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.
Taxes & Economy
Economic Benefits of NAFTA
National Center for Policy Analysis has a new analysis on the economic benefits of NAFTA. NAFTA critics most frequently point to the “lost jobs” but here are some facts:…
Media
Read More: Economic Benefits of NAFTATaxes & Economy
Reagonomics Works!
A new comparative study of economic growth among countries finds that big government results in slower economic growth, whereas countries with smaller government have greater growth. They also note that…
Media
Read More: Reagonomics Works!Health Care
Voters Send Mixed Messages on Health Care
Michael Tanner on polls about health care and the divergent proposals , concluding, “as November approaches, voters will reach a fork in the road, and as Yogi Berra says,…
Media
Read More: Voters Send Mixed Messages on Health CareTaxes & Economy
How late will the budget be this year?
With the debate over furloughs heating up (also see here), House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans announced that the House will begin debating the budget the week of…
Media
Read More: How late will the budget be this year?Regulation
Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be Raided
The House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment that increases the Governor’s proposed budget by $148 million (which, according to Evans’ news release, isn’t much money). This raises the…
Media
Read More: Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be RaidedTaxes & Economy
$4 Gasbags
Wall Street Journal looks at the absurdity of Congress’ posturing to “do something” about high gas prices – except allow increased US production of gasoline. “Pain at the Pump”…
Media
Read More: $4 GasbagsTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and Data
Here are some resource and links related to my commentary on interstate migration: Census Data and migration report United Van Lines Data and…
Media
Read More: Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and DataTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out
With all due respect to Billy Joel’s "Allentown," the tune which best describes Pennsylvania today would likely be "Movin' Out." For years, Pennsylvania has seen residents (particularly younger ones) move…
Commentary
Read More: Movin’ OutPublic Union Democracy
Right to Work states have higher growth
The Union Label blog looks at economic growth differences between right to work and forced unionism state.
Media
Read More: Right to Work states have higher growthTaxes & Economy
Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?
Mark Perry makes the case that the recent uptick in unemployment in the US is partially due to the increase in the federal minimum wage (and the pending increase…
Media
Read More: Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?Regulation
The Nanny State Mentality
Anyone who has observed politics for long would see that too many politicians believe nothing positive would happen unless they pass a law requiring it. They think that the American…
Commentary
Read More: The Nanny State MentalityRegulation
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
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 Household