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.
Regulation
Taxpayers on the Hook for Wolf’s Spending Binge
Despite the lack of a completed state budget, and no support for his unpopular tax hike proposals, Gov. Wolf continues to rack up additional costs for taxpayers: Wolf's…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers on the Hook for Wolf’s Spending BingeEducation
Wolf’s “Plague” on Public Education
Schools across Pennsylvania are feeling the squeeze from Gov. Tom Wolf’s $3 billion education funding cut. In Red Lion, Carbondale, Plum, and Erie—to name just…
Media
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Breaking Promises to Fund Broken Programs
During his gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised to reduce taxes on working people. As a matter of fact, his campaign attacked Gov. Corbett for raising taxes. An October 2014 campaign blog…
Media
Read More: Breaking Promises to Fund Broken ProgramsTaxes & Economy
See Yinz Later
The commonwealth, on net, loses one person every 12.5 minutes. Some say it's all about the weather, but a recent Gallup poll found another reason. Across…
Media
Read More: See Yinz LaterRegulation
$56 Billion & Counting: PA’s Pension Liability
The state pension boards testified before the General Assembly this week and reported a combined unfunded liability of more than $56 billion. Contrary to claims that “we should let…
Media
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Poll: How Can Pennsylvania Beat Florida?
In the Wall Street Journal, Florida Governor Rick Scott makes a mockery of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and his quest to raise taxes, calling Wolf one of his “favorite governors.”…
Media
Read More: Poll: How Can Pennsylvania Beat Florida?Taxes & Economy
The Dark Side of Raising the Wage
Eunice Medina is a childcare worker living in Oakland, California. Last March, the city instituted a $12.55 minimum wage, leaving Eunice with fewer workdays and reduced hours. Across the…
Media
Read More: The Dark Side of Raising the WageTaxes & Economy
Wolf’s Wage Hike: Big Promises, Bigger Fallout
Wolf’s Wage Hike: Big Promises, Bigger Fallout Governor Unilaterally Raises Minimum Wage for State Workers, But at What Cost? March 7, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, Gov. Wolf will…
Press Release
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Should Economic Power Reside in Harrisburg?
Pennsylvania leads the nation…in corporate welfare. Since 2007, the commonwealth doled out more than $5.7 billion in economic subsidies to private organizations, which is just one of the many startling…
Media
Read More: Should Economic Power Reside in Harrisburg?Energy
Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Proposal
Governor Wolf continues to press for a natural gas severance tax despite ongoing layoffs and potential bankruptcies in the natural gas industry.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax ProposalRegulation
We’re #1! Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare
We’re #1! Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate Welfare Looking for State Budget Fixes? Cut $700 Million in Unfair Subsidies March 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Wolf administration claims important state…
Press Release
Read More: We’re #1! Pa. Leads Nation in Corporate WelfareEducation
School Funding Myths Debunked
Can Pennsylvania do better when it comes to educating our children? Absolutely. But playing “myths for money” will never lead to real solutions for families and students.
Commentary
Read More: School Funding Myths DebunkedState Budget
No One Person is to Blame for Pennsylvania’s Problems
Proponents of bigger goverment have crafted a narrative that government has been cut to the bone. Pennsylvania needs massive tax hikes, they say, to repair the damage done by Gov. Corbett, whose slash-and-burn budgeting…
Media
Read More: No One Person is to Blame for Pennsylvania’s ProblemsRegulation
Addressing the Confusion on Compensation
Yesterday we issued a press release on public employee compensation, which is now causing quite a stir on social media. One commenter accused us of engaging in “shenanigans.” Another…
Media
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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
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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…
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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
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