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.
Regulation
Corporate Welfare: Bad for Business
A Capital Commerce blog post – on the subject on whether Obama is a Marxist (concluding that he is not, but he is a…
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Read More: Corporate Welfare: Bad for BusinessHealth Care
An American Cure for Reforming Health Care
Tom Coburn presents his proposal to reform our health care system at the Manhattan Institute. Here is the core of the argument: How do we create a real…
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Read More: An American Cure for Reforming Health CareTaxes & Economy
PA lags behind US economy again
The latest state GDP report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that, despite a national slowdown, Pennsylvania’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the nation. PA’s…
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Read More: PA lags behind US economy againTaxes & Economy
A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits All
Greg Mankiw has a great opinion piece in the NY Times on the benefits of reducing the corporate income tax: In fact, a corporate rate cut would…
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Read More: A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits AllTaxes & Economy
Was Jesus a Libertarian?
Michael Gerson, the architect of all that “Compassionate Conservative” nonsense, had a column in the Washington Post claiming Jesus was not a libertarian (or even a fiscal conservative with…
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Read More: Was Jesus a Libertarian?Health Care
More evidence on the failure of RomneyCare
Michael Tanner blasts positive media coverage of a new report on Massachusetts health care, pointing out the many reasons why RomneyCare is a failure (from the same report). Tanner…
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Read More: More evidence on the failure of RomneyCareRegulation
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…
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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…
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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…
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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 –…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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.
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Read More: Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not