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
Pension Reform Bill on the Move
We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for moving meaningful pension reform legislation. The Committee advanced SB 922 to put all new state and school district employees into a defined…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Bill on the MoveRegulation
Podcast: Fixing Public Pensions
Two new BOX Program podcasts offer illuminating insight into our public pension crisis and how lawmakers can help fix the broken system. First, Matt talks with former Utah State…
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Read More: Podcast: Fixing Public PensionsRegulation
Red Carpets Trip Up Real Tax Reform
When Rocky Balboa triumphantly climbed the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum in the 1976 blockbuster film Rocky, he did it without a special government handout. But now Hollywood lobbyists…
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Read More: Red Carpets Trip Up Real Tax ReformTaxes & Economy
Pa’s Economy Improves, But Far from the Best
Things are looking somewhat up for Pennsylvania’s economy, according to the annual Rich States, Poor States published by ALEC. The 2013 edition ranks Pennsylvania 34th in economic outlook, up…
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Read More: Pa’s Economy Improves, But Far from the BestEducation
Pension Cost Conundrum: Cut Teachers or Raise Taxes?
A recent report released by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute estimates Philadelphia School District (SDP) pension payments will total $349 million by 2020, which is a 378 percent increase…
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Read More: Pension Cost Conundrum: Cut Teachers or Raise Taxes?State Budget
The Case for Corbett’s Tax Reform
Combined with the federal tax rate, Pennsylvania businesses pay the second highest tax on their profits in the entire industrialized world.
Commentary
Read More: The Case for Corbett’s Tax ReformState Budget
Senate Transportation Proposal Rolls On
In a bipartisan vote, the state Senate approved a bill that would fund a $2.5 billion increase in Pennsylvania’s transportation funding. Like Gov. Corbett’s…
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Read More: Senate Transportation Proposal Rolls OnHealth Care
More Reasons to Pass on Medicaid Expansion
Elected officials are standing strong in their opposition to the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, despite a number of “independent studies” touting the benefits of “…
Media
Read More: More Reasons to Pass on Medicaid ExpansionPublic Union Democracy
Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?Public Union Democracy
Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?Taxes & Economy
The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax Reform
This policy brief utilizes PA-STAMP to estimate the impact of Gov. Corbett’s proposed tax reform package. Accordingly, by 2017-18, these reforms (compared with current policy) would result in: 1,259 additional…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax ReformTaxes & Economy
Demanding More Dollars From Drillers
Pennsylvania’s new drilling impact fee has not deterred special interests from demanding more money from the state’s most prolific producers of new energy. Act 13 of 2012 imposed…
Media
Read More: Demanding More Dollars From DrillersRegulation
Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?
This is the third in a series of blog posts debunking the myths surrounding Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?Government Accountability
A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader
This morning, Pennsylvania lost its oldest living governor: George M. Leader, a York County Democrat who served from 1955 to 1959. My colleagues and I had the great pleasure of…
Media
Read More: A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. LeaderRegulation
Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?
Pennsylvania’s two main pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these plans have more…
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Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?Regulation
New Life for Landmark Pension Reform
Landmark pension reform legislation was unveiled today, as the Commonwealth Foundation stood with Gov. Tom Corbett, state lawmakers, business leaders, school board members and other groups. The new bills, introduced…
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Read More: New Life for Landmark Pension ReformRegulation
Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. This publication addresses the common myths and benefits…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public Pensions: Past, Present, and FutureHealth Care
Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid expansion is bad news for all Pennsylvanians. Here are four reasons why: 1. Expansion undermines the quality of health care. Medicaid patients suffer from limited access to care. A…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid ExpansionRegulation
Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”
In a guest post, State Rep. Glen Grell addresses the pension reform myth that Act 120 has fixed the pension crisis. For more facts & myths, click here. The…
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Read More: Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”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…
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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…
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Read More: Corbett’s Wise Medicaid Stance