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.

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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Health Care

Health plan targets children

  • October 12, 2006

Lancaster Democrat Mike Sturla is pushing HillaryCareLite (“Cover All Kids”) in his district. Unfortunately, his Republican challenger doesn’t fully get it either. He said: “You are talking about pure…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Myth of Ethanol

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 11, 2006

Consumer Reports’ article finds that government mandates to use ethanol and new E85 cars – intended to create “energy independence” – has instead increased consumption of gasoline. The main…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Swann Tax Cuts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 10, 2006

A report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center on the revenue losses from Lynn Swann’s proposed tax cuts would seem to cast doubt on our projections. There…

Media

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Health Care

Uncovering Cover All Kids

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 10, 2006

This past summer, state legislative leaders sent Governor Rendell a letter promising legislation by October authorizing the Governor’s “Cover All Kids” initiative. They included over $2 million in the state…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Anti-pollution measures in for legislative battle

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2006

Alison Hawkes article on the battle over mercury and auto emissions standards. DEP plans to set higher standards than the federal requirement. While many legislators have objected, DEP’s decision…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Cuts Helped the Poor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2006

Waterbury Connecticut Republican-American editorial on the benefits of federal tax cuts on all income levels. It’s a point worth repeating, since those tax rates will go up if not…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Tidal Wave

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2006

Wall Street Journal article on how increased federal tax revenue-the largest two year increase in history (stemming from economic growth following tax cuts)-are reducing the federal deficit. Of course,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Property Taxes by County

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 4, 2006

Tax Foundation Data – Property Taxes on Owner Occupied Housing by County, 2005. Data on average property tax paid, average home value, and average income for homeowners. Features the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Gov’t subsidies bad economic policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 4, 2006

Bill Dunkelberg’s comments on KYW: Philadelphia Gas Works wants a hundred million more dollars of your money. Why? Well, over the years, they have been inefficiently managed, beset with…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Cuts and the Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 3, 2006

Heritage Foundation Report titled (and summarized) Tax Rate Reductions Strengthen the Economy, But Excessive Government Spending Threatens Long-Run Performance.Some very nice charts and numbers are in there.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Democrats want you to pay more taxes

  • October 3, 2006

Tony Phyrillas highlights the government’s “take” of your money. His conclusion on what rolling back the Bush tax cuts would mean to Pennsylvanians is enlightening: • Pennsylvania’s married…

Media

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