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 Must Control Compensation Costs
The soaring costs of public employee compensation, if left unchecked, could aggravate Pennsylvania’s financial troubles. The growth in employee benefits, which have skyrocketed since 2006, is driving this upward trend…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Must Control Compensation CostsRegulation
Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each
Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K Each Benefit Costs Tripled Since 2000 February 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As Gov. Wolf calls for a record-high $80 billion…
Press Release
Read More: Secret Contracts Push State Worker Costs Near $100K EachState Budget
Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians Packing
Last year, we lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes—a net migration of 41,600 residents, gone. That’s nearly the entire population of York, Gov. Wolf’s hometown. Ironically, Wolf…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians PackingEducation
A Tale of Two School Districts
North Allegheny School District and Pittsburgh School District are barely a dozen miles apart, but their budgeting approaches for the next fiscal year are worlds apart. Thanks to rising pension…
Media
Read More: A Tale of Two School DistrictsTaxes & Economy
The Fair Share Fallacy
What is the natural gas industry's “fair share” of taxes? The answer depends on the calendar year. An analysis from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) finds the current “impact fee” is effectively a 5.5…
Media
Read More: The Fair Share FallacyState Budget
One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move Away
Residents in states with high taxes to want to move out, according to a recent Gallup poll. This includes 33 percent of Pennsylvania residents. This shouldn't be a shocker—Pennsylvania families…
Media
Read More: One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move AwayState Budget
One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want Out
One-Third of Pa. Residents Want Out High Taxes Driving Thousands of Pennsylvanians Across State Lines February 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—One-third of Pennsylvanians would rather move to another state than…
Press Release
Read More: One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want OutTaxes & Economy
Press Pause on Clean Power Plan
In a historic move, the US Supreme Court stayed the EPA's Clean Power Plan, otherwise known as Obama's energy tax or stealth cap and trade. The court’s actions halt implementation…
Media
Read More: Press Pause on Clean Power PlanEducation
Wolf Tops $1 Billion in New Education Spending
As expected, a cornerstone of Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal is a massive increase in state support of public schools. The administration seeks a $1.1 billion increase over the record-high funding…
Media
Read More: Wolf Tops $1 Billion in New Education SpendingState Budget
Deficit Hypocrisy
Much has been made of the state’s structural deficit, which amounts to about 3 percent of Pennsylvania's total operating budget. Unfortunately, Gov. Wolf can't envision a scenario in which government adopts reforms…
Media
Read More: Deficit HypocrisyState Budget
True Cost of Wolf’s Budget: Nearly $14,000 Per Worker
True Cost of Wolf’s Budget: Nearly $14,000 Per Worker Total Operating Budget to Reach $80 Billion for First Time February 11, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Did you know the state…
Press Release
Read More: True Cost of Wolf’s Budget: Nearly $14,000 Per WorkerState Budget
Five Facts about Wolf’s Second Budget Proposal
More of the same Wolf’s proposed budget mirrors what he offered—and lawmakers repeatedly rejected—last year: Massive tax hikes and record spending increases. It’s no surprise Wolf didn’t want to…
Media
Read More: Five Facts about Wolf’s Second Budget ProposalEducation
Wolf Doubles Down: Highest Spending Increase in 25 Years
Wolf Doubles Down: Highest Spending Increase in 25 Years Slaps Pennsylvanians with $850 per Family of Four Tax Increase February 9, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf doubled…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Doubles Down: Highest Spending Increase in 25 YearsState Budget
A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax Hikes
In 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed five broad-based tax hikes on working families—each of which was eventually rejected by state lawmakers. Here's some background on each of Gov. Wolf’s tax…
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax HikesEducation
Redesigning Government to Balance State and Local Budgets
Pennsylvania taxpayers shoulder the 15th highest state and local tax burden in the country. Consequently, the Keystone State has seen an exodus of working people. Unsustainable growth in…
Memo
Read More: Redesigning Government to Balance State and Local BudgetsState Budget
How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?
Pennsylvania currently has the 15th highest state and local tax burden in the country. Yet Gov. Wolf proposed historic tax hikes last year and continues to press for tax increases. Here’s an…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?State Budget
Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania
Higher government spending and raising taxes—while ignoring key fiscal reforms—is the status quo in Pennsylvania. For 45 years, government spending has steadily risen, increasing by an inflation-adjusted $13,800 per family of four or $3,450…
Memo
Read More: Reversing the Status Quo in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?
Next week Gov. Tom Wolf will unveil a “new” budget, with all expectations that it will be just like his first proposal—calling for new taxes on working families. In fact, you…
Media
Read More: Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?State Budget
Audio: PA Budget Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day has come and gone, but Gov. Wolf hasn’t stopped celebrating Punxsutawney Phil’s big day. Paying homage to the theme of the Groundhog Day movie, Wolf has trapped Pennsylvanians in…
Media
Read More: Audio: PA Budget Groundhog DayEducation
Groundhog Day: Wolf Demands Millions More for Education
When Punxsutawney Phil casts a shadow, Pennsylvanians expect a long winter. When Gov. Wolf issues a press release, Pennsylvanians expect a massive tax hike. How fitting that Wolf…
Media
Read More: Groundhog Day: Wolf Demands Millions More for EducationState Budget
Is Pa. Budget Groundhog Day Ahead?
Instead of changing course entering the new budget season, Wolf appears poised to continue governing by attack ad. No wonder the latest polling shows Wolf’s approval is lower now than…
Commentary
Read More: Is Pa. Budget Groundhog Day Ahead?