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.

State Budget

The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2006

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had a good tax year – that is, in government collection terms. General Fund revenues will exceed expectations this year by a projected $353 million. But…

Commentary

Read More: The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage Reality…

  • February 22, 2006

From: John F. BrinsonSent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:19 PMTo: PA General AssemblySubject: Minimum wage———————————————————– Dear Friends in the Pennsylvania Legislature: An increase in the minimum…

Media

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State Budget

The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2006

Fascinating analysis by the Heritage Foundation on how the Bush administration – attacked by critics for “cutting spending for the poor while cutting taxes for the rich” – has…

Media

Read More: The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich

Taxes & Economy

The race for governor: Rendell’s ruse – PittsburghLIVE.com

  • February 14, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on “economic development.” Citing the Allegheny Institute, the Trib writes that “Government subsidized “economic development” — a classic example of misallocating of resources — does nothing…

Media

Read More: The race for governor: Rendell’s ruse – PittsburghLIVE.com

Taxes & Economy

Rendell the Benevolent Job Creator

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2006

You may have heard Governor Rendell’s 2006-07 Budget Address, in which he once again touted his role in “creating jobs”. By using selected statistics, crediting any job growth in…

Media

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State Budget

Rendell’s Budget vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act

  • February 8, 2006

MEMORANDUM DATE: February 8, 2006TO: All Republican SenatorsCC: Capitol NewsroomFROM: Erik ArnesonSUBJECT: Rendell 06-07 Budget Proposal vs. Taxpayer Fairness Act Gov. Rendell today claimed that his…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Absurd logic used to support minimum wage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2006

Yet another example of the limitless rhetoric used to support a minimum wage increase. This time, Rep. Josephs calls out other female legislators, demanding that they support a minimum…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Spend more now, raises taxes later

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2006

The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards reports that many states (like maybe Pennsylvania) are following the same mistakes of the late 90s in Busting the State Tax-Revenue Boom. When state…

Media

Read More: Spend more now, raises taxes later

Taxes & Economy

Mentality of Minimum Wage Supporters

  • February 6, 2006

The Morning Call is reporting that House Republicans may be the only barrier between Rendell and his labor union buddies’ artificial increas in the labor costs in PA. One…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Taxing telecommuters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2006

New study from the The Tax Foundation on how New York, Pennsylvania, and two oather states attempt to penalize telecommuters who choose not to live there. However, rather than…

Media

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State Budget

Rendell to propose business tax cuts

  • January 31, 2006

Attempting to reshape himself as a “pro-business” Democrat after 3 years of punishing job creators, Gov. Rendell gave a sneak peek into next week’s budget address. Remember, this is after…

Media

Read More: Rendell to propose business tax cuts

Government Accountability

#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking

  • January 31, 2006

Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…

Media

Read More: #254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking

Taxes & Economy

House fails to override veto of tax cut

  • January 31, 2006

Patriot-News story on yesterday’s action in the House where many Democrats who originally supported tax cuts renegged on their suppport.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum logic

  • January 28, 2006

A small businessman says, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, how he’ll deal with Rendell’s minimum wage increase … let go employees. Of course, those pushing this Fascist economic policy…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

The Politics of Ever-Expanding Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2006

A quality essay by Steven Malanga on how the recipients of increased government spending support increased government spending. Taxpayers are footing the bill for lobbying by by governments and…

Media

Read More: The Politics of Ever-Expanding Government

Education

A government big enough to give you everything you want …

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 25, 2006

There is a theory (articulate in a piece by Mark Bauerlein) that left-wing academics are engrossed in large scale group think, that when large numbers of the radical left…

Media

Read More: A government big enough to give you everything you want …

Taxes & Economy

Higher minimum wage will hurt state

  • January 25, 2006

The Morning Call reprinted my letter to the governor in today’s newspaper. Also, tune in to WHP 580 AM today from 3-4pm when I will be debating a representative…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum Wage

  • January 23, 2006

January 23, 2006 Governor Edward G. Rendell225 Main Capitol BuildingHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dear Governor Rendell, I understand that politicians sometimes change their policy positions. And I probably don’t…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Not so fast, Eddie

  • January 22, 2006

Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute further demonstrates the folly of government-directed “economic development.” Indeed, Pennsylvania has been a leader among states in using tax dollars to “create jobs,” yet…

Media

Read More: Not so fast, Eddie

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage; Maximum Ignorance

  • January 19, 2006

Gov. Rendell cozied up to his labor union buddies today with his push for an artificial increase in labor costs in PA of nearly 40%. (Remember, Rendell agreed with us…

Media

Read More: Minimum Wage; Maximum Ignorance

Education

“Living in an alternate universe”

  • January 16, 2006

The Brownsville Area School District recently voted to give administrators some retirement benefits that no private sector would even consider–Nine years of free healthcare insurance for retiring early. As The…

Media

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