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.
Criminal Justice Reform
Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ Potential
Pennsylvania’s poverty rate remains far too high. Employers can’t find workers with technical skills, and the commonwealth continues to lead the northeast in incarcerating our citizens. One organization is…
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Read More: Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ PotentialTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a Burden
The commonwealth’s business tax climate is chilling. A report from the Tax Foundation ranks Pennsylvania on a variety of key taxes, putting the state at 34th overall. On corporate income taxes,…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a BurdenEducation
Young Entrepreneurs in Action
It’s rare to see kids voluntarily give up their Saturday to work. But that’s exactly what my 12- and 14-year old daughters—along with a dozen other kids—did at the recent…
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Where Are Americans Moving?
Millions of people move throughout the United States each year. Some make a home on the next street over. Others move across the country. This is a normal and healthy…
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Read More: Where Are Americans Moving?Taxes & Economy
How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax Code
Pennsylvania’s state and local tax structure is an illogical patchwork of punitive and nuisance taxes, administrative inefficiencies, and special interest carveouts. A new report from the Tax Foundation highlights…
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Read More: How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax CodeRegulation
Gov. Wolf’s Unfair Demands Will Hinder the Economy
The Wolf administration is once again attempting to impose excessive costs on the gas industry—and consumers—by proposing triple-digit-percentage increases in fees for authorizing well development. Pennsylvania charges more for…
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Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Unfair Demands Will Hinder the EconomyTaxes & Economy
The Unmistakable Merits of Tax Reform
Later today, Rep. Seth Grove and the York County House Delegation will host a legislative forum on the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed late last year.
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Read More: The Unmistakable Merits of Tax ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-Offenders
Pennsylvania has a 3-year recidivism rate of nearly 61 percent. Research shows one of the most critical components of successful re-entry is a job. But for 255…
Memo
Read More: Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-OffendersState Budget
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in Pennsylvania
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides tax relief to working people across all income levels. Since its passage, more than 660 businesses have announced raises, bonuses, or enhanced retirement benefits…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Tax Reform Continues to Produce Positive News
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has provided much-needed tax relief to working people—a key selling point leading up to passage of the law. However, the act’s advocates…
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Read More: Tax Reform Continues to Produce Positive NewsCriminal Justice Reform
Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf
In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…
Memo
Read More: Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. WolfTaxes & Economy
Exploding Myths about Tax Reform
The misconceptions partially driving public opinion of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are stubbornly persistent. Opponents of the tax reform have invented myth after myth to sour public perception…
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Read More: Exploding Myths about Tax ReformHealth Care
Small Increases Expected on Pa.’s Exchange
Pennsylvanians who purchase health insurance on the Exchange will finally get some relief from years of premium hikes. Pa. Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman announced they expect an average premium…
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Read More: Small Increases Expected on Pa.’s ExchangeGovernment Accountability
State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in Earmarks
July 24, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Nearly 50 obscurely-worded earmarks are buried in Pennsylvania’s fiscal code—amounting to $35 million in hidden expenses—according to a Commonwealth Foundation analysis. Click here for a searchable…
Press Release
Read More: State Budget Bill Packed with $35 Million in EarmarksCriminal Justice Reform
Another Step Towards Reducing Barriers to Work
Pennsylvania licenses over 250 occupations, creating unnecessary bureaucracy and obstacles to good paying jobs. Across the country states like Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Nebraska are eliminating licensure requirements…
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Read More: Another Step Towards Reducing Barriers to WorkEducation
Philly’s Soda Tax is Legal But Not Beneficial
This week the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Philadelphia’s soda tax, citing the Sterling Act as grounds for their decision. While supporters celebrate their good intentions, the tax is…
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Read More: Philly’s Soda Tax is Legal But Not BeneficialState Budget
The Tangible Benefits of Tax Reform
One of the many benefits of federal tax reform kicked in earlier this month in the form of lower utility bills for Pennsylvania residents. Back in May, the Pennsylvania Public…
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Read More: The Tangible Benefits of Tax ReformPublic Union Democracy
More States Reject Prevailing Wage Mandates
Last month, Michigan took a step forward and joined 24 other states that have no prevailing wage law. Could Pennsylvania be the next? For far too long, Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage…
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Read More: More States Reject Prevailing Wage MandatesTaxes & Economy
Gov. Wolf’s Overtime Rule Will Backfire
Gov. Wolf’s progressive policy agenda is threatening to make it more difficult to hire and retain workers. Earlier this year, the governor proposed increasing the overtime salary threshold from…
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Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Overtime Rule Will BackfireCriminal Justice Reform
Bipartisan Support for a Second Chance
We all deserve a second chance. This is the core principle underlying “clean slate” legislation, which the legislature overwhelmingly approved last week. The measure, House Bill 1419, sponsored by…
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Read More: Bipartisan Support for a Second ChanceHealth Care
Hidden Human Services Spending
What’s the main driver of spending in Harrisburg? It’s not education. The main driver of costs is the Department of Human Services, which includes Medicaid, child services, nursing home care…
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