Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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
PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind
Release from the BEA this morning on State Personal Income 2005. Pennsylvania ranked 37th in personal income growth in 2005, not as low as past years, but below the…
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Read More: PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging BehindTaxes & Economy
Wages of Politics
Wall Street Journal on the minimum wage.
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Read More: Wages of PoliticsRegulation
War on Wal-Mart coming to PA
From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Best quote: “Wal-Mart is trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.” Those heathens, trying to compete against unionized stores.
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Read More: War on Wal-Mart coming to PATaxes & Economy
Where does the state rank?
Philadelphia Daily News edits down our commentary.
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Read More: Where does the state rank?Regulation
Ballooning Pa. pension costs could increase taxes substantially
Excellent story on the looming pension crisis by Alison Hawkes in The Herald-Standard. But Rep. Mark Mustio points out the bigger problem: “It’s not like the system’s going to…
Media
Read More: Ballooning Pa. pension costs could increase taxes substantiallyTaxes & Economy
Classy Economist
The Wall Street Journal on Dr. Thomas Sowell.
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Read More: Classy EconomistTaxes & Economy
Abuse of Eminent Domain
Harrisburg Airport continues its quest to use eminent domain to take over a nearby competitor, according to the Patriot News. The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) is trying…
Media
Read More: Abuse of Eminent DomainTaxes & Economy
Earned Income Tax Credit, Not Minimum Wage Increase, Is Better Way
Employment Policies Institute testifies in Harrisburg in support of Earned Income Tax Credit…
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Read More: Earned Income Tax Credit, Not Minimum Wage Increase, Is Better WayHealth Care
Health benefit costs
Th Bucks County Courier Times looks at the healthcare benefits crisis… Good health comes at hefty cost to taxpayers “Biting the bullet’ at public systems Public…
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Read More: Health benefit costsTaxes & Economy
Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match Reality
As election time draws nearer, Gov. Ed Rendell is issuing a flurry of press releases to convince voters that his administration has improved Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and economic growth. To that…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match RealityTaxes & Economy
Minimum wage push continues
From The Morning Call Online: “Kate Philips, Rendell’s spokeswoman, said the administration is grateful the bill emerged from the committee, but that $6.25 ”barely keeps us competitive” with…
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Read More: Minimum wage push continuesTaxes & Economy
Who Pays for the Minimum Wage?
From Michigan’s Mackinac Center…. “When a business experiences increasing inventories, raising prices is the last thing it should do to resolve the problem. The same principle applies to labor.
Media
Read More: Who Pays for the Minimum Wage?Taxes & Economy
Hey, Big Spender
Peggy Noonan in today’s Wall Street Journal on President Bush’s bankrupt fiscal policies and his notion of “compassionate conservatism” Noonan: “That’s not what I understood him to mean. If…
Media
Read More: Hey, Big SpenderTaxes & Economy
Close the Loopholes
Few issues get politicians more exercised than the issue of tax “loopholes” – provisions in the tax code that allow affected taxpayers to reduce the amount of money they must…
Commentary
Read More: Close the LoopholesTaxes & Economy
Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job Loss
News release from Employment Policies Institute on PA minimum wage. Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job Loss for Low-SkilledEarned Income Tax Credit a Better Way…
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Read More: Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job LossTaxes & Economy
What do you do when the facts aren’t on your side?
Well, if you are Bill George, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, you hurl insults and yell them loudly. It works really well…so he thinks. This clip is from today’s…
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Read More: What do you do when the facts aren’t on your side?State Budget
Say you want a revolution?
Editorial from the Chambersburg Public Opinion on how our Supreme Court judges are spending YOUR money.
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Read More: Say you want a revolution?Public Union Democracy
Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good
The Hempfield Area School District is expecting nearly 90 employees (mostly teachers) to retire this year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This is a district where the average salary…
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Read More: Gettin’ out while the gettin’s goodTaxes & Economy
Seductive snake oil
Interesting commentary that goes to show you that the battle for free-markets is happening all over the world…including Israel. And the opponents of freedom are the same… ______________Seductive…
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Read More: Seductive snake oilTaxes & Economy
State Revenue Boom Paves Way for Tax Cuts
An analysis by the Cato Institute of tax revenue and rates for all 50 states ranks Pennsylvania as a “state in need of tax cuts.” This is based on…
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Read More: State Revenue Boom Paves Way for Tax CutsTaxes & Economy
Artificial costs
Prevailing wage issue in the Patriot-News.
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Read More: Artificial costs