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.
State Budget
Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our Choice
Can Americans afford slower economic growth and a lower standard of living in the future? That will be the impact of growing government debt on the economy, according to a…
Media
Read More: Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our ChoiceRegulation
How Big is the Pension Bomb?
Taxpayers will have to pay $1,385 more each year for 30 years to fully pay off pension liabilities, according to a new study on the cost of pension plans…
Media
Read More: How Big is the Pension Bomb?Taxes & Economy
Will Shale Boom Change Election?
The shale gas boom has boosted the economy in key battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, which may help President Obama, despite his hostility towards fracking—the process which…
Media
Read More: Will Shale Boom Change Election?Education
Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most Powerful
Pennsylvania’s teachers unions rank fourth among all U.S. states in their strength and influence, according to a report released this week from the Fordham Institute. We trail only Hawaii,…
Media
Read More: Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most PowerfulHealth Care
Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension Crisis
Last night’s presidential debate (despite the focus on foreign policy) featured much talk on skyrocketing debt and unsustainable entitlement programs. Protecting the middle class from growing debt isn’t a problem…
Media
Read More: Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension CrisisHealth Care
Why Repeal? The Affordable Care Act’s Costs to Pennsylvanians
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—or "Obamacare"—will take more than $500 billion from American taxpayers by 2022, raise costs to state governments and increase the cost of private health…
Poll
Read More: Why Repeal? The Affordable Care Act’s Costs to PennsylvaniansTaxes & Economy
Pa. Job Growth Triples National Rate
Last week saw the release of September state jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Media coverage of this jobs report focused on the unemployment rate only, which…
Media
Read More: Pa. Job Growth Triples National RateCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections Reform
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania passed the final piece, House Bill 135, of a landmark corrections reform package that transforms our ailing prison system to one that works better for YOU. Commonwealth Foundation…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections ReformTaxes & Economy
Truth, Lies & Answers on Natural Gas Drilling
Hydraulic fracturing has been closely studied since its development in the 1940s. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the former head of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have…
Poll
Read More: Truth, Lies & Answers on Natural Gas DrillingTaxes & Economy
Foreign Federation Finances Phony Frackophobic Film
A new anti-fracking movie, Promised Land, is set to release in a couple of months, but controversy around the movie is already in full swing. The film has come…
Media
Read More: Foreign Federation Finances Phony Frackophobic FilmHealth Care
Principles for Health Care Reform
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands Medicaid, subsidizes health insurance for middle class families, and creates new federal health insurance regulations. To pay for this additional spending, the ACA makes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Principles for Health Care ReformState Budget
Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps Disabled
The Union Party never minces words: They believe the best way to help people is to grow government. That’s the message they’ve brought to bear throughout the Corbett Administration,…
Media
Read More: Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps DisabledRegulation
Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?
Last month, I testified to the House Finance Committee that targeted tax breaks and corporate welfare subsidies prevent across-the-board tax rate reductions that would benefit all Pennsylvanians. As a follow-up…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?Criminal Justice Reform
Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?
Under Gov. Tom Corbett’s leadership, Pennsylvania unanimously passed (Senate Bill 100) part of a landmark corrections reform package last session. SB 100, now Act 122 of 2012, aims to…
Media
Read More: Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?State Budget
Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal Firefighting
Gov. Tom Corbett was one of only four governors to get an “A” in Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Corbett was joined by Govs. Sam…
Media
Read More: Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal FirefightingHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Bad Deal for Patients
Health care interest groups took to the press in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to argue for expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania, but these advocates overlook the program’s flaws and its long-term…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Bad Deal for PatientsHealth Care
Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget Buster
Pensions and transportation top the list of crises the General Assembly won’t address in their short fall session, but little has been said about the biggest budget buster facing the…
Media
Read More: Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget BusterEducation
5 Fixes for Property Tax Fires
Yesterday, I testified before the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, presenting on the best tax policy to finance government operations, and on…
Media
Read More: 5 Fixes for Property Tax FiresEducation
Approaches to Property Tax Reform
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the director of policy analysis for…
Testimony
Read More: Approaches to Property Tax ReformRegulation
Pension Iceberg Grows $4 Billion
Pennsylvania’s ailing government worker pension system just landed taxpayers an estimated $4 billion more in unfunded pension liabilities. The Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS)—the largest government worker pension system…
Media
Read More: Pension Iceberg Grows $4 BillionRegulation
Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?
I testified yesterday before the House Finance Committee about how government-directed “economic development” hampers economic growth. A prime example of this happened Tuesday, where taxpayers forked over more…
Media
Read More: Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?