agreement – Governor’s OfficeSynopsis of Lease Requirements/Limits…
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Read More: New Facts and Resources on Transportation FundingHealth Care
McCain and Obama on Health Care
While health care policy won’t get the level of media coverage as Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter or Barack Obama’s crazy pastor, some people might be interested in looking at the candidates proposals…
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Read More: McCain and Obama on Health CareTaxes & Economy
Act 44 & Transportation Funding
In July 2007, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed and Governor Ed Rendell signed Act 44. This legislation authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the Turnpike;…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Act 44 & Transportation FundingTaxes & Economy
End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?
The Allegheny Institute writes that a court ruling, disallowing a referendum on the Allegheny County drink tax, will likely be overturned on appeal, because is so shoddy. Pittsburgh…
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Read More: End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?Taxes & Economy
Compare the Presidential Candidates Tax Plans
The Tax Foundation has a tool offering side-by-side comparisons of tax proposals Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader. For all you policy wonks, you can also…
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Read More: Compare the Presidential Candidates Tax PlansTaxes & Economy
Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure
Patriot News editorial notes that the proposed Turnpike lease deal would make PA a model for the nation. It’s not that the public-private partnership concept being pushed…
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Read More: Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure