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.
Education
For Most Teachers, Status Quo Pension a Lousy Deal
Illuminating new research confirms what CF has been saying for years: Pennsylvania’s pension system is a bad deal for teachers. In EducationNext, authors Chad Aldeman and Kelly Robson…
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Read More: For Most Teachers, Status Quo Pension a Lousy DealTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s ‘Economic Iron Curtain’
Imagine discovering buried treasure on your property. Suddenly, you can provide for your family, send your kids to college debt-free, pay off your parent’s mortgage, or fund your retirement. It…
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Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its Future
Decades of poor policy decisions have contributed to Pennsylvania’s current fiscal struggles. Not coincidentally, as the size and scope of government has increased, so have the commonwealth’s financial and economic…
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Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Past Can Shape Its FutureHealth Care
Obamacare Repeal Could Strengthen Medicaid
There is no shortage of dire warnings from the press, medical industry lobbyists, and other left-leaning organizations about the American Health Care Act's (AHCA) landmark Medicaid reforms. At the…
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Read More: Obamacare Repeal Could Strengthen MedicaidHealth Care
Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths Debunked
What happens when Obamacare mandates drive insurance companies out of the marketplace? One breast cancer survivor in Maricopa County, Arizona—which lost all but one Obamacare…
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Read More: Five Pre-Existing Condition Myths DebunkedState Budget
PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 Charts
Commentary
Read More: PA.’s Fiscal Picture in 10 ChartsHealth Care
Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of Opportunity
As the past seven years have shown, no one in Congress is qualified to make healthcare decisions for Pennsylvanians. The latest version of the American Health Care Act will give…
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Read More: Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort Full of OpportunityTaxes & Economy
Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s Economy
Yesterday, Elizabeth noted how Pennsylvania lost 13,000 college-educated millennials to other states in 2015. Overall, Pennsylvania lost 45,000 residents in interstate migration last year. Why are millennials and…
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Read More: Perception v. Reality Check on Pennsylvania’s EconomyState Budget
News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses Grow
“Jobs that pay” is one of Gov. Wolf’s three key priorities. But who creates these jobs? Not government. Small businesses provide 55 percent of all jobs and account for 66…
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Read More: News Release: 5 Ways State Government Can Help Small Businesses GrowTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted Lobotomy
Every day, 36 college graduates flee Pennsylvania for better opportunities in other states, according to a new Independent Fiscal Office trends report. Overall, there was a net outflow of…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted LobotomyState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017
Pennsylvania’s financial problems continue to mount. April’s revenue collections were well below the Department of Revenue’s official estimate, which means the state’s deficit will likely be larger than expected.
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Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2017Regulation
Should Pennsylvania Subsidize Horse Racing?
Last month the House passed a General Fund budget that included more than $56 million in corporate welfare reductions. At the time, we indicated even more reductions were possible given…
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Read More: Should Pennsylvania Subsidize Horse Racing?Education
Ten Reasons for Optimism
This week state lawmakers advanced a plethora of good policy, from legislation to finally end the government liquor monopoly to a bill that would improve health care in rural areas.
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Read More: Ten Reasons for OptimismRegulation
The Keystone State of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s corporate welfare culture is pervasive. The state has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in subsidy payments since 2007—without getting much in return. This large transfer of wealth…
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Adventures in State Budget Wonderland
In Lewis Carroll’s classic wonderland tale, Alice famously asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” the…
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A New Wave of Welfare Reform
Governors across the country are proposing game-changing welfare reforms and Pennsylvania should follow their example. Yesterday, Maine submitted a waiver to the federal government asking for permission…
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News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax Fix
Today, in the latest attempt to fix an onerous tax responsible for as many as 100 vape shop closures across the state, the Senate Finance Committee advanced SB…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax FixRegulation
Following Zippo’s Lead on Pensions
Zippo’s recent retirement plan transition is another example of why Pennsylvania state government should do the same. As Zippo CFO Don Hall said, defined contribution plans like 401(k)s carry…
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Read More: Following Zippo’s Lead on PensionsState Budget
Pa.’s Economic Outlook is Poor but Not Permanent
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released its annual Rich States, Poor States’ report, which includes economic rankings for each state. Unfortunately, the news isn’t good for Pennsylvania. The state…
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Read More: Pa.’s Economic Outlook is Poor but Not PermanentState Budget
News Release: Pa. Spends Nearly One-Third of Year Working to Pay Taxes
April 18 was this year’s tax return filing deadline, but how long do Pennsylvanians work to earn enough to pay their total tax bill? In 2017, that date—dubbed Tax Freedom…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Pa. Spends Nearly One-Third of Year Working to Pay TaxesRegulation
The Strong Case for?and Weak Case Against?Pension Reform
Pennsylvania’s public pension plans are woefully underfunded, with enough assets to cover just 60 percent of liabilities. This poor financial showing has relegated the commonwealth to the bottom of the Tax Foundation’s ranking of…
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Read More: The Strong Case for?and Weak Case Against?Pension Reform