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.
State Budget
Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should Know
House Bill 110, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA), would amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to limit spending increases to the combined rate of inflation and population growth over a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should KnowGovernment Accountability
Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?
Every year, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) produces a report announcing the “Judicial Hellholes” across the nation. In the 2017 edition, Pennsylvania makes their list- twice. The…
Media
Read More: Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?Government Accountability
Restoring State Budget Transparency
A House appropriations subcommittee hosted a hearing last week on Pennsylvania’s tax structure and fiscal policy. One of the issues highlighted – Pennsylvania’s lack of state budget transparency. Robert P.
Media
Read More: Restoring State Budget TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional Districts
Overlooked in yesterday’s news about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordering a new Congressional district map was the fact that—regardless of the outcome of that case—Pennsylvania will likely lose a congressional…
Media
Read More: Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional DistrictsRegulation
Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory Burdens
Tackling one regulation at a time, House lawmakers released a regulatory overreach report aimed at responsibly lightening the commonwealth's heavy regulatory burden. It takes 18 weeks to read the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory BurdensHealth Care
States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work Requirements
It's official: The Trump administration has formally endorsed the policy of work requirements for healthy Medicaid recipients. For years states have sought this flexibility to help beneficiaries of Medicaid—government-run health insurance…
Media
Read More: States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work RequirementsTaxes & Economy
Coal and Nuclear Subsidies Rejected, Time to End All Energy Subsidies
Government subsidies for so-called green energy are contributing to the closings of coal and nuclear plants that keep Pennsylvania’s electricity system reliable. In response, the U.S. Department of Energy…
Media
Read More: Coal and Nuclear Subsidies Rejected, Time to End All Energy SubsidiesRegulation
Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100k
This post was updated to reflect a change in private sector compensation. For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the average cost of a state employee exceeds $100,000, according…
Media
Read More: Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100kTaxes & Economy
Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of Work
In the first press conference of 2018, House Republicans introduced a package of bills aimed at breaking generational poverty. Rep. Tobash urged reform given the desperate state of…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of WorkTaxes & Economy
Federal Tax Reform Helps Middle-Class Families
Hardworking families in Pennsylvania are burdened by an onerous federal tax structure that hinders rather than promotes economic growth and prosperity. That’s why Congress is working to overhaul the broken…
Commentary
Read More: Federal Tax Reform Helps Middle-Class FamiliesState Budget
Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?
Secretary of the Budget Randy Albright gave a surprisingly upbeat mid-year budget briefing yesterday. According to the state’s budget office, Pennsylvania’s structural deficit is virtually gone. Yet, reason…
Media
Read More: Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?Health Care
Obamacare Exchanges Continue To Dissapoint
Open enrollment for Obamacare exchange plans ends on December 15. It is convenient to blame the new administration and efforts to repeal the law for dwindling choices, disappointing enrollment, and…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Exchanges Continue To DissapointState Budget
Moving Toward a Better Budget Process
Pennsylvania received a bit of good news from Fitch Ratings last week, as the agency affirmed the commonwealth’s credit rating. However, the state’s outlook remains negative. A downgrade is…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward a Better Budget ProcessRegulation
Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More Reform
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an article detailing the $100,000+ pension payouts for 500 retired state employees—a jarring reminder that Pennsylvania’s state retirement system…
Media
Read More: Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More ReformTaxes & Economy
PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other State
Where are Pennsylvanians moving? Turns out, 44 states gained taxpayers from Pennsylvania last year. New data released yesterday by the IRS on state-to-state migration showed Pennsylvania gained residents moving from New…
Media
Read More: PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other StateState Budget
A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed or supported 10 tax hikes on working families. Lawmakers worked with Wolf to raise taxes in two of the past three years.
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike ProposalsRegulation
Making PA Competitive Again
Lower post-recession unemployment & labor force participation rates are hopeful signs for a historically-weak economy, but without permanent policy changes, other states will continue to surpass Pennsylvania’s economic performance. At…
Media
Read More: Making PA Competitive AgainGovernment Accountability
A Step Towards Smarter Spending
The governor and state lawmakers are taking a step towards tackling our spending problem. On Tuesday a bicameral group of state lawmakers introduced a zero-based budgeting bill. This proposal would…
Media
Read More: A Step Towards Smarter SpendingState Budget
Promising Budget Reforms on the Horizon
Pennsylvania’s latest budget impasse exposed a dysfunctional state budget process. Several members of the House of Representatives have introduced a package of reforms to correct the myriad of problems contributing to…
Media
Read More: Promising Budget Reforms on the HorizonState Budget
PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 Charts
Pennsylvania is in poor financial shape and staring down a consequential demographic shift. Check out the 5 charts below for more on the challenges facing our state and the…
Media
Read More: PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 ChartsState Budget
New Budget Report Demands Urgent Action
By 2023, the state deficit could reach more than $2 billion. By 2030, Pennsylvania will have just 2.4 workers for every 1 person of retirement age. These were some of the most…
Media
Read More: New Budget Report Demands Urgent Action