High 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

Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)

  • July 18, 2008

On the air today on WHP 580 AM, Matt read a commentary by Edward Inghrim, a school board member from the Saucon Valley School District. It first appeared in the…

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Taxes & Economy

Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 18, 2008

The state’s move to lease 74,000 acres in Tioga and Lycoming counties for natural gas drilling has inspired some to call for new energy taxes. One suggestion…

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Taxes & Economy

High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2008

Americans for Prosperity video highlights Nobel Prize/Oscar winner Al Gore showing up with a motorcade, leaving one car running, before giving a speech demanding audience ride bikes home,…

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Taxes & Economy

What to do with Fannie and Freddie

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2008

While President Bush and Congress are debating a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (properly the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, which…

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Education

PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.

  • July 17, 2008

The Board of Directors of PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association) too umbrage with our highlighting that government agency’s misuse and abuse of taxpayer dollars.  Our response is…

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Regulation

Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!

  • July 17, 2008

PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…

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Regulation

Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2008

Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…

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Regulation

How much do you work for Government?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2008

Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2008

Vindy.com has an editorial against I-80 tolling, noting The state pledges to spend nearly $200 million more on maintenance than it is spending now, But revenue from…

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Taxes & Economy

Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2008

Though the Turnpike Commission unveiled their plan for capital improvements on I-80 (if they get approval to toll it), it remains the case that most of the revenue…

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Taxes & Economy

Bush: Drill Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 14, 2008

President Bush will repeal the executive order banning offshore drilling. Of course, the executive order was superseded by a law banning offshore drilling, which Congress will have to…

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Public Union Democracy

Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 11, 2008

The Pittsburgh Port Authority has a website detailing the sticking points of the labor negotiation with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. I think the lesson to be…

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Taxes & Economy

PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

Not suprisingly, given other state rankings, Pennsylvania gets a mediocre grade on the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America report for 2008. PA ranks tied for 26th…

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Taxes & Economy

Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2008

A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…

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State Budget

Kanjorski Earmark Denied

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

The US Department of Transportation is refusing to fund an earmark put in place by Rep. Kanjorski. The earmark was intended to fund a parking garage near Kanjorski’s monument…

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Taxes & Economy

Family friendly reforms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2008

The NCPA has a new Brief Analysis highlighting “Five Family Friendly Policies” -l abor, tax, and health care reforms providing greater freedom, flexibility, and portablity for workers and employers.

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Health Care

Is “universal health care” a religion?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2008

Michael Cannon pulls a troubling quote from an advocate of SCHIP expansion, who admits his support is based on faith, not evidence. Of course Cannon is a well-known…

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Education

School boards have no control over teacher salaries?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2008

Tony Phyrillas laughs at school board members complaining about not having control over things like teacher salaries – you know, the salaries school boards establish (typically through labor contracts)…

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Taxes & Economy

Steelers for sale?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2008

In what may be a shock to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the Wall Street Journal reports the Rooney family may be looking to sell the team (also see Tribune Review article).

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State Budget

Gambling in PA … with a $28 billion budget

  • July 7, 2008

No one can say we didn’t warn lawmakers that their 4.06% increase in spending for the 2008-09 fiscal year was not fiscally prudent. The AP reports that Rendell,…

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Taxes & Economy

Impeach JFK

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 7, 2008

Evergreen Freedom Foundation blog highlights the NEA convention adopting a resolution stating The National Education Association believes that any president who starts a war with another country without a…

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