State Budget

Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform

  • Stephen Bloom

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…

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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

Public-Private Partnerships: Paying for Our Paving

  • January 17, 2007

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

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Taxes & Economy

For Sale: Harrisburg Senators (No, Not Those Senators)

  • November 8, 2006

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

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Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell, Fiscal Conservative

  • November 3, 2006

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

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Taxes & Economy

Ranking of least, most dangerous cities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2006

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

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Taxes & Economy

Overspending on Roads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2006

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

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Health Care

What Is Consumer-Directed Health Care?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 25, 2006

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

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Taxes & Economy

Ethanol: Bad for the Environment?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 24, 2006

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

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Health Care

Senate passes version of “Cover All Kids”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 24, 2006

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

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Taxes & Economy

Where the Incumbents and Challengers Stand

  • October 24, 2006

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

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Regulation

Why make state beholden to California?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2006

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

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Health Care

Shrink the Legislature to 8

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2006

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

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Health Care

Strong Rhetoric for Socialized Medicine

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2006

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

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Regulation

Action on State Regulations

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2006

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

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Health Care

Fighting Universal Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2006

Coverage of yesterday’s press conference on the concerns about “Cover All Kids” – the Governor’s proposed universal health care coverage for children in the Morning Call. Also from…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Debunking Pessimistic Claims about Wages, Profits, and Wealth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2006

Heritage Foundation report examines claims that recent economic growth isn’t benefitting workers – i.e. “the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer”. The study finds, instead,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Business Climate Attitudes Remain Low

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2006

The Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research released its Fall 2006 Business Climate Survey, a survey of business owners and managers. Overall, attitudes about the PA business climate remain…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

EDITORIAL | Begging the question

  • October 14, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorializes on the need to pursue REAL solutions to the transportation crisis. Unfortunately, “The Transportation Funding and Reform Commission should be named “The Beggar’s Opera” with…

Media

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