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
We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Sen. Inhofe in today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the consequences of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act: The Lieberman-Warner bill (America’s Climate Security Act) represents the largest tax increase…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the PoorGovernment Accountability
Secret budget meetings have begun
John Micek reports on (and mocks) Governor Rendell’s press conference on the state budget yesterday: Rendell and some House Democrats called for an end to the annual posturing…
Media
Read More: Secret budget meetings have begunState Budget
Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet
The Burden of Taxes In 2008, the average working Pennsylvanian will labor 111 days just to pay his or her federal, state, and local taxes—the equivalent of working January 1…
Press Release
Read More: Put Pennsylvania on a Spending DietTaxes & Economy
Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per Household
Mark Perry on the Carpe Diem blog offers some highlights of a new report on investment and retirement savings in the US. The growth of participation in mutual…
Media
Read More: Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per HouseholdTaxes & Economy
How many pay no taxes?
The Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data finds that nearly one-third of those filing tax returns in 2005 paid no income tax. The return info itself in interesting –…
Media
Read More: How many pay no taxes?Taxes & Economy
REAL ID in PA update
Miss Behavin writes about Pennsylvania lawmakers efforts to respond to REAL ID, and specifically on the latest hearing. More info on the REAL ID backlash here.
Media
Read More: REAL ID in PA updateHealth Care
Fixing Health Care in the States
The Wall Street Journal has two articles about health insurance reform in other states. First, from Florida, where the state has enacted a law that will allow low-cost, mandate…
Media
Read More: Fixing Health Care in the StatesTaxes & Economy
Taxing Porn Back in Vogue
For the 2nd time in a year a Pennsylvania lawmaker has proposed taxing strip clubs, this time it is Rep. Paul Clymer. (HT Grassroots PA) The Tax Foundation…
Media
Read More: Taxing Porn Back in VogueTaxes & Economy
Tax Lessons from Michigan
Michigan’s recent experience in tax policy, summed up in today’s Wall Street Journal, should offer a lesson to other states. After raising taxes to fill in a budget shortfall,…
Media
Read More: Tax Lessons from MichiganTaxes & Economy
Republicans Are in Denial
Tom Coburn in the Wall Street Journal writes on how “Compassionate Conservativsm” destroyed the Republican Party, and how the GOP’s problem isn’t “messaging”, its following through on principles. His…
Media
Read More: Republicans Are in DenialTaxes & Economy
Federal Taxes and Household Income
The Congressional Budget Office has a new data page which shows the distribution of federal income taxes. Hat Tip to Government Bytes.
Media
Read More: Federal Taxes and Household IncomeTaxes & Economy
Gas Taxes By State
Mark J. Perry posted this map showing gas taxes by state. Note Pennsylvania is a red state on this map. The data source is API…
Media
Read More: Gas Taxes By StateTaxes & Economy
Economic “stimulus” to deliver?
Bloomberg.com reports most economists think the “job creation” from the economic stimulus package are greatly overstated – if there will be any at all. Oh, now you tell us.
Media
Read More: Economic “stimulus” to deliver?Taxes & Economy
How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?
The Tax Foundation has put their Tax Freedom Day calculations into an eight-hour workday: How Long America Works to Pay Taxes in…
Media
Read More: How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?Taxes & Economy
Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not
Dan Flynn writes that the “Conservative Movement” is dead: Eurocommunism is gone and party conservatives now openly question the utility of even limited government rhetoric in 21st-century America.
Media
Read More: Conservative Movement, RIP … or NotTaxes & Economy
Scarnati’s Transportation Plan
Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has announced his own transportation funding plan – which he promised to do in January, including a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (he backtracked…
Media
Read More: Scarnati’s Transportation PlanTaxes & Economy
Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice
Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA offers a commentary on the League of Women Voters lawsuit against former justice Ralph Cappy and Chief Justice Castille’s threats against…
Media
Read More: Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & CowardiceHealth Care
The New Big Dig
Wall Street Journal on the pitfalls of RomneyCare.
Media
Read More: The New Big DigTaxes & Economy
Money discriminates against blind people
A federal court ruled that paper money discriminates against blind people, since they can’t tell how much the money is worth. Note to Paulistas: This is because the blind…
Media
Read More: Money discriminates against blind peopleTaxes & Economy
Freedom from Government Day
The American Institute for Economic Research has calculated that today, May 19, is the date at which Americans have earned enough income to pay for all governing spending. They…
Media
Read More: Freedom from Government DayGovernment Accountability
Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expense
Philadelphia Inquirer article covers the price of lawmakers buying gas at taxpayer expense. There is also a list of who drives taxpayer subsidized, non-hybrid SUVs (i.e. gas guzzlers).
Media
Read More: Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expense