Prosperity
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Read More: New Year, New Taxes in PennsylvaniaHigh 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
Heavy Tax Burdens Weigh Down Job Growth
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is expected to create 1.2 million jobs across the country in its first decade. I recently wrote about the ongoing benefits Pennsylvania is reaping thanks…
Media
Read More: Heavy Tax Burdens Weigh Down Job GrowthTaxes & Economy
Those are Drilling Rigs, Not Money Trees
“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” my mother regularly declaimed in her impromptu lessons on financial literacy. Too bad she’s not with us to explain this to Governor Wolf: neither the Marcellus…
Media
Read More: Those are Drilling Rigs, Not Money TreesCriminal Justice Reform
Does Justice Reinvestment Work?
One of the foremost, data-driven efforts in the nation to make criminal justice truly fair and effective is under consideration in the Pennsylvania House after a unanimous vote in the…
Media
Read More: Does Justice Reinvestment Work?State Budget
This Year’s Budget Continues Past Trends
The 2019-2020 budget spending bill is on the governor’s desk and lawmakers are claiming it represents an increase of only 1.8 percent over last year. If this were true, it would…
Media
Read More: This Year’s Budget Continues Past TrendsState Budget
Budget Spares Taxpayers, Boosts School Choice, but Leaves Much Undone
June 28, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, lawmakers put the finishing touches on a state budget that spares Pennsylvanians from tax hikes, grows the state’s beleaguered Rainy Day Fund, and boosts school…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Spares Taxpayers, Boosts School Choice, but Leaves Much UndoneState Budget
State Can Build on Tax Reform Boom
To attract the investment and job creators that will secure our future, we can—and must—do better. Luckily, lawmakers have the blueprint they need to make our state competitive: Control spending…
Commentary
Read More: State Can Build on Tax Reform BoomEducation
Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget Deal
Less than a week before the start of the 2019-20 fiscal year, legislative leaders unveiled a proposed state budget—including both the spending and revenue outline, and several policy changes that…
Media
Read More: Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget DealTaxes & Economy
The RGGI Offers Nothing to Pennsylvania
Media
Read More: The RGGI Offers Nothing to PennsylvaniaState Budget
Future Growth Depends on Today’s Lawmakers
Federal tax cuts made Pennsylvania’s current economic growth possible, but state reform could make it sustainable. Today Pennsylvanians are enjoying $866 million in surplus state revenue, an all-time low unemployment rate,…
Media
Read More: Future Growth Depends on Today’s LawmakersState Budget
Lawmakers Show Signs of Budget Restraint
When state revenues outpace spending there’s always a temptation to spend more—in fact, even when revenues fall short…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Show Signs of Budget RestraintEducation
Fiscal Forgetfulness
Next year the governor wants to spend $1.4 billion more than he requested for this year, according to his recent budget proposal. Separately he’ll need as much as $750 million…
Media
Read More: Fiscal ForgetfulnessCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Reform for Safer Communities
Nowadays, Republicans and Democrats struggle to find common ground. In the rare moments when they do, you can be sure you’ve got a winning policy. Last week, the Pennsylvania Senate…
Media
Read More: Corrections Reform for Safer CommunitiesTaxes & Economy
The Truth About Wages
There is one undoubted truth in debates about wages: everyone wants them to go up. Unfortunately, lawmakers can’t force everyone’s wage to increase, unless they are willing to destroy tens…
Media
Read More: The Truth About WagesGovernment Accountability
The Shadow Budget Comes to Light
The shadow budget is coming into the light in an unlikely way this…
Media
Read More: The Shadow Budget Comes to LightState Budget
Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PA
Governor Wolf’s Restore PA plan utilizes a natural gas severance tax and borrowing to fund infrastructure improvements. There’s a better way to improve our infrastructure.
Memo
Read More: Making Bad Investments Won’t Restore PAState Budget
Harrisburg’s Notoriously Big Choice
“More money, more problems.” It seems that Pennsylvania lawmakers and The Notorious B.I.G. may have found some common ground. Surplus revenues have been a hot topic since the Independent Fiscal…
Media
Read More: Harrisburg’s Notoriously Big ChoiceEnergy
Climate Change
For decades state government has imposed subsidies, increased regulation and raised energy costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts have largely failed to make an impact. On the other…
Memo
Read More: Climate ChangeState Budget
High Taxes Are Driving Pa.’s ‘Brain Drain’
If life is a highway, then Pennsylvanians are using it to drive to other states. This is especially true for young Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: High Taxes Are Driving Pa.’s ‘Brain Drain’State Budget
Federal Tax Reform: A Pennsylvania Gold Rush
After centuries of hopeless panning and prospecting, gold has finally been discovered right here in Harrisburg. The historic find weighs in…
Media
Read More: Federal Tax Reform: A Pennsylvania Gold RushCriminal Justice Reform
Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s Budget
Soon lawmakers in Harrisburg will begin debating the 2019-2020 budget and what to do with excess revenue from the booming economy. Here’s your two-minute summary of the budget situation and…
Media
Read More: Up, Up, and Away: Snapshots from Wolf’s BudgetEnergy
Pa.’s Climate Action Plan: Crippling Costs for Zero Benefits
Let’s recognize how our climate is improving and bolster further innovation to reduce pollution without reducing incomes or infringing the freedoms of Pennsylvanians.
Commentary
Read More: Pa.’s Climate Action Plan: Crippling Costs for Zero Benefits