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.
Health Care
Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium Hikes
Pennsylvania insurance companies are asking for dramatic premium hikes on exchange plans. Highmark underestimated the cost of care for individuals on the exchange and is now requesting a 23%…
Media
Read More: Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium HikesState Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts Everyone
Despite Gov. Wolf campaigning on giving the middle-class a tax cut, his budget plan will raise taxes for every income group. Disapproval of his tax plan was made…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Hurts EveryoneEducation
Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?
As I pointed out yesterday in a chart and blog post, Pennsylvania spends significantly more per student on public schools than the national average. Moreover, increased spending has…
Media
Read More: Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?Taxes & Economy
The Invisible Severance Tax
Did you know Pennsylvania imposes a severance tax on natural gas workers? It’s known as an impact fee, but it operates just like a severance tax. The fee…
Media
Read More: The Invisible Severance TaxRegulation
Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices Jobs
Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families,Sacrifices Jobs Prioritizing—Not Increasing—Spending is Better for Everyone Good morning, Gov. Wolf’s cradle-to-grave tax plan asks Pennsylvanians to sacrifice some big-ticket items—$1,400 per…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices JobsEnergy
Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress
Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…
Commentary
Read More: Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, ProgressTaxes & Economy
Audio: The True Impact of a Severance Tax
Gov. Wolf justifies his proposed natural gas severance tax with populist rhetoric, claiming Pennsylvania’s gas drillers aren’t paying their “fair share.” This is far from accurate. Gas drillers paid more…
Media
Read More: Audio: The True Impact of a Severance TaxGovernment Accountability
Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?
Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?State Budget
Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels
At the same time Gov. Wolf is claiming his budget proposal will bring a net tax reduction, an Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study reveals his proposal would actually inflict…
Media
Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income LevelsRegulation
Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk
Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk New Retirement Plan Will Protect Teachers, Troopers, State Workers, and Taxpayers Good morning, Despite Pennsylvania’s public pension costs jumping $2 billion—or $600…
Press Release
Read More: Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at RiskTaxes & Economy
All Pennsylvanians Would Pay for Nation’s Highest Severance Tax
Gov. Wolf proposed a natural gas extraction tax on Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry to make drillers pay what union special interests dub their “fair share.” In testimony to…
Media
Read More: All Pennsylvanians Would Pay for Nation’s Highest Severance TaxState Budget
Zero Votes for Wolf Tax Hikes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—the largest in Pennsylvania’s history. The tax proposal failed by a 0-193 vote. That’s right, not a…
Media
Read More: Zero Votes for Wolf Tax HikesEducation
Testimony: Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets
Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets Fixing Pensions & School Funding Formula Better Solutions for Education Good morning, Today, Commonwealth Foundation Vice President of Policy Analysis Nathan…
Press Release
Read More: Testimony: Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family BudgetsEducation
Natural Gas Severance Tax
Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources Energy Committee And Finance Committee Good afternoon. I want to thank Chairmen Yaw and Yudichak and Chairmen Eichelberger and Blake, along with the…
Testimony
Read More: Natural Gas Severance TaxRegulation
Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good Enough
During his budget address, Gov. Wolf stated, “It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” Why, then, does he continue to sidestep…
Media
Read More: Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good EnoughState Budget
Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder | 717-671-1901 Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’sBiggest Budget Buster Study: Slowing Welfare Spending Growth Will Ease Budget Pressure May 27, 2015, HARRISBURG,…
Press Release
Read More: Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget BusterHealth Care
Out of Control
Governor Wolf is facing a budget situation more serious than any of his predecessors. His proposal includes an additional $691 million in the General Fund for DHS, bringing the department’s…
Report
Read More: Out of ControlRegulation
Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension System
Public pensions have created one of the worst financial crises in Pennsylvania’s history—a monstrous, $50 billion debt that Gov. Wolf can no longer ignore. To prevent the crisis from…
Media
Read More: Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension SystemHealth Care
State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record
Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…
Media
Read More: State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track RecordTaxes & Economy
Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff
Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…
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Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits CliffState Budget
134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform
Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…
Media
Read More: 134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform