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.
Education
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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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.
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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
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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:…
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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
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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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The Occupy Movement’s Wrong Target
Now that the Occupy Wall Street movement has gone national, Pennsylvania is seeing its fair share of protests. While they’re still a ragtag, oddly camera-shy bunch with ill-defined…
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Regulation or Electrification?
The Wall Street Journal brings to light new documents showing the Environmental Protection Agency operates as an overbearing parent, not a servant of the people. New regulations targeting air…
Media
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Principles Must Lead Shale Fee Proposal
Before sound could travel from Gov. Corbett's lips to Pennsylvanians' ears, special interest groups and tax-and-spend politicians unwisely laid waste his plan to protect job growth and stave off family…
Commentary
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CF: Gov. Corbett’s Natural Gas Fee Proposal Embraces Key Principles
HARRISBURG, PA – Calling it a huge victory for both working Pennsylvanians and those looking for work, the Commonwealth Foundation praised Gov. Tom Corbett today for his proposal that resists…
Press Release
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Evaluating Gov Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Impact Fee
Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal in Pittsburgh today. Corbett’s proposal represents a significant improvement from some of the leading tax and fee proposals. Framework…
Media
Read More: Evaluating Gov Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Impact FeeRegulation
Poll: Support for Private Liquor Stores, Marcellus Drilling
The latest Quinnipiac poll shows strong support for liquor store privatization, Marcellus Shale drilling (as well as natural gas tax); and for the first time asks Pennsylvanians if they…
Media
Read More: Poll: Support for Private Liquor Stores, Marcellus DrillingTaxes & Economy
Transportation Funding Must be Tied to Reform
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette to the Senate and House Transportation Committees Thank you Chairman Rafferty and Chairman Geist and members of the committees for the invitation to testify today…
Testimony
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Reading is Poorest City in U.S.
Just released Census Bureau figures show Pennsylvania’s poverty rate has climbed, rising to 13.4 percent in 2010 compared to 11.6 percent in 2007, when the recession first hit.
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Governor Corbett Right to Disentangle “Impact Fee” from Growing Greener
In the coming weeks, Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to release his “local impact fee” proposal. It appears the governor’s on track to keep his “no new taxes”…
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Read More: Governor Corbett Right to Disentangle “Impact Fee” from Growing GreenerTaxes & Economy
By the Way, Residents Don’t Like High Taxes
Dr. Antony Davies, a member of CF’s Council of Scholars, and John Pulito add to the growing body of research showing higher state taxes drive out residents. Their new study,…
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Read More: By the Way, Residents Don’t Like High TaxesHealth Care
Changing the Incentives in Medicaid
Medicaid spending is set to skyrocket under the federal health care overhaul in the next two years, but it already consumes 31 percent of Pennsylvania’s budget. It is no…
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