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
Survey: Pennsylvania Unfriendly to Small Business
You’re probably aware that Pennsylvania’s tax burden is among the most oppressive in the country. But the tax code is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes…
Media
Read More: Survey: Pennsylvania Unfriendly to Small BusinessHealth Care
Audio: The Beginning of the End for Obamacare?
This week, a federal court ruling shook the foundations of Obamacare by prohibiting tax credits and subsidies for health insurance policies purchased on the federal exchange. As Elizabeth Stelle…
Media
Read More: Audio: The Beginning of the End for Obamacare?State Budget
House Majority Leader Moves to Reduce Debt Burden
On the heels of Pennsylvania’s bond rating downgrade, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai has declared his intention to ease Pennsylvanians’ debt burden. This represents a necessary step towards restoring Pennsylvania’s…
Media
Read More: House Majority Leader Moves to Reduce Debt BurdenHealth Care
Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PA
Back in 2012, many laughed at the idea of challenging Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates by arguing that the law as written allows subsidies for insurance in state exchanges only.
Media
Read More: Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PARegulation
Downgrade Detrimental to Taxpayers
For the third time in two years, a major bond rating agency gave Pennsylvania a downgrade. The most recent downgrade, courtesy of Moody’s, has real implications for taxpayers. Moody’s…
Media
Read More: Downgrade Detrimental to TaxpayersRegulation
Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction
Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 PA’s ‘Growing Structural Imbalance’ Cited in New Credit Downgrade One-Time Revenue Sources and Unfunded Pension Liabilities the Cause Good afternoon, Today, credit rating…
Press Release
Read More: Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension InactionRegulation
Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain
A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges RemainRegulation
Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle
On Friday, CF President Matt Brouillette joined The David Madeira Show to talk about Pennsylvania’s looming $50 billion public pension crisis and the biggest obstacles to reform: government union leaders.
Media
Read More: Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest ObstaclePublic Union Democracy
Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking Reform
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai took to the podium last week, providing press and spectators his response to the Governor’s criticisms, blue-line budget reductions, and House priorities. We applaud…
Media
Read More: Leaders Agree: Public Unions Are Blocking ReformRegulation
Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension Reform
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Lawmakers Must Battle Government Union Leaders on Pension Reform Government union leaders cited as primary opposition to tax-saving legislation Good morning, Gov. Corbett’s…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension ReformRegulation
As Budget Hangs in Balance, Consequences of Pension Inaction Emerge
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Pension Reform Critical to Shield PA’s Public Workers from Cut Detroit Retirees Face Major Losses This Week Due to Inaction on Reform Good…
Press Release
Read More: As Budget Hangs in Balance, Consequences of Pension Inaction EmergeState Budget
Five Facts About the 2014 State Budget
On June 30, the General Assembly passed a $29.1 billion budget, sending it to Gov. Corbett for his approval. While Gov. Corbett is taking time to review…
Media
Read More: Five Facts About the 2014 State BudgetRegulation
Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union Executives
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Government Union Executives Again Stand in the Way of Reform Pension Bill Stalls in House Despite Looming Crisis July 1,…
Press Release
Read More: Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union ExecutivesPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Unions Block Pension Reform
Lawmakers may have agreed on a no-new-taxes budget, but the cost drivers behind this year’s budget shortfall and Pennsylvania’s annual budget crisis remain unchanged. Chief among those cost drivers is…
Media
Read More: Gov. Unions Block Pension ReformState Budget
House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations
House Plan a Positive Step in Budget Negotiations Proposes Modest Spending Increase and Avoids Pitfalls Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced a no-tax-increase budget bill. Crucially, this bill…
Press Release
Read More: House Plan a Positive Step in Budget NegotiationsState Budget
House Budget Holds the Line on Taxes
Yesterday, the PA House of Representatives advanced a $29.1 billion spending bill. This bill could be voted on by the full House today. There is much to like in this…
Media
Read More: House Budget Holds the Line on TaxesRegulation
5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing Taxes
State spending is at an all-time high, but calls for even more spending persist, despite Pennsylvania’s precarious fiscal situation. Pennsylvania doesn’t need more government spending to improve the…
Media
Read More: 5 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Increasing TaxesState Budget
Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis
Pennsylvania has a prioritization problem. Recent controversies about the State Racing Fund and the legislature’s reserve fund provide two examples of why Pennsylvania consistently wrestles with budget crises. Auditor General…
Media
Read More: Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget CrisisState Budget
Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?
For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania state government is projected to spend more money than it collects in taxes. Facing a deficit of nearly $1.3 billion, families may be asked…
Commentary
Read More: Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?Public Union Democracy
Triple Threat Pension Debt
At more than $50 billion in debt our pension plans for state and school workers are among the worst funded in the country. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher…
Poll
Read More: Triple Threat Pension DebtRegulation
RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians
What would you do if the government spent your tax dollars on a project that could bankrupt your business? Would you fight back by pointing out the injustice? Hopefully you’re…
Media
Read More: RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians