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.
Health Care
How free is PA’s health care market?
The Pacific Research Institute released their U.S. Index of Health Ownership, 2008 last week (full report in PDF). The report ranks states’ health care markets and regulations based…
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Read More: How free is PA’s health care market?Taxes & Economy
Five Ways to Wreck a Recovery
Amity Shlaes offers lessons from Hoover and FDR on how to extend a recession and make it worse (hint: do the opposite): 1) Give in to protectionism2) Blame…
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Read More: Five Ways to Wreck a RecoveryTaxes & Economy
How do you spell relief?
Yesterday the Public Utility Commission released electric price estimates comparing current market prices to current capped rates and highlighting six strategies for mitigating the high cost of electricity. In…
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Read More: How do you spell relief?Taxes & Economy
High Corporate Taxes Hinder Growth
An article in the Wall Street Journal today underscores the issue of high corporate tax rates in Pennsylvania. It also discusses the impact of corporate tax rates on…
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Read More: High Corporate Taxes Hinder GrowthTaxes & Economy
Mack Trucks bolts to Right to Work state
Mack Trucks is headed south ”to improve our profitability and competitiveness,” said president and CEO Dennis R. Slagle. Although the Allentown Morning Call story doesn’t mention the fact that…
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Read More: Mack Trucks bolts to Right to Work stateTaxes & Economy
I-80 plan relies on traffic growth, while drivers are driving less
Congressman Peterson, the lead critic of tolling I-80, makes an astute observation: the Turnpike Commission’s financial model relies on I-80 traffic growing 2.5% annually. Yet a recent…
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Read More: I-80 plan relies on traffic growth, while drivers are driving lessTaxes & Economy
Silly Senator, Corn is for Food!
ReasonTV video looks at the ethanol craze: Ethanol, especially the corn-based variety, is bad for taxpayers, bad for consumers, bad for the environment, and horrible for the world’s…
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Read More: Silly Senator, Corn is for Food!Taxes & Economy
Only 40 states have a better business climate than Pennsylvania
Forbes has issued its latest report on “The Best States for Business“. Pennsylvania ranks 41st. (Click here for the table). Amazingly, despite Governor Rendell’s “investments” in our…
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Read More: Only 40 states have a better business climate than PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Are corporations dodging taxes?
The AP had a story yesterday headlined, “Most companies in US avoid federal income taxes” (full study). Governor Rendell frequently makes this claim as well, when defending Pennsylvania’s…
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Read More: Are corporations dodging taxes?Health Care
Reduce the number of uninsured 25% – for free
A new study by University of Minnesota researchers finds that a simply policy change would reduce the number of uninsured by 25 to 33 percent (Greg Scandlen has a…
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Read More: Reduce the number of uninsured 25% – for freeTaxes & Economy
Head for the Hills
“It’s tangible, the misery and hopelessness and the bleakness.” No, this is not the latest sound-bite ad for tourism in PA. It’s actually what Viggo Mortensen said about Pittsburgh,…
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Read More: Head for the HillsTaxes & Economy
U.S. Congressmen criticizes Pennsylvania’s transportation policies
U.S. Representative John Peterson explains why we should blame poor money managment, not a lack of funds, for the dilapidated state of Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges. Rep. Peterson mentions…
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Read More: U.S. Congressmen criticizes Pennsylvania’s transportation policiesTaxes & Economy
Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol
Texas Governor Rick Perry in the Wall Street Journal on why the EPA needs to suspend the mandate to produce more ethanol – which is, according to Perry and…
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Read More: Texas Is Fed Up With Corn EthanolRegulation
Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheater
Post-Gazette story on the demand that taxpayers pay $4 million dollars for an amphitheater. (HT GrassrootsPA). The developer notes, “the entertainment complex itself will be a source of…
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Read More: Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheaterTaxes & Economy
Pushed out of the top ten again
The Tax Foundation has released their yearly report ranking the state tax burden for all 50 states. Pennsylvania comes in at number 11 (1 being the worst). PA consistently…
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Read More: Pushed out of the top ten againRegulation
Rendellconomics 101
Morning Call piece piece by Jarrett Renshaw debates the merits of Rendell’s economic policies – borrowing (to be paid by taxpayers) to give handouts to his favorite projects like…
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Read More: Rendellconomics 101Taxes & Economy
Rising electricity rates and the PUC
The Public Utility Commission published a number of press releases yesterday addressing the expected rise in electricity rates. – The Public Utility Commission finally gave PPL the go ahead…
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Read More: Rising electricity rates and the PUCTaxes & Economy
Who’s your cable guy?
For the first time in 30 years Pittsburgh residents will be able to choose who provides their cable. The Post-Gazette reports the city is negotiating a contract that would…
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Read More: Who’s your cable guy?Regulation
Bridge To Troubled Waters
Gov. Rendell is still touring the state dolling out taxpayers’ money for various projects across the state totaling $642 million. Much of the funding will assist infrastructure improvements for…
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Read More: Bridge To Troubled WatersTaxes & Economy
How to Lose Billions of Dollars
Turnpike Commission plan will cost taxpayers $37.4 billion HARRISBURG, PA — Today, as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission unveiled its plans for new tolling plazas along I-80, the Commonwealth Foundation reiterated…
Press Release
Read More: How to Lose Billions of DollarsTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission will cost Taxpayers $37 Billion
Critics of a Turnpike lease—including Rep. Joe Markosek—have offered the claim that Act 44, even without tolling of I-80, represents more revenue to taxpayers of the state than a…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission will cost Taxpayers $37 Billion