State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
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…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh 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
Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?
NCPA Analysis of Health Insurance Mandates, such as the new Massachusetts law and proposals discussed at recent hearings in Pennsylvania. Bottom line: they won’t work, and they could drive…
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Incomes and Politics
Wall Street Journal article on income disparity and inconsistent political rhetoric.
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Household Income Analysis
Interesting note by the The Tax Foundation on recent household income data. While a recent Census Report indicates that real median household income (adjusted for inflation) has declined since…
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Tax Credits for Health Care
While Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss mandating universal health care coverage, a Census Bureau report indicates fewer people are receiving health insurance from their employers, and more are paying for…
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Soak the Poor
Analysis of how not “extending the Bush tax cuts” (i.e. raising taxes dramatically in 2011) would hurt low- and moderate-income familes from Investors Business Daily, summarize here by…
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Economic Benefit of Wal-Mart
Op-Ed by Robert Samuleson in today’s Washington Post on how Wal-Mart’s low-price policies benefit all Americans – doing a much better job controlling inflation than the Federal Reserve. “A…
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Reveal Health Care Costs
Health care pricing – the only good or service I can think of where you don’t learn the price until the bill comes – may be changing. USA Today…
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Rendell-conomics
According to News Release from the Governor, he has revitalized local communities by locating state offices in downtown locations. Apparently the key to economic growth is bigger state government…
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Read More: Rendell-conomicsGovernment Accountability
Legislative leaders need a diet
A must-watch story from KDKA exposing how many legislators leaders take $141 per-diem for “lodging and meals” every day they are in Harrisburg, then charge taxpayers for catering or…
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How to fix our road
A book released from the Independent Institute discusses various options for transportation agencies to privatize, outsource, and use market incentives for road repairs and usage.
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The Benefits of Health Savings Accounts
Data from Americans for Tax Reform shows that since the creation of Health Savings Accounts (January 2004) the annual growth in health care costs slowed, and health care costs…
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Subsidy Economics 101
Cato Institute commentary on why government subsidies have made housing, health care, and education more expensive for twenty-somethings. “According to data from the College Board, over the past 20…
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Transportation Funding Study
A PennDot commission released a report on funding for transporation titled “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Transporation Funding Crisis” (they identify a funding “crisis” because of too little taxpayer funding for transportation,…
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Read More: Transportation Funding StudyRegulation
$13,000 fees for new homes?
The Patriot News reports on a PA House committee hearing on charging impact fees on new homes – of $13,000 per home – in growing areas. Why would we…
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State sues over HIA attempt to seize land
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has filed suit to stop the Harrisburg Airport from using eminent domain to take Cramer Airport Parking, reports the Patriot News. Cramer Airport Parking…
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Health Care for All?
A Pennsylvania House committee will be holding hearings on universal health care (patterned after the Massachusetts plan passed earlier this year), reports the Patriot News. Read why…
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Health Care Mandates No Silver Bullet
In April 2006, Massachusetts enacted a dramatic health care reform package. Dubbed “Romneycare” after Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, this plan calls for reforms in the health insurance market, a mandate…
Commentary
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Rendell Doing It For The ‘Kids’ – And His Image
Jim Panyard’s editorial in The Evening Bulletin on the forthcoming “Cover All Kids” taxpayer-funded health care plan.
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Mythology Of The Minimum Wage
CBS News article on how raising the federal minimum wage increases poverty and unemployment…
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Pennsylvania 41st “Best State for Business”
Pennsylvania ranks 41st among the 50 states in Forbes Magazine’s ranking of the the “Best States for Business.” While PA ranks high on “Quality of Life” (12th) it…
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State Tax Trends
Americans for Tax Reform report on state tax trends over the past 25 years. They find that (1) income tax increases have been less steep more recently, (2) increase…
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