Prosperity
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Read More: New Year, New Taxes in PennsylvaniaHigh 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
Minimum wage, maximum deception
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes why labor unions are the chief proponents of artificially raising labor costs. “Odd what liberal politicians and union-types see as ‘fairness,’ considering wage floors do…
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Rendell’s minimum wage proposal too low?
With professional baseball’s minimum salary increasing by $9,000 to $327,000, aren’t Pennsylvania’s entry-level workers worth at least that much? Where’s your compassion Governor? Set your sites higher!…
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Read More: Rendell’s minimum wage proposal too low?Regulation
The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector Pensions
Whether it is pensions for state workers, teachers or legislators, the financial promises made by politicians have put taxpayers on the hook. How much? Well, don’t ask the people who…
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Read More: The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector PensionsTaxes & Economy
Defending the Indefensible
Gov. Rendell just doesn’t get it that if Pennsylvania is the next state to tax, borrow and spend itself to prosperity, it will also be the FIRST! In this…
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“inebriation of your own buncombe”
Colin McNickle of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gets it right on the money … no, make that YOUR money. Read ‘Public-purpose’ mountebanks in today’s Trib.
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Read More: “inebriation of your own buncombe”Health Care
Free lifetime health care will be costly
The growing tab for taxpayer-funded benefits, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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Pro free-markets and pro-business are not the same
George Mason University economics professor Don Boudreaux draws the important distinction between supporting free-markets and supporting businesses. For example, he writes: “Like many economists, I oppose minimum-wage legislation. But this…
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Should we repeal the minimum wage?
Hans F. Sennholz, Professor Emeritus at Grove City College, says “Good intentions, when guided by error and ignorance, may have undesirable consequences. There is no better example than minimum wage…
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Guv can’t find 00.2% in budget fat
AP story: Rendell Vetoes Tax Cuts As any economist worthy of his title would tell Gov. Rendell, using the 5 year total of $1.1 billion is a static (and…
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Lawmakers take break on tax issue
Will either the House or the Senate plan be enough to satisfy taxpayers? Methinks not. Here’s a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on the lull before the storm in Harrisburg. The…
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“No room at the inn”
At the heart of the Christmas story rests some important lessons concerning free enterprise, government, and the role of wealth in society. Let’s begin with one of the most famous…
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New Population Data
The US Census Bureau released their annual population estimates yesterday. Pennsylvania continues to lag behind: Pennsylvania’s population grew by 0.3% last year, slower than the national growth (0.9%) and…
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Privatizing Toll Roads
Good study on privatization of Toll Roads in USA Today, summarized by the National Center for Policy Analysis. It save taxpayers money and generates revenue for government. It will…
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Minimum Wage: Q & A
WHO ARE MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS IN PENNSYLVANIA?…
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Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing Wage
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is in the midst of discussing what to do about school property taxes. The discussion is an old one in Harrisburg. The complexity of this issue…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Property Taxpayer Protections: Tax Referendum & Prevailing WageTaxes & Economy
The Minimum Wage: DeWeese as Marx
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial board said it, not me…but they’re right!! This may be the week that the Democrats attempt to artificially increase labor costs in PA. The irony,…
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Help low wage workers by taking away their jobs?
From the National Center for Policy Analysis: In June 2004 Santa Fe became one of three cities in the United States to pass a city-wide minimum wage applying…
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Read More: Help low wage workers by taking away their jobs?Government Accountability
Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, Pennsylvanians
The Tax Foundation released an analysis of federal capital gains and dividend taxes: The Tax Foundation – Majority of Seniors Benefit from Reduced Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates.
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New Poll from Quinnipiac University
Pennsylvania Voters Have Little Confidence In Tax Fix, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Anti-Incumbent Feeling Is Strong…
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Senate moves to curb eminent domain
News release from Sen. Piccola…. Senate Approves Piccola’s Landmark Eminent Domain Reform HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Whip Jeffrey Piccola (R-15) commended the Senate today for unanimously passing his “Property…
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House Dems Push for Increased Labor Costs in PA
In a seldom-used parliamentary maneuver, House Democrats may utilize House Rule 53 to discharge House Bill 257, legislation which would increase Pennsylvania’s starting wage by nearly 40% — from $5.15…
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