State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh 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
State Budget Crises?
Cato’s Chris Edwards blasts the Wall Street Journal (and other media outlets) for their uncritical coverage of state budget “shortfalls.” The Times “treats any needed spending restraint as a…
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Read More: State Budget Crises?Taxes & Economy
Plan to Toll I-80 Should Be Rejected
The Commonwealth Foundation submitted a letter to the Federal Highway Administration in opposition to granting any authority to the Turnpike Commission to toll additional highways. Click here for our…
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Read More: Plan to Toll I-80 Should Be RejectedTaxes & Economy
New analysis of where I-80 tolls will go
While I have previously posted that I-80 tolls will mostly go to other projects, rather than stay on I-80, the Turnpike Commissions new application for tolling I-80 changes that…
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Read More: New analysis of where I-80 tolls will goEducation
Construction Woes
A few schools in Pennsylvania are experiencing a money crunch–not because property taxes are too low, but because of school boards’ Edifice Complex. The Bethlehem School District and Danville…
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Morality and libertarianism in The Dark Knight
Review of The Dark Knight on, of all places, the Mises Economics Blog (spoilers). Jeffrey Tucker notes that the movie is awesome (agreed), praises how the movie addresses the…
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Read More: Morality and libertarianism in The Dark KnightTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 Application
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has resubmitted their proposal to toll I-80 – full application, letter from the Governor, and Appendices A through L are available for download here. Readers…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 ApplicationRegulation
PA Lottery lags overall economic growth
There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…
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Read More: PA Lottery lags overall economic growthTaxes & Economy
Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)
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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Read More: Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)Taxes & Economy
Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?
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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Read More: Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?Taxes & Economy
High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame
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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Read More: High Today: 96, Al Gore to blameTaxes & Economy
What to do with Fannie and Freddie
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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Read More: What to do with Fannie and FreddieEducation
PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.
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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Read More: PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.Regulation
Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!
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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Read More: Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!Regulation
Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)
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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Read More: Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)Regulation
How much do you work for Government?
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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Read More: How much do you work for Government?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow
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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Read More: Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cowTaxes & Economy
Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80
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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Read More: Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80Taxes & Economy
Bush: Drill Now
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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Read More: Bush: Drill NowPublic Union Democracy
Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online
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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Read More: Port Authority Labor Negotiations OnlineTaxes & Economy
PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom
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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Read More: PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic FreedomTaxes & Economy
Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents
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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