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
Local Residents Tout Benefits of Marcellus Drilling
While many pro-tax groups are pushing for a natural gas severance fee—or impact fee though no one can quantify impact costs that drillers are not addressing—local residents often have…
Media
Read More: Local Residents Tout Benefits of Marcellus DrillingRegulation
Privatization Could Save Harrisburg
In December, Harrisburg entered into the state’s ominous Act 47 program for distressed cities to avoid bankruptcy. Privatization seems one option to help the city deal with its debt…
Media
Read More: Privatization Could Save HarrisburgTaxes & Economy
We Took U. of Virginia to Court Over Michael Mann’s Records
We (American Tradition Institute’s Environmental Law Center) figured four-plus months and $4,000 was enough to give the University of Virginia to start producing the records we requested…
Media
Read More: We Took U. of Virginia to Court Over Michael Mann’s RecordsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Not Among Best States for Business
Chief Executive Group released its annual Best/Worst States for Business report, bestowing another undesirable state ranking on Pennsylvania. The commonwealth ranked 39th out of the 50 states, dropping seven…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Not Among Best States for BusinessRegulation
Who Owns “Big Oil”?
We’ve previously pointed out that a tax on natural gas is a direct tax on landowners, but a new study shows it hurts teachers and state workers too. “Big…
Media
Read More: Who Owns “Big Oil”?Education
The Governor is Right and the Union Bosses are Wrong
I’m in Pittsburgh today, but I can hear the shouting in Harrisburg from here: Union bosses are hopping mad at Gov. Tom Corbett for calling them out in his…
Media
Read More: The Governor is Right and the Union Bosses are WrongTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Tax for Smarties
Not sure if Pennsylvania should enact a unique and extra tax on Natural gas? here are some important things you need to know!…
Poll
Read More: Natural Gas Tax for SmartiesState Budget
PA House GOP Outlines Budget Proposal
The House Republicans unveiled their Pennsylvania State Budget Proposal yesterday, HB 1485. The bill is set for an Appropriations Committee vote this week, and a full House vote…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Outlines Budget ProposalRegulation
A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned?
For any family, saving a few dollars for the future and paying off credit card bills would be the fiscally prudent path. Likewise, state lawmakers should resist the temptation to…
Commentary
Read More: A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned?Education
Bad Economists and Good Budget Cuts
Yesterday in the Patriot-News, yet another Penn State administrator campaigned against Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed cuts to the generous subsidies our public universities receive from taxpayers (many of which…
Media
Read More: Bad Economists and Good Budget CutsRegulation
Should States Stop Regulating Telephones?
Land line use in the United States continues to decline as more households are going “wireless” and relying exclusively on their cell phones. About 17 percent of Pennsylvania households…
Media
Read More: Should States Stop Regulating Telephones?Energy
Economic Pitfalls of Taxing Marcellus Shale
The facts are that in Pennsylvania, Marcellus drillers contributed more than $15 billion in capital investment and have paid in excess of $5 billion in royalties to landowners not including…
Commentary
Read More: Economic Pitfalls of Taxing Marcellus ShaleEducation
On School Spending “Cuts”
A reader writes in, noting that a school board member is pushing the “stop the billion dollar cut” campaign, and asking for some info. Here are some quick facts.
Media
Read More: On School Spending “Cuts”Taxes & Economy
What Does “Fair Share” Mean?
The debate over adding an additional tax (or an impact fee) on top of the…
Media
Read More: What Does “Fair Share” Mean?Energy
Natural Gas Taxes and Fees
The Marcellus Shale is a large and difficult-to-drill geological formation roughly a mile or more underground throughout more than two-thirds of Pennsylvania that contains natural gas.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Natural Gas Taxes and FeesGovernment Accountability
Reining in Spending with Performance-Based Budgeting
The House State Government Committee held a hearing today on reforming the budgeting process. HB 726, sponsored by Rep. Stan Saylor, would institute performance based-budgeting. Today, most of the…
Media
Read More: Reining in Spending with Performance-Based BudgetingRegulation
A Half-Billion Saved is a Half-Billion Earned
After April’s General Fund tax collections came in at 9 percent above forecasts, some lawmakers are clamoring to spend any surplus Pennsylvania has at the end of the…
Media
Read More: A Half-Billion Saved is a Half-Billion EarnedTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in Taxes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released detailed numbers, showing oil and gas producers paid over $1.1 billion in state taxes since 2006. This includes $234 million paid this…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in TaxesRegulation
Public Pensions & Politics
Here’s a presentation on government pensions from our senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss. PA Pension Reform Presentation …
Media
Read More: Public Pensions & PoliticsEducation
Property Taxpayer Referendum
Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I would…
Testimony
Read More: Property Taxpayer ReferendumEducation
PSU: Progress Seems Underway
On March 8, Gov. Tom Corbett started a statewide conversation about higher education through his budget address, in which he proposed significant cuts in the subsidies Pennsylvania public universities receive…
Media
Read More: PSU: Progress Seems Underway