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.
Education
Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans
Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans Pa. Spends $3,400 More Per Student than the National Average February 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today at 2 p.m., Gov. Wolf…
Press Release
Read More: Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education PlansHealth Care
The Trouble with Medicaid Expansion
As yesterday's deadline to enroll in an Obamacare marketplace insurance plan quietly passed, Gov. Wolf is boasting about Medicaid expansion—a major component of the federal government's health care overhaul.
Media
Read More: The Trouble with Medicaid ExpansionRegulation
PPA Picks Cartels over Consumers
Jon Brennan’s Audi S4 was impounded by Philadelphia police because he’s an UberX driver. Emails uncovered by the Philadelphia Inquirer reveal that the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) has thrown…
Media
Read More: PPA Picks Cartels over ConsumersTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers Pine
They are similar in size, resources and population, but the past few years have brought prosperity to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and stagnation to Delaware County, New York. The big difference?…
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Read More: Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers PineState Budget
Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?
Last year, Pennsylvania lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes. In total, the state’s net domestic migration rate was negative: 41,607 more people moved out of Pennsylvania than…
Media
Read More: Demographics Destined to Hold Pennsylvania Back?State Budget
Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the Largest
The Wolf administration continues to deny basic facts about their original proposed tax hike. Instead of responding with facts, the governor's staff relies on name-calling and personal attacks. The Altoona Mirror…
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Read More: Despite Name-Calling, Wolf’s Tax Hike is the LargestCriminal Justice Reform
2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying Off
Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel announced that Pennsylvania’s prison population declined last year by the largest amount since 1971. The number of imates declined by…
Media
Read More: 2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying OffGovernment Accountability
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets
Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark Secrets Budget Companion Bill Picks Winners at Lobbyists’ Behest January 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—On Tuesday, the Pa. House passed a “fiscal code” which…
Press Release
Read More: Shhh… State’s Fiscal Code Hides Earmark SecretsGovernment Accountability
Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks
Pennsylvania's fiscal code is intended to provide lawmakers with instructions for spending funds appropriated in the state budget. But it is also ground-zero for a host of earmarks that funnel limited…
Media
Read More: Fiscal Code Packed with EarmarksState Budget
Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget Future
Believe it or not, the state is approaching the unofficial start of a new budget cycle. Gov. Wolf plans to roll out his proposal for the 2016-17 budget on February…
Media
Read More: Charting Pennsylvania’s Budget FutureState Budget
Budget Hostages Finally Freed?
While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Hostages Finally Freed?Education
Governor Wolf’s Budget Hostages
Tom Wolf finally admitted he held school children hostage in hopes of higher taxes: “We're now at a point where I don't want to hold the children of Pennsylvania hostage.” But…
Media
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Budget HostagesPublic Union Democracy
A Governor’s Resolution List for 2016
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf promised he would take state government in a “different direction” and grow the middle class. He pledged to do this by making Pennsylvania a magnet for…
Media
Read More: A Governor’s Resolution List for 2016Education
Wolf’s Newest Education Funding Scheme
When Gov. Wolf finally agreed to sign the majority of an emergency funding bill, it remained unclear how his administration would distribute the increased education funding approved by the…
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Read More: Wolf’s Newest Education Funding SchemeRegulation
The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity Bill
A new analysis from NERA Economic Consulting projects Pennsylvania electricity bills will increase between 10 and 19 percent from 2022 to 2033…
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Read More: The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity BillState Budget
Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget Battle
Wolf Releases Hostages in Budget Battle After Six Months, Funding Finally Flows to Students & Needy December 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will finally release…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Releases Budget Hostages in Budget BattleState Budget
Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item Vetoes
This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget on his desk, using his line-item veto (and item-reduction veto) power to cut the spending by more than $6 billion, targeting certain…
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Read More: Wolf Signs Stop-Gap Budget With Punitive Line-Item VetoesTaxes & Economy
Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s Goal
In the movies, values like hope, joy, and peace ultimately triumph over materialism. Unfortunately, government has yet to grasp that stuff alone doesn’t bring lasting happiness…
Commentary
Read More: Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s GoalState Budget
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands
End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s Hands Legislature Sends State Budget to Governor’s Desk December 23, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state legislature, with bi-partisan support, sent a $30.26…
Press Release
Read More: End of Budget Gridlock in Wolf’s HandsState Budget
Senate Passes Budget, Sends to Governor
Things have changed quickly in the Capitol this week. On Monday, we wrote about a potential House vote on an emergency funding bill. That plan was scrapped. Yesterday, we talked…
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Read More: Senate Passes Budget, Sends to GovernorState Budget
A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works
In an unexpected move, the House voted to revive the Senate’s $30.8 billion budget yesterday, which many thought was dead after a pension reform bill went down in defeat…
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Read More: A Christmas Spending Spree is in the Works