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
Protecting the Taxpayers
Proposals will help Gov. Rendell make government live within its means HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Senator Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), and other members of…
Press Release
Read More: Protecting the TaxpayersHealth Care
The Pension and Healthcare Non-Crisis
Despite the well-documented unfunded liabilities in Pennsylvania’s largest public employee pension plans (PSERS and SERS), the response from Harrisburg to the coming fiscal crisis ranges from denial to paralysis. Following…
Commentary
Read More: The Pension and Healthcare Non-CrisisHealth Care
Governor Rendell’s Healthcare Misdiagnosis
As healthcare costs continue to rise faster than consumers’ ability to pay, it is clear that we need to alter how we pay for healthcare. Recently, Governor Rendell unveiled a…
Commentary
Read More: Governor Rendell’s Healthcare MisdiagnosisHealth Care
CF Responds to Democratic Party Chairman on RendellCare
TJ RooneyDemocratic State Committee300 North 2nd Street8th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17101 Dear TJ: I am writing in response to your personal letter to me (which I have…
Press Release
Read More: CF Responds to Democratic Party Chairman on RendellCareHealth Care
Treating the Symptom Rather than the Cause
Governor Rendell wants to expand health insurance to 767,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians by increasing taxes on employers and tobacco users, to name just a few. The full costs have yet to…
Commentary
Read More: Treating the Symptom Rather than the CauseTaxes & Economy
Public-Private Partnerships: Paying for Our Paving
Pennsylvania is facing a $1.7 billion annual shortfall in funding for roads, bridges and mass transit. The only thing worse than the deficit is the proposed “solution” to this shortfall:…
Commentary
Read More: Public-Private Partnerships: Paying for Our PavingTaxes & Economy
For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)
In Pennsylvania and across the United States, taxpayers don’t need to look very hard to find examples of wasteful, unconstitutional, or just plain wrongheaded government spending decisions. One of the…
Commentary
Read More: For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)Taxes & Economy
Governor Rendell, Fiscal Conservative
Commonwealth Foundation applauds veto of HB 1813 Harrisburg, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives applauded Governor Rendell’s decision to veto HB 1813, despite overwhelming support for…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Rendell, Fiscal ConservativeTaxes & Economy
Ranking of least, most dangerous cities
First the World Series, now The Most Dangerous City: St. Louis beats Detroit for the title. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, and Allentown all rank near the bottom of the list. Listed…
Media
Read More: Ranking of least, most dangerous citiesTaxes & Economy
Overspending on Roads
Rep. Curt Schroder has uncovered wasteful, pork-barrel spending on roads. The Rendell Administration’ recent reclassified certain highway maintenance projects as “construction projects.” As construction projects, they are subject to…
Media
Read More: Overspending on RoadsTaxes & Economy
Importing Poverty: Immigration and Poverty in the United States
Heritage Foundation Report: Importing Poverty: Immigration and Poverty in the United States: A Book of Charts…
Media
Read More: Importing Poverty: Immigration and Poverty in the United StatesHealth Care
What Is Consumer-Directed Health Care?
In the wake of expanding government-run health care in PA, here is a primer on Consumer-Driven Health Care Reform by John Goodman (of NCPA, not The Big Lebowski)…
Media
Read More: What Is Consumer-Directed Health Care?Taxes & Economy
Ethanol: Bad for the Environment?
NCPA Summary of research showing that shifting ethanol and E-85 lead to greater gasoline usage and harm the environment. Yet government mandates and taxpayer subsidy of ethanol remain the…
Media
Read More: Ethanol: Bad for the Environment?Health Care
Senate passes version of “Cover All Kids”
Patriot News Update on the PA Senate’s passage of their version “Cover All Kids.” The specifics require a higher proportion of costs for families over 235% of the federal…
Media
Read More: Senate passes version of “Cover All Kids”Taxes & Economy
Where the Incumbents and Challengers Stand
Harrisburg, PA — In two weeks, Pennsylvanians will head to polling booths all across the Commonwealth to cast votes for state House and Senate candidates, as well as for Governor.
Press Release
Read More: Where the Incumbents and Challengers StandRegulation
Why make state beholden to California?
Sam Smith (House Majority Leader) Op-Ed in the Patriot News on the battle over using federal EPA or California standards for vehicle emissions. Also check out the memo…
Media
Read More: Why make state beholden to California?Taxes & Economy
Why should Pa. settle for mediocrity?
Tony Phyrillas on Rendell’s ranking by the Cato Institute.
Media
Read More: Why should Pa. settle for mediocrity?Health Care
Shrink the Legislature to 8
The House Democratic Leadership Letter – from Bill DeWeese (Minority Leader) and Mike Veon (Minority Whip) calls upon the General Assembly to pass “Cover All Kids” because they (DeWese…
Media
Read More: Shrink the Legislature to 8Health Care
Strong Rhetoric for Socialized Medicine
Governor Rendell’s Weekly Letter along with a Press Release demands legislators pass of his “Cover All Kids” proposal. His rhetoric is powerful (read Lowman Henry’s admission that…
Media
Read More: Strong Rhetoric for Socialized MedicineHealth Care
GOP, Rendell’s office spar over CHIP
Patriot News Article on “Cover All Kids”…
Media
Read More: GOP, Rendell’s office spar over CHIPRegulation
Action on State Regulations
The state Environmental Quality Board has pushed through a stricter mercury emissions rule for power plants that would likely increase the cost of electricity, jeopardize jobs, and has little…
Media
Read More: Action on State Regulations