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

Income tax cuts benefit all payers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

USA Today article exposes the rhetoric of “tax cuts for the rich.” They note that middle income taxpayers saw a larger percent reduction in their tax burdern, and that…

Media

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Health Care

Statement on Health Savings Accounts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2006

John Goodman of NCPA’s US Senate Testimony on Health Savings Accounts and the need for consumer driven health care.: “If health care really were free, people would have an…

Media

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Health Care

Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

New Report on state Medicaid reforms from the NCPA. “At the rate the program is growing, it is on a course to consume the entire budgets of state governments…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Cramer Parking/HIA Eminent Domain Case

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2006

The Patriot News reports that the legal standoff between Cramer Airport Parking may be resolved, if the airport agrees to one of three solutions that would allow them to…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Townhall.com::Wages of Stagnation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2006

Bruce Bartlett Commentary on economic gains of workers and households: “In short, despite all the talk about the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor, the fact…

Media

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Health Care

States could be overwhelmed by health care burden

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

AP Story on how the cost of health care plans for retired state workers will be enormous across the nation, as preliminary numbers (required by new GASB rules) roll…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Estimated Impact of the Swann Tax Cuts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

Executive Summary Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann has proposed a number of changes to state tax rates. This analysis focuses on four major components of that proposal—namely reductions in the…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

How States are Solving the Tax and Spending Problem

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2006

An overview of the provisions of various tax and spending limit initiatives on the ballot in other states, from the National Taxpayers Union.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Invisible Hand at Wal-Mart

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2006

Wal-Mart, the epitome of greed and all that is evil in the world, is doing what government and Medicare part D cannot – make prescription drugs more affordable. Read the…

Media

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State Budget

Transportation Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2006

Here is the listing of the $706 million in federal Transportation Earmarks for PA cited in my testimony today.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tougher emissions rule in PA?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2006

FAQ about the news proposed standards and its effects.Coverage of the standards and the decision making process.

Media

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Public Union Democracy

What to do About the Transportation Crisis?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2006

The Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission is currently holding hearings on the funding “crisis” in transportation. From 1995-96 to 2005-06, while inflation increased 28%, transportation spending in the state…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Wal-Mart and Chicago

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 14, 2006

Following Chicago Major Daley’s 1st ever veto, the city council is reconsidering the law they passed requiring “Big Box Retailers” to pay a “living wage” and benefits. Investor’s Business…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Why are people rich?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 13, 2006

A study, summarized by NCPA, takes on the critics of free markets, with some common sense finding. While some on the left insist that “the rich are getting richer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Total Cost of Pennsylvania State & Local Government

  • September 13, 2006

The total cost of state and local government in Pennsylvania reached an estimated $108.3 billion in FY 2005-06, and will likely exceed $130 billion by FY 2010-11 (by conservative projections).

Fact Sheet

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Taxes & Economy

Property Tax Relief that Isn’t

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 11, 2006

The new property tax “relief” plan, Act 1, is already taking heat for not providing much relief – even for senior citizens, the group targetted for immediate relief – based…

Media

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