High 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

New Study Show Impact of Shale Gas

  • December 12, 2011

Hot on the heels of UGI Utilities’ 13 percent reduction in gas rates, comes a comprehensive study examining the impact of shale gas on the economy nationwide. The report…

Media

Read More: New Study Show Impact of Shale Gas

Health Care

How Much Will Obamacare Cost You?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 9, 2011

The federal health care overhaul will be paid for with spending cuts and an estimated $420 billion in new taxes. How much of that $420 billion will come out of your pocket?…

Media

Read More: How Much Will Obamacare Cost You?

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Drilling Equals Affordable Energy

  • December 1, 2011

As the Intelligencer Journal reports, Marcellus Shale drilling is the reason UGI Utilities is dropping natural gas rates by 13.5 percent, providing significant savings for the 15 counties…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale Drilling Equals Affordable Energy

Taxes & Economy

Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 1, 2011

We noted previously how the boom from Marcellus Shale natural gas has fueled a dramatic increase in state corporate tax collections.  Pennsylvania Department of Revenue data also show a…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax Growth

Taxes & Economy

Lt. Gov. Cawley & Marcellus Shale on The BOX

  • November 23, 2011

Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley is the latest guest on The BOX Podcast hosted by Matt Brouillette. They discuss Marcellus Shale misconceptions, Gov. Corbett’s impact fee, and the vast potential for…

Media

Read More: Lt. Gov. Cawley & Marcellus Shale on The BOX

Regulation

Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 22, 2011

Economist Mark Hendrickson, a member of CF’s Council of Scholars, looks at the failure of government funded “green energy” projects in his latest column for the Center for Vision…

Media

Read More: Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles

Taxes & Economy

Sky Darkens for Solar Mandates

  • November 21, 2011

HB 1580, which we wrote about previously, would accelerate state mandates for utilities to use solar power as part of their electricity portfolio. A new Energy Association of…

Media

Read More: Sky Darkens for Solar Mandates

Public Union Democracy

Right to Work Helps Oklahoma Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2011

A new analysis from the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs shows that since the Sooner State passed a right to work law in 2001—allowing all workers to choose whether…

Media

Read More: Right to Work Helps Oklahoma Economy

Education

The Lesson of Ohio Might Not Be What You Think

  • Charles Mitchell
  • November 18, 2011

The Wall Street Journal recently featured a very short, very striking piece on the defeat of much-needed limits on the power of government unions in Ohio.  The conventional wisdom on…

Media

Read More: The Lesson of Ohio Might Not Be What You Think

Taxes & Economy

Gas Drilling for Pennsylvania’s Farms, Family and Future

  • November 16, 2011

Across Pennsylvania, natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has benefited not just companies but also human beings -- by creating tens of thousands of jobs, rescuing families from foreclosure,…

Commentary

Read More: Gas Drilling for Pennsylvania’s Farms, Family and Future

Taxes & Economy

Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2011

The Scranton Times-Tribune and the Patriot-News criticize HB 1950 (the natural gas fee proposal) for not taxing gas drillers enough, yet fail to include basic information about…

Media

Read More: Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Lowers Heating Bills

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 2, 2011

The Pittsburgh Tribune and Erie Times report natural gas prices are decreasing as we approach the winter months. Rates per thousand cubic feet are dropping across western Pennsylvania.

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale Lowers Heating Bills

Education

The Economic Cost of Education Failure

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 1, 2011

If you don’t have a child in a failing school, you may think that SB 1 and the education reforms it contains are of no benefit to you. Think again.

Media

Read More: The Economic Cost of Education Failure

Taxes & Economy

State Energy Mandates Cost up to $440 million

  • October 28, 2011

A new study by Penn State scholars found Pennsylvania’s alternative energy mandates will cost taxpayers up to $60 million next year and up to $440 million in ten years.

Media

Read More: State Energy Mandates Cost up to $440 million

Energy

Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

  • October 28, 2011

Companies should pay for the cost of government they use.  Many advocates of a new tax simply want more money for Harrisburg politicians to dole out.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

Taxes & Economy

PA’s High Unemployment Taxes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 28, 2011

Pennsylvania employers pay some of the highest unemployment insurance taxes in the nation, according to a new study by the Tax Foundation. Tax rates vary based on the frequency of layoffs.

Media

Read More: PA’s High Unemployment Taxes

Taxes & Economy

100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 27, 2011

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare testified that hundreds of thousands of individuals were improperly receiving Medicaid, taxpayer-funded health care for the poor and the disabled. Capitolwire writes:…

Media

Read More: 100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits

Education

Want a 70% Approval Rating?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • October 24, 2011

Let’s be real.  One of the things that often gets CF into trouble is that from the outside, it seems like we never need to worry about whether the free-market…

Media

Read More: Want a 70% Approval Rating?

Taxes & Economy

Blame Game No Jobs Gain

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2011

Pennsylvania House Democrats put out an email blaming Gov. Corbett and Republicans for a lousy economy: Since Republicans passed the Corbett budget in June, unemployment in Pennsylvania has risen more…

Media

Read More: Blame Game No Jobs Gain

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three Years

  • October 20, 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry released their latest Marcellus Shale Fast Facts, illustrating the important economic stimulus that drilling represents to the commonwealth. Key Findings Include: Marcellus…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three Years