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.
Health Care
Medicaid “Free Lunch” Nauseates Lawmakers
Following news that Gov. Corbett was going to meet with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and rumors he might reverse his opposition to expanding…
Media
Read More: Medicaid “Free Lunch” Nauseates LawmakersHealth Care
No “Free Lunch” with Medicaid Expansion
If I offered you a "free lunch" every day for the rest of your life, you'd take it, right? Oh, but there are a few strings attached. The lunch may…
Commentary
Read More: No “Free Lunch” with Medicaid ExpansionHealth Care
Where Does Government Get Money?
Where does the federal government get its money? Does it grow on trees? Does it fall from the sky like manna from heaven? Is there a genie who keeps granting…
Media
Read More: Where Does Government Get Money?Regulation
Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher Costs
The Allentown Morning Call features an article on pension reform in which a representative of the Public Employee Retirement Commission claims that Gov. Corbett’s proposal to put new employees…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher CostsHealth Care
Medicaid Harms States, Poor & Taxpayers
A new report and commentary from the Galen Institute details the reasons why the “free money” promised by the federal government for expanding Medicaid is a bad deal…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Harms States, Poor & TaxpayersRegulation
Can We Talk?
Today, CF held our first Google Hangout: A live video broadcast of a conversation between CF experts about the state budget. In under 20 minutes, we hit on Governor…
Media
Read More: Can We Talk?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Bleeding Green with Energy Mandates
Pennsylvania’s alternative energy mandates will result in higher energy costs, leading to lower incomes and less investment, and costing the state thousands of jobs, according to a new study…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Bleeding Green with Energy MandatesGovernment Accountability
State Promotes California Wine, Local Wineries Puzzled
Media
Read More: State Promotes California Wine, Local Wineries PuzzledEnergy
Bleeding Green
A new study from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University finds that Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards will costs Pennsylvanians millions in higher energy costs.
Poll
Read More: Bleeding GreenRegulation
Taxpayers Lose without Lottery Deal
Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced today she would not sign off on a contract with a private manager for the Pennsylvania lottery. The real losers from this decision are…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Lose without Lottery DealRegulation
Kane Delay on Lottery Could Cost Taxpayers (Again)
The Patriot News reports that private lottery manager Camelot Global Services may not be willing to extend its bid beyond the current expiration date of Saturday. Attorney General Kathleen…
Media
Read More: Kane Delay on Lottery Could Cost Taxpayers (Again)State Budget
Transportation Plan Falls Short of Principles
We’ve received several requests for our assessment of Governor Corbett’s transportation proposal, in light of our principles for transportation funding. Here is our take. First, transportation is a…
Media
Read More: Transportation Plan Falls Short of PrinciplesState Budget
Corbett’s Medicaid Decision Could Save Jobs
The Affordable Care Act—often dubbed Obamacare—included 20 new taxes or tax increases. As these taxes are beginning to go into effect, businesses are starting to feel the impact, and…
Media
Read More: Corbett’s Medicaid Decision Could Save JobsTaxes & Economy
Welfare Traps Good People in Broken System
CBS 21’s Chris Papst presents a chilling story showing how easy it is for Pennsylvania families to get trapped in the welfare system. Investigators discovered a single mother of two making $20,000 in Pennsylvania can…
Media
Read More: Welfare Traps Good People in Broken SystemState Budget
Standing with Taxpayers
Most Pennsylvanians probably weren't aware – or don't care – that Governor Corbett delivered his 2013-14 budget proposal this week. But they should! Spending $20,900 per family of four, the…
Commentary
Read More: Standing with TaxpayersHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion: The Price was Wrong
Governor Corbett made the right call yesterday when he decided to recommend against expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania. Here is my letter to the editor to the Philadelphia Inquirer explaining…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion: The Price was WrongState Budget
Gov. Corbett’s Budget Stands with Taxpayers
Statement of Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank, on Governor Corbett’s budget proposal: Gov. Corbett has chosen to prioritize government spending…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Corbett’s Budget Stands with TaxpayersState Budget
Spending Restraint Fosters Economic Growth
Critics, and likely election challengers, of Gov. Tom Corbett point to the singular fact that the state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average (though not significantly,…
Media
Read More: Spending Restraint Fosters Economic GrowthHealth Care
Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the Answer
Rep. Gordon Denlinger and 37 House members sent a letter to Governor Corbett, urging the governor not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).
Media
Read More: Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the AnswerHealth Care
Affordable Care Act: Costs to Pennsylvanians
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—often dubbed "Obamacare"—will cost Americans $1.2 trillion from 2012 to 2022 according to the Congressional Budget Office. These projections do not account for the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Affordable Care Act: Costs to PennsylvaniansRegulation
Pension Bomb to Hit Pennsylvania Families
Are you ready to pay an additional $1,000 in state and local taxes alone? Prepared to see your child's teacher laid off? Thanks to bad promises politicians made to good…
Commentary
Read More: Pension Bomb to Hit Pennsylvania Families