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
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 PennsylvaniansHealth Care
There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion
Last week, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced HB 1492 to accept the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. This move would shift the purpose of Medicaid from caring for vulnerable…
Media
Read More: There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary ExpansionPublic Union Democracy
The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax Hike
In 2012, Americans paid more in taxes than they did for food, clothing and shelter combined. In Pennsylvania, residents labor under the 10th highest tax burden in the…
Media
Read More: The Government Union Billion Dollar Tax HikeHealth Care
My Obamacare Agony
I thought I was lucky. The last day to sign up for Obamacare had arrived, and I’d managed to purchase a plan on the national Obamacare exchange. I was just…
Commentary
Read More: My Obamacare AgonyTaxes & Economy
Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?
Should individuals be able to spend their welfare benefits on liquor, tobacco, gambling or strippers? Currently, they can. House Bill 907 would codify Department of Welfare electronic benefit card…
Media
Read More: Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?Education
Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers
Standard & Poor’s recently issued a stern warning that they would lower Pennsylvania’s bond rating—making it more expensive for the state to borrow money—unless they “adopt meaningful pension reform.” This…
Commentary
Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & TaxpayersRegulation
Use School Reserves to Fund Pensions
In 2013, Pennsylvania school districts increased their reserve funds by $445 million—to a total approaching $4 billion as of June 30, 2013—according to the latest data from…
Media
Read More: Use School Reserves to Fund PensionsRegulation
Pension Study: PA’s Economy Can Still Be Saved
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 It’s Not Too Late to Save PA’s Economy Pension Reform: Learning from Others May 27, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa. – Pennsylvania…
Press Release
Read More: Pension Study: PA’s Economy Can Still Be SavedState Budget
2014 Pennsylvania State Budget
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $29.4 billion in General Fund spending (a 3.3% increase) and $71.8 billion in spending from all funds represents Pennsylvania's highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2014 Pennsylvania State BudgetState Budget
Simple Solutions for Significant State Savings
Pennsylvania is plagued with budget challenges, but these challenges don’t have to defeat us. We have solutions aimed at improving PA’s fiscal health while growing its economy. In previous…
Media
Read More: Simple Solutions for Significant State SavingsRegulation
PA Tops in Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s system of economic development subsidies costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually, yet this spending does little to promote overall job growth. Given the state’s fiscal hurdles,…
Media
Read More: PA Tops in Corporate WelfareHealth Care
A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania: Welfare Reform
Pennsylvania is facing an estimated $1.2 billion deficit next fiscal year. To bring the budget into balance without tax increases or borrowing, spending reforms must be implemented. In our…
Media
Read More: A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania: Welfare ReformEducation
School Spending is the Issue
My letter to the editor in yesterday’s York Daily Record addresses some inaccuracies about education spending in Pennsylvania. Your editorial on education funding (“Funding formula a good…
Media
Read More: School Spending is the IssueEducation
Fewer Districts Seek Big Property Tax Hikes
Government union leaders like to claim mythical state education funding cuts caused widespread school property tax increases. But new data shows fewer school districts are actually receiving exceptions…
Media
Read More: Fewer Districts Seek Big Property Tax HikesTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage Backers Leave Young Minorities Behind
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Minimum Wage Backers Leave Young Minorities Behind Wage mandates push black youth out of the job market Today, Big Labor-backed groups will rally to…
Press Release
Read More: Minimum Wage Backers Leave Young Minorities BehindTaxes & Economy
Dangers of a Severance Tax
Given the fiscal challenges facing the state, many advocacy groups are calling for new taxes on natural gas. However, lawmakers should be aware that a severance tax will make Pennsylvania…
Memo
Read More: Dangers of a Severance TaxState Budget
A Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
We have been warned: Pennsylvania is on a path to higher taxes, fewer jobs, more debt, and a lower standard of living if the state does not rein in…
Media
Read More: A Blueprint for a Prosperous PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ Expense
Washington County farmer Shawn Georgetti was living paycheck to paycheck before the Marcellus Shale boom. Thanks to a natural gas lease, he’s finally been able to upgrade his 30-year-old equipment.
Commentary
Read More: Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ ExpenseHealth Care
Five Reasons the Exchanges are Failing
Over 8 million Americans and 300,000 Pennsylvanians signed up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges according to data released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)…
Media
Read More: Five Reasons the Exchanges are Failing