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.
State Budget
Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000
Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000—Vote Next Week 14,000 Jobs Not Created as a Result October 1, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Next week, the state House plans…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s Latest Tax Plan Costs Families $1,000State Budget
Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase Proposal
On September 11, 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf presented legislative leaders with a second tax increase proposal—totaling$1.8 billion for the 2015-16 budget year, and a $3.2 billion net increase in 2016-17,…
Memo
Read More: Four Things to Know about Wolf’s September Tax Increase ProposalState Budget
Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?
At the beginning of 2015, we heard a lot about a “fresh start” for Pennsylvania. But nine months later, it's difficult to identify anything fresh about Gov. Wolf's tax, borrow…
Media
Read More: Fresh Start, or Stale Policies of Decades Past?State Budget
Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes
Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes Students, Disabled, & Struggling Held Hostage by Governor’s Tax-Hike Fixation September 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—“The answer’s no. Now,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Blocks Education Funding, Issues 6th, 7th & 8th VetoesState Budget
Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?
Republican leadership in the General Assembly has announced they will allow a floor vote on a budget proposal that has the massive tax increases Gov. Wolf and government union leaders desire—if Democrats…
Media
Read More: Who Will Vote to Raise Your Taxes?Regulation
Government that Works?
Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…
Commentary
Read More: Government that Works?State Budget
Audio: A Path of Compromise
Refusing to abandon his demands for the highest tax increase in state history, Gov. Wolf continues to fuel a budget impasse that has left human-services agencies and schools without…
Media
Read More: Audio: A Path of CompromiseRegulation
Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’ Liquor and Pension Proposals Fall Short of Much-Needed Change Good morning, Yesterday, Governor Tom…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’Taxes & Economy
Leader of the Free World?
What do Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Canada have in common? Their citizens all enjoy more economic freedom than Americans. According to the 2015 Economic Freedom of the World Index,…
Media
Read More: Leader of the Free World?State Budget
Free the Budget Hostages
This week, lawmakers are expected to vote for a “stop-gap budget”—funding state services and programs for a few months, while continuing to negotiate a budget compromise. Yet, some politicians oppose…
Media
Read More: Free the Budget HostagesEducation
Audio: Budget Impasse Debate
With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question. CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…
Media
Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse DebateRegulation
Corporate Welfare’s Hazards
State officials often hail the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP or R-Cap) as a tool for “economic development” projects across the commonwealth. The program uses borrowed money—with interest payments financed by taxpayers—to…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare’s HazardsPublic Union Democracy
Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy
Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…
Commentary
Read More: Unions Must Answer for Pension HypocrisyState Budget
Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?
Gov. Wolf still refuses to back down from his budget demands–which include the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania’s history. Not only would this add an additional $1,425 in taxes on every family of…
Media
Read More: Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?State Budget
Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop
Debbie is a small business owner. She operates Pealer's Flowers with her husband in Camp Hill, and they're worried about Gov. Tom Wolf's tax hikes. Debbie explains: “We're all doing…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower ShopRegulation
Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse
Another day passes without a state budget in Pennsylvania, causing panic among public officials who can't pay the bills and among parents who have children attending schools unable to make payroll. Still, Gov.
Media
Read More: Audio: Weathering the Budget ImpasseRegulation
Ridesharing Freedom En Route to Pennsylvania
Uber and Lyft provide inexpensive rides to customers across the country despite numerous regulatory hurdles—chief among them the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which has previously thwarted the businesses from…
Media
Read More: Ridesharing Freedom En Route to PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Location, Location, Location
What do real estate values and tax bills have in common? Both are driven by location. In a new report, the Tax Foundation provides a comprehensive analysis of the tax burdens…
Media
Read More: Location, Location, LocationRegulation
Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”
As state budget negotiations drag on, Gov. Wolf is pointing the finger at Republicans, claiming they have refused to move after he made “concessions on everything.” So what compromises are included in…
Media
Read More: Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”Regulation
Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform
Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…
Commentary
Read More: Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension ReformEnergy
Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax
Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new severance tax on natural gas extraction, which he claims will generate more than $1 billion annually for public schools. The proposal fails to consider…
Memo
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax