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
Flat Tax vs. Fair Tax
Below is a video from the Center from Freedom and Prosperity on proposals for an overall of the tax system. We covered both the flat tax and fair…
Media
Read More: Flat Tax vs. Fair TaxHealth Care
Health Savings Sabotage
The Wall Street Journal has a column on a bill that passed the US House that would undermine Health Savings Accounts (also see the SPN blog on this…
Media
Read More: Health Savings SabotageHealth Care
The Health Insurance Mafia
Here is a great editorial in the Wall Street Journal on how the health insurance industry acts like the Mafia: Most discussions about the rising…
Media
Read More: The Health Insurance MafiaTaxes & Economy
Getting Better, Not Bitter, in Pennsylvania
WebMemo from the Heritage Foundation about whether Pennsylvanians should be “bitter” over all the jobs “lost”. I would point readers to my commentary on Prospering in Pennsylvania, but…
Media
Read More: Getting Better, Not Bitter, in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30
Governor Rendell has announced that bids for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be due at or near the end of April. He also announced many of the terms…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30Taxes & Economy
Candidate Surveys
Here are some candidate surveys for state legislative candidates: PA Right to Work Stop Teacher Strikes Democracy Rising Project Vote Smart…
Media
Read More: Candidate SurveysTaxes & Economy
Taxpayer Cost of Family Fragmentation
A new report on the taxpayer cost of family breakdown (i.e. divorce and family breakdown), putting the cost to PA taxpayers at over $2 billion annually. Click…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Cost of Family FragmentationState Budget
Time for a Spending Diet
As Pennsylvania taxpayers breath a collective sigh of relief after completing their 2007 tax returns, another tax day is looming. But this is a day to celebrate. It’s Tax Freedom…
Commentary
Read More: Time for a Spending DietTaxes & Economy
What are “purely conservative principles”?
Michael Smerconish comments on the “blueing” of the Philadelphia suburbs (HT: Grassroots PA). Smerconish dismisses the idea that residents are fleeing Philadelphia for the suburbs, noting that…
Media
Read More: What are “purely conservative principles”?Health Care
“Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big Government
I wasn’t going to post anything on Barack Obama’s comments about people “clinging” to guns and religion, until Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer offered his Obama can…
Media
Read More: “Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big GovernmentTaxes & Economy
‘Government cannot spend its way out of a recession’
Tony Phyrillas summarizes the House Republicans’ tax reduction package unveiled today. The legislation includes:· Implementing Compete PA business tax relief, which includes removing the cap on net…
Media
Read More: ‘Government cannot spend its way out of a recession’Taxes & Economy
10 Businesses Facing Extinction in 10 Years
Entrepreneur.com has an intriguing article on businesses facing extinction (HT Carpe Diem). Some of the selections are obvious, and have already seen major declines (pay phones, camera film…
Media
Read More: 10 Businesses Facing Extinction in 10 YearsRegulation
Benevolence of the Trucker
Land Line Magazine’s coverage of the Public-Private Partnership (P3) forum that I moderated on Monday ran with the headline, “Panelists say profit motivates infrastructure investment.” (As an aside,…
Media
Read More: Benevolence of the TruckerTaxes & Economy
PA’s “liberal” population shift
The Philadelphia Inquirer has an article remarking on Pennsylvania’s demographic changes, noting that the state is gaining population in the eastern part and losing population in the west –…
Media
Read More: PA’s “liberal” population shiftTaxes & Economy
Another Mediocre Rank for PA Business Climate
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has new report on Business Tax Index 2008, look at the best tax climate for small businesses. Pennsylvania, as has been a recurring…
Media
Read More: Another Mediocre Rank for PA Business ClimateGovernment Accountability
“Per Diems” Add Up
RocktheCapital has analyzed and released expense reports for one lawmaker, David Argall of Schuykill County, finding that he collected $15,000 in “per diems” (compensation above and beyond salary, ostensibly…
Media
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When is a college basketball game “over”?
If you like sports and you like math then Bill James’s calculator to determine when a college basketball game is out of reach should be interesting (if not, then…
Media
Read More: When is a college basketball game “over”?Taxes & Economy
Eminent Domain post-Kelo
The Cato Daily Podcast for today covers state eminent domain reform reforms since Kelo. For more visit the Castle Coalition, and their report on state eminent domain…
Media
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Congressional Ratings from National Taxpayers Union
The National Taxpayers Union has released their 2007 Congressional Rankings. As for the PA Delegation: Pitts A 87% (“Taxpayers’ Friend”)Shuster B 74% (“Good”)Peterson C+ 62% (“Satisfactory”)…
Media
Read More: Congressional Ratings from National Taxpayers UnionTaxes & Economy
“No Cardboard Checks”
One of my favorite sources for the inside scoop from the Capitol is Senator Eichelberger’s blog. In his latest post, he describes his refusal to participate in handing out…
Media
Read More: “No Cardboard Checks”Taxes & Economy
Global temperatures ‘to decrease’
BBC report on a decade of “global cooling”.
Media
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