
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.
Taxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Drilling Equals Affordable Energy
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…
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Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax Growth
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…
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Read More: Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax GrowthTaxes & Economy
Lt. Gov. Cawley & Marcellus Shale on The BOX
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 BOXRegulation
Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles
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…
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Read More: Green Fiascoes and BoondogglesTaxes & Economy
Sky Darkens for Solar Mandates
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 MandatesPublic Union Democracy
Right to Work Helps Oklahoma Economy
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…
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Read More: Right to Work Helps Oklahoma EconomyEducation
The Lesson of Ohio Might Not Be What You Think
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…
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Read More: The Lesson of Ohio Might Not Be What You ThinkTaxes & Economy
Gas Drilling for Pennsylvania’s Farms, Family and Future
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 FutureTaxes & Economy
Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?
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…
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Read More: Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?Taxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Lowers Heating Bills
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.
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Read More: Marcellus Shale Lowers Heating BillsEducation
Fall 2011 Legislative Priorities
Fall 2011 Legislative Priorities.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Fall 2011 Legislative PrioritiesEducation
The Economic Cost of Education Failure
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.
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Read More: The Economic Cost of Education FailureTaxes & Economy
State Energy Mandates Cost up to $440 million
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 millionEnergy
Marcellus Shale Impact Fee
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 FeeTaxes & Economy
PA’s High Unemployment Taxes
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.
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100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits
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 BenefitsEducation
Want a 70% Approval Rating?
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
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…
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Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three Years
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…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three YearsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Inheritance Tax
The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee held a hearing today on a number of proposals to eliminate, reduce, or change the state inheritance tax. The Pennsylvania inheritance tax applies to all…
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Inheritance Tax Reform
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Pennsylvania House Finance Committee Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis for…
Testimony
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