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
Don’t Fall for the False Choice on Tuition and Taxpayers
I see that right now, our legislators are once again debating cuts to the generous subsidies our public universities receive from taxpayers. Some are claiming that if the cuts pass,…
Media
Read More: Don’t Fall for the False Choice on Tuition and TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Job Growth Continues to Drag
Today, President Obama will visit Carnegie Mellon University to talk about technology and manufacturing jobs. A important topic, considering Pennsylvania continues to fall behind other states when it comes…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Job Growth Continues to DragRegulation
Growing Greener is Corporate Welfare
The Patriot News editorial board has yet another editorial arguing for a new tax on natural gas, on top of the taxes they already pay. While the board’s passion…
Media
Read More: Growing Greener is Corporate WelfareTaxes & Economy
Nine of 11 Fastest Growing Jobs Drilling Related
Nationwide workforce data shows oil and gas extraction jobs growing at rates far above any other sector of the American economy. According to EMSI’s latest quarterly employment data,…
Media
Read More: Nine of 11 Fastest Growing Jobs Drilling RelatedEducation
Philadelphia Public Schools Among Worst in Nation
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which compares educational performance across all 50 states and major cities, Philadelphia public schools compare poorly, even to other large urban…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Public Schools Among Worst in NationGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts
On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August. These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Government Union ContractsRegulation
PA Ranks 27th on Economic Freedom Index
The Mercatus Center’s annual report of the Freedom in the 50 States ranked the Keystone State 27th in economic freedom. Pennsylvania’s overall freedom ranking has declined three places since 2007.
Media
Read More: PA Ranks 27th on Economic Freedom IndexRegulation
Not Paying Pension Bills Hurts our Grandkids
Politicians last year passed their version of pension reform by deferring existing unfunded liabilities, making them even more unaffordable. The situation was so severe that they felt compelled to include…
Commentary
Read More: Not Paying Pension Bills Hurts our GrandkidsPublic Union Democracy
Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage Relief
Shippensburg Borough Council recently passed a resolution asking for state relief from prevailing wage mandates. Prevailing wage mandates were imposed 50 years ago in Pennsylvania, following federal Davis-Bacon Act…
Media
Read More: Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage ReliefState Budget
Unemployment Compensation Reform on Tap
This week, the House is expected to take up SB 1030, which would change Unemployment Compensation guidelines to ensured continue benefits for about 45,000 Pennsylvanians and help bring the…
Media
Read More: Unemployment Compensation Reform on TapTaxes & Economy
Biofuel Failure becomes Natural Gas Success
Pat Copple owns a biodiesel plant in Monaca, or at least he did until May when he started to convert his operation into a Marcellus wastewater treating facility. Copple says the…
Media
Read More: Biofuel Failure becomes Natural Gas SuccessTaxes & Economy
Fracking Friday
There are several good articles and studies worth reading on natural gas drilling, Marcellus Shale and fracking: Katrina’s commentary on the local impact of natural gas drilling appears in today’s…
Media
Read More: Fracking FridayTaxes & Economy
PA Property Tax Administration 2nd Worst in Nation
This past May, the commonwealth tied for second worse in the nation in state property tax administration, according to the Council On State Taxation (COST). States were evaluated in…
Media
Read More: PA Property Tax Administration 2nd Worst in NationTaxes & Economy
The Real Victims of a Severance Tax
Jim VanBlarcom, a busy Bradford County dairy farmer, set a work day aside to come to Harrisburg and tell his story to Gov. Tom Corbett's Marcellus Shale panel. Royalty money…
Commentary
Read More: The Real Victims of a Severance TaxEducation
Pennsylvania Education Spending Update
Since our budget facts on Pennsylvania Education Spending, the PA Department of Education (PDE) has released updated data on school spending and revenue, through the 2009-10 school year.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Education Spending UpdateRegulation
Pennsylvania State Pension Liabilities
PSERS and SERS project total taxpayer contributions will increase from $1.1 billion this year to more than $5.5 billion in 2016—a 421% increase in five years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Pension LiabilitiesTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Hiring Spree Continues
The Center for Workforce Information and Analysis (the research arm of the Department of Labor and Industry) released their April Marcellus Shale Fast Facts, demonstrating tremendous growth in Marcellus…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Hiring Spree ContinuesRegulation
The Phony “Surplus”
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released May General Fund tax collection data, and many lawmakers are clamoring to spend this “surplus”. But the idea there is any “surplus” is…
Media
Read More: The Phony “Surplus”Regulation
Have Casinos Hurt Lottery Sales?
According to a new report from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, the presence of casinos does not have a negative impact on state lottery revenues. At the same…
Media
Read More: Have Casinos Hurt Lottery Sales?Education
Make the Case to Voters
My letter to the editor in today’s Post-Gazette on school tax referendum. The article “Groups Fighting…
Media
Read More: Make the Case to VotersTaxes & Economy
WITF Marcellus Forum Viewers Guide
Tonight at 8 p.m., WITF TV will air an hour-long “Marcellus Shale Forum”. While the discussion should be informative for most viewers wanting to learn about the Marcellus Shale…
Media
Read More: WITF Marcellus Forum Viewers Guide