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

The Gas-Tax Hustle

  • May 6, 2006

by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. I’ll have my own take on “The Government’s Gas Problem” on Monday. Check out the main article at www.CommonwealthFoundation.org then!…

Media

Read More: The Gas-Tax Hustle

Taxes & Economy

Property tax proposal has lots of loopholes

  • May 3, 2006

Good coverage by Christina Gostomski (and John Micek) of the Allentown Morning Call on the faux taxpayer protections in the bill moving to the House today.

Media

Read More: Property tax proposal has lots of loopholes

Taxes & Economy

Taxing Oil

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2006

A “windfall” tax on “big oil” will only reduce the supply of oil and increase the cost of gasoline, writes Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Colin McKnickle. It is a shame,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Key to Property Tax Relief

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 1, 2006

The failure to pass a property tax “relief” plan in Harrisburg has everything to do with politics—politicians can’t agree on whose ox to gore. Current proposals require some taxpayers to…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Free Enterprise and Taxpayer Protection Act

  • April 27, 2006

An issue the Commonwealth Foundation has weighed in on, government “enterprises” that compete with private businesses. Read more about it here. Below is the Capitolwire.com story on yesterday’s hearing…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Why a windfall tax is bad policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2006

Should the federal government create a new tax on profits only for oil companies, as Governor Rendell suggests? This “windfall tax” esentially ensures a limit on the amount of…

Media

Read More: Why a windfall tax is bad policy

Government Accountability

The price of gas

  • April 25, 2006

Gouging…by government. Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2006

Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania! If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, you need look no further than Tax Freedom Day.

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Cut taxes to attract jobs

  • April 14, 2006

Commonwealth Foundation’s Nate Benefield in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act

  • April 13, 2006

It is “like throwing gasoline on a fire,” said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reivew. The idea is “definitely…

Media

Read More: The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act

Taxes & Economy

New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2006

Patriot News “Breaking News” coverage of our Property Tax Relief Scholarship proposal. Get our press release, or download our Policy Brief for more details and district-specific property…

Media

Read More: New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage

Health Care

Health care for everyone?

  • April 11, 2006

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes in today’s Wall Street Journal that he believes he’s found a way to provide health care for everyone, with “no new taxes, no employer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2006

Two Gems from Governor Rendell in The Scranton Times-Tribune: “Rendell says voters have a clear choice between a candidate who talks of cutting taxes and limiting spending – Swann…

Media

Read More: Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning

Taxes & Economy

Renouce the “Faith”

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 10, 2006

NOTE: This commentary was originally published on June 15, 2004. Politicians are fond of saying, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does." Yet the machinations of state and federal…

Commentary

Read More: Renouce the “Faith”

Taxes & Economy

“Populism in pursuit of power preservation”

  • April 9, 2006

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Colin McNickle has a few thoughts on the House’s passage of the minimum wage bill last week. Here’s an excerpt from today’s commentary, “Stop supporting fake…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

China’s Economic Development Lessons for Pennsylvania

  • April 8, 2006

NOTE: This commentary was originally published on April 19, 2004. Tax Day 2004 has come and gone, and as Pennsylvanians wrote their annual big checks to big government, they should…

Commentary

Read More: China’s Economic Development Lessons for Pennsylvania