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.
State Budget
Should Pennsylvania Strive to Become #51?
Political realities forced Gov. Wolf to scale back his record tax-and-spend proposals from the past two years. Still, he didn’t completely abandon his government-centric approach, opting to include $1…
Media
Read More: Should Pennsylvania Strive to Become #51?Health Care
7 Ways to Fix Health Care on the 7th Anniversary of Obamacare
Seven years ago, Obamacare became the law of the land. Later today, the US House is scheduled to vote on a controversial repeal and replace bill. While the outcome in Washington…
Media
Read More: 7 Ways to Fix Health Care on the 7th Anniversary of ObamacareRegulation
Senate Prepares New Pension Reform Bill
The state Senate is preparing to introduce a pension reform bill nearly identical to the compromise bill that fell three House votes short last fall. Senator Pat Browne and Majority…
Media
Read More: Senate Prepares New Pension Reform BillRegulation
Protect Students, Not Subsidies
Gov. Wolf’s request to reduce tax credits by $100 million is causing a stir in the legislature. According to a Capitolwire story (paywall), Republicans raised objections on several fronts,…
Media
Read More: Protect Students, Not SubsidiesRegulation
Policy Memo: The Downside of Raising the Minimum Wage
In February, Gov. Wolf proposed raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $12, claiming a higher minimum wage will raise revenue, reduce welfare participation and spur job growth. These claims are…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: The Downside of Raising the Minimum WageRegulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2017
February proved to be another poor month for revenue collections. For the fourth straight month—and now seven of the last eight—collections fell short of official estimates from the the Pennsylvania Department of…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2017Taxes & Economy
What the Soda Tax Can Teach us About the Budget
The high costs of Philadelphia's soda tax are mounting by the week. The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting a 30-50 percent drop in beverage sales for some supermarkets and distributors.
Media
Read More: What the Soda Tax Can Teach us About the BudgetHealth Care
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Imagine if Stephen King had written Green Eggs and Ham. What if Dr. Seuss had penned The Shining? Gov. Wolf’s third budget address was an equally disorienting shift in tone…
Media
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing GovernmentRegulation
Examining the Staggering Cost of Pensions
CF senior policy analyst James Paul recently spoke with WURD Radio’s Stephanie Renee on Pennsylvania’s skyrocketing pension costs—and what can be done about them. Pennsylvania’s unfunded pension liability stands at…
Media
Read More: Examining the Staggering Cost of PensionsState Budget
Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget Proposal
This morning Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2017-18 state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1. Shift to redesigning government. This is a…
Media
Read More: Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget ProposalState Budget
State Budget Solution #5: Tackle the Shadow Budget
General Fund Budget Is Just 40 Percent of State Government’s True Cost February 3, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—With budget season launching, most public discussion will focus on the General Fund…
Press Release
Read More: State Budget Solution #5: Tackle the Shadow BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2017
Revenue collections underperformed again in January, according to the Department of Revenue. This is the third straight month—and the sixth of the last seven—in which revenue collections fell short of official…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2017State Budget
Opportunity Knocks for State Budget Innovation
“Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.” Pennsylvanians should heed these words from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. in the upcoming budget season. Governor Wolf and key legislative…
Media
Read More: Opportunity Knocks for State Budget InnovationState Budget
State Budget Solution #4: Cut Corporate Welfare
Pa. Leads Nation in Wasteful Corporate Subsidies at $6 Billion Since 2007 February 1, 2017, Harrisburg, Pa.—This year state government will transfer more than $800 million from Pennsylvanians…
Press Release
Read More: State Budget Solution #4: Cut Corporate WelfareHealth Care
The Case for Block Granting Medicaid
Governor Wolf is decrying efforts in Washington to give states more control over Medicaid through a block grant. This will have a devastating impact for many Pennsylvanians, and…
Media
Read More: The Case for Block Granting MedicaidRegulation
Film Tax Credit Draws Bad Reviews
Be it Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher, Denzel Washington in Fences, or Gerard Butler in Law Abiding Citizen—everyone loves to see their favorite movie stars come to the neighborhood. This, combined…
Media
Read More: Film Tax Credit Draws Bad ReviewsRegulation
Budget Solution of the Week: Reduce Special Interest Spending
In our budget solutions blog series, we’ve covered the benefits of a government efficiency review, the need to modernize the commonwealth’s corrections system, and the importance of…
Media
Read More: Budget Solution of the Week: Reduce Special Interest SpendingEducation
Budget Solution of the Week: School Choice
Earlier this month, House Majority Leader Dave Reed challenged his colleagues to change the way Harrisburg operates: “Now is the time to reimagine and redesign government, our state and…
Media
Read More: Budget Solution of the Week: School ChoiceHealth Care
4 Obamacare Failures & How to Fix Them
For almost seven years the benefits of Obamacare have been exaggerated and the costs severely underestimated. As repeal efforts gain momentum, many are understandably uncomfortable about another dramatic shift in…
Media
Read More: 4 Obamacare Failures & How to Fix ThemCriminal Justice Reform
Budget Solution of the Week: Corrections Reform
The Department of Corrections (DOC) recently announced its intentions to close two state prisons and reduce capacity at community corrections facilities (halfway houses). These decisions will cut state incarceration…
Media
Read More: Budget Solution of the Week: Corrections ReformPublic Union Democracy
The Inquirer’s Problematic Budget Prescriptions
A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial urges optimism about the forthcoming state budget debate. It’s certainly well-warranted. Gov. Wolf and legislative leaders have repeatedly expressed interest in redesigning state government to…
Media
Read More: The Inquirer’s Problematic Budget Prescriptions