Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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
Reality Check: We’re Overspending
Bad revenue collections and updated projections highlight a big problem in the state budget: We are spending more than we are collecting. The problem is much worse than a recent…
Media
Read More: Reality Check: We’re OverspendingHealth Care
Corbett’s Wise Medicaid Stance
While advocates of expanding the welfare state are using new studies to push Gov. Tom Corbett to expand Medicaid, his position of resisting the “free money” argument is wise given…
Media
Read More: Corbett’s Wise Medicaid StanceHealth Care
States Fix Medicaid
That's why leaders in statehouses across the country should do the right thing and follow Pennsylvania's lead. Instead of waiting for dollars and dictates from D.C. to expand a broken…
Commentary
Read More: States Fix MedicaidRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts
Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these funds owe more than…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and FactsTaxes & Economy
Name Change Won’t Fix Welfare
Pennsylvania’s welfare system is broken, and significant reforms are needed to help lift individuals out of poverty. Changing the name of the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of…
Media
Read More: Name Change Won’t Fix WelfareState Budget
Budget Facts 2013: Spending Increases By Department
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2013: Spending Increases By DepartmentRegulation
Public Pension Crisis Averted?
Has Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis been averted? Not by a long shot. This weekend, the Tribune-Review heralded a $69 million budget surplus in the Pennsylvania School…
Media
Read More: Public Pension Crisis Averted?Taxes & Economy
Jobs Killed by Lack of Freedom
Earlier this week, GE announced plans to move 950 jobs from Erie, Pa. to Texas. What is one of the key reasons Pennsylvania continues to lose jobs and population…
Media
Read More: Jobs Killed by Lack of FreedomRegulation
Mailbag: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis
Several readers wrote in with questions on my Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed from Sunday, “Pension Crisis is Going to Hit Hard.” Here are answers to some of the most common…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Pennsylvania’s Pension CrisisTaxes & Economy
Free-market Gas Outshines Subsidized Solar
One news story highlights hundreds of jobs lost and millions of taxpayer dollars down the drain via corporate welfare. Another celebrates millions of new state revenue and free market job…
Media
Read More: Free-market Gas Outshines Subsidized SolarTaxes & Economy
Taking Wind out of the Subsidy Sail
For years, you’ve heard conservatives say the wind power industry would be better off without government subsidies. But now even wind industry advocate and Tang Energy CEO Patrick Jenevin…
Media
Read More: Taking Wind out of the Subsidy SailHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Myths and Facts
For our fiscal health, and the health of families, we desperately need the flexibility to allow state officials to design a solution that fits the needs of Pennsylvanians-not an…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Myths and FactsHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Deals Don’t Deliver
Time is ticking for President Obama to get more buy-in on a pivotal part of Obamacare—Medicaid expansion. States are under immense pressure to accept an influx of federal funds in…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Deals Don’t DeliverHealth Care
Will Medicaid Expansion Boost Pennsylvania’s Economy?
A new study commissioned by the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania predicts that if the state expands Medicaid, the program will produce $3.2 billion in annual growth over…
Media
Read More: Will Medicaid Expansion Boost Pennsylvania’s Economy?Regulation
Pennsylvania State Budget 2013
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget 2013Health Care
Note to Lawmakers: The Power Is Yours!
One of my favorite cartoon’s growing up was Captain Planet. The cartoon’s catchy theme song ended with an emphatic, “The power is yours!” It’s a message all of our state lawmakers…
Media
Read More: Note to Lawmakers: The Power Is Yours!Health Care
Expanding Medicaid: Eat Now, Starve Later
When the governor released his budget last month, the loudest opposition hinged on Medicaid - government insurance for the poor and disabled. Advocates of expanding the program via the Affordable…
Commentary
Read More: Expanding Medicaid: Eat Now, Starve LaterRegulation
Privatization Could End “Pay-to-Play”
“A culture of greed, corruption and political influence that is beyond imagination,” is how State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan described the latest Pennsylvania Turnpike scandal, which has led to…
Media
Read More: Privatization Could End “Pay-to-Play”Health Care
Sequester-Sized Savings
We’ve already busted the myth that federal money for the expansion of Medicaid is somehow “free.” As Nathan Benefield explains, government only distributes what if first taxes out of…
Media
Read More: Sequester-Sized SavingsPublic Union Democracy
PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business Leaders
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Read More: PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business LeadersTaxes & Economy
FrackNation Exposes Gasland Lies
“FrackNation” is not only about the development of natural gas, but also about journalism, says Phelim McAleer, co-director of the 70-minute documentary. Shown this week to about 70…
Media
Read More: FrackNation Exposes Gasland Lies