High 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

GIving Taxpayers a Voice?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 7, 2006

With the new property tax “relief” law (Act 1 of the Special Session) each school district must have a “tax commission” examine any proposed tax increase, as reported in the…

Media

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Health Care

The 1% Solution

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • August 7, 2006

In the daily travails of state government, it appears the Senate is prepared to take action best described as “self-reform.” According to reports, beginning as early as September, employees of…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Jesus and Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2006

Dimitri Vassilaros questions, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whether Jesus really endorsed the estate tax, higher income taxes, and raising the federal minimum wage.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Time to Kill Castroism

  • August 3, 2006

Peggy Noonan in today’s Wall Street Journal suggests that it is time to “seize the moment for some wise, judicious, free-market love-bombing” of Cuba.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Why Congress Should Reject a Minimum Wage Increase

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Two articles from the Heritage Foundation: The first details how a minimum wage increase will hurt job prospects among low skill workers, and won’t reduce poverty. The second…

Media

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Regulation

Getting state legislators to work is costly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Post-Gazette article on the cost to taxpayers of the travel of several state lawmakers. Just another example of a failure of many in cover to be frugal when someone…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Politics trumps economics in Chicago

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2006

The Chicago city council passed a law which would mandate “Big-Box” retailers pay a minimum wage of $10/hour and $3 in fringe benefits, essentially an effort to keep Wal-Mart out…

Media

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Regulation

Manufacturing Job Loss in the Great Lakes Region

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2006

The Brookings Institution released a study on manufacturing jobs lost in the Great Lakes region. The numbers and findings are interesting: many of the nation’s manufacturing jobs “lost” were…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

More Vinsanity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2006

A press release from Senator Vince Fumo’s office dismisses any notion that Pennsylvania business taxes are too high, citing select data showing Pennsylvania has merely a mediocre economic record…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Dukakis on Minimum Wage and Immigration

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2006

Editorial by Michael Dukakis in today’s New York Times. Dukakis claims that if we raise the minimum wage to $8 hour, businesses will stop hiring illegal immigrants. Essentially…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2006

A report released today by The Tax Foundation looks at legislation expected to be voted on by the US House tomorrow on business taxes. This bill (HR 1956) would…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Friedman(s) talk current issues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2006

Wall Street Journal intervew with Milton and Rose Friedman coverring illegal immigration, Iraq, and government spending.

Media

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Health Care

Judge overturns Wal-Mart law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2006

AP Story on the overturning of Maryland’s “Wal-Mart” Health Care law. This law would have required all businesses with 10,000 or more workers to spend at least 8% of…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Cost of Government Day

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 14, 2006

Americans for Tax Reform released their Cost of Government Day Report yesterday, which was coincidently the national Cost of Government Day. This represents the day in which American earned…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum Rationality for Minimum Wage

  • July 14, 2006

In an election year, legislators do irrational things, such as spend more money than the budget supports, fund pork projects for their districts, and raise the minimum wage.

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Stocking up on tax dollars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2006

Meadville Tribune editorial on how the state is spending the “windfall” surplus instead of returning it to taxpayers.

Media

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Government Accountability

Mere Coincidence

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the six-figure government job awarded to Joseph Hoeffel – who earlier this year dropped out of the Lt. Gov. race after a meeting with Governor…

Media

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