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.
Regulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016
Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016Public Union Democracy
A Dramatic Shift in Pennsylvania
From celebration to soul-searching, post-election analysis is everywhere. While top-of-the-ballot results dominate headlines and your news feed, don’t miss the dramatic shift that occurred last night in Pennsylvania. Republicans achieved…
Media
Read More: A Dramatic Shift in PennsylvaniaEducation
Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?
Dwight K. Schrute is an employee at Dunder Mifflin—a fictional Scranton paper company featured in NBC’s The Office. And he just may be the key to overcoming the city’s very…
Media
Read More: Can a Dwight Schrute Save Scranton?Regulation
Who Pays for SEPTA?
News reports today indicate SEPTA (the public transit agency serving the Philadelphia region) came to an agreement with the Transportation Workers Union Local 234—ending a six-day strike just before election…
Media
Read More: Who Pays for SEPTA?State Budget
Prioritizing Tax Revenue over People
PennLive recently published an editorial analyzing the General Assembly’s actions—or lack thereof—on key issues during the last two weeks of the legislative session. Their views on the e-cigarette (vape) tax deserve special…
Media
Read More: Prioritizing Tax Revenue over PeoplePublic Union Democracy
Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative Session
Three critical bills stalled last week amidst a flurry of last minute legislative activity. Failure to reform pensions, repeal the e-cigarette tax, and prohibit ghost teaching were missed opportunities that…
Media
Read More: Missed Opportunities: Fall Legislative SessionHealth Care
Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare Exchange
Today marks the fifth open enrollment season for Obamacare's insurance exchange. As predicted, premiums continue to skyrocket. In fact, Pennsylvania's premium increases are among the highest in the…
Media
Read More: Painful Year for Pennsylvanians on the Obamacare ExchangePublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense
Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ Expense Reform Could Have Freed Public Employees from Restrictive, Failing Pension System October 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—In a…
Press Release
Read More: Union Leaders Kill Critical Pension Reform at Members’ and Taxpayers’ ExpenseRegulation
State Pension Reform This Week?
Pension reform talks are in full swing as state lawmakers finish up their fall session. The latest pension proposal offers a side-by-side hybrid system for new employees, including new…
Media
Read More: State Pension Reform This Week?Regulation
Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform
A majority of Pennsylvanians want pension reform. In a poll conducted from October 4th to 9th, 54 percent of voters supported placing new state employees in a 401(k)-style…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Want Pension ReformGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of Conservatism
What are the roots of conservatism? How has conservatism and its messengers changed over time and what are the consequences for the nation? Political commentator Matt Lewis, author of “…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Matt Lewis on the Roots of ConservatismRegulation
House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping Community
Gov. Wolf and the legislature clearly erred in their attempt to raise revenue on the backs of small vape shop business owners like Dori, Chris, Scottie, and…
Media
Read More: House Votes to Prevent Further Harm to the Vaping CommunityHealth Care
Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange
Pennsylvanians shopping on the health care exchange are in for a rude awakening. Yesterday the Insurance Department announced premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 32…
Media
Read More: Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. ExchangeGovernment Accountability
How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?
Why are taxpayers being charged for money left unspent? This question is posed by NBC 10 reporter Mitch Blacher to public school administrators in southeastern Pennsylvania districts. An NBC investigation…
Media
Read More: How Much is Too Much for Pa. School Districts?Regulation
Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook
In the past six years, Pennsylvania taxpayers’ unfunded pension liability has more than doubled from less than $30 billion to $63 billion. While the legislative debate over reform continues, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the HookEducation
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion? Districts Stock Massive Reserve Funds While Seeking Tax Hikes October 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—A Montgomery County…
Press Release
Read More: Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?Education
Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?
In June, CF published a searchable database showing fund balance data for each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts as of 2015. Given the recent…
Media
Read More: Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?Regulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016
Pennsylvania’s state budget is three months old and showing signs of a major budget deficit. Actual revenue collections are already behind $218.5 million through the first quarter, according to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016Criminal Justice Reform
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted
North Philadelphian Carol Johnson* saved $2,000 from her pension checks by storing the money in an upstairs bedroom. One day, the 87 year old's savings vanished in a matter…
Media
Read More: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort GuttedRegulation
Fighting for Survival
Yesterday was an emotional day for many. Hundreds of people from Pennsylvania’s vaping community traveled to Harrisburg to save their livelihoods and their way of life. The rally to repeal…
Media
Read More: Fighting for SurvivalTaxes & Economy
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops Bipartisan Vote Would Repeal 40-Percent Tax, Replace with Per-Milliliter Tax September 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the House Finance Committee voted 19-4 to…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops