State Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformHigh 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.
Taxes & 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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
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
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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
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