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
School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax Relief
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: School Taxpayer Referendum & Property Tax ReliefEducation
On Higher Ed, Will Legislators Choose the ObamaCare Approach?
This week in the Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn had an excellent piece on higher education (subscription required). He wrote mostly about federal policy—and on that point…
Media
Read More: On Higher Ed, Will Legislators Choose the ObamaCare Approach?Education
The Really Devastating Thing Would Be a Tax Increase
My wife and I returned to Pennsylvania last year, and boy, are we feeling welcome right now. The warm fuzzies really took over earlier today when my wife called to…
Media
Read More: The Really Devastating Thing Would Be a Tax IncreaseGovernment Accountability
Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie Reviews
Friday night, three CF staffers braved sold-out theaters to watch the much anticipated Atlas Shrugged movie, a film that was big on buzz and short on funds. The movie, like the…
Media
Read More: Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie ReviewsState Budget
Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer DebtState Budget
Spending Increases by Department
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Increases by DepartmentTaxes & Economy
Indefensible Defense of Michael Mann
Yesterday a dozen liberal and academic groups rose in defense of Penn State Climategate scientist Michael Mann, making up reasons such as “academic freedom” to deny…
Media
Read More: Indefensible Defense of Michael MannTaxes & Economy
Volz, Pitt Part Ways
Last week I told you how Junkscience.com’s Steve Milloy outed the University of Pittsburgh’s Conrad “Dan” Volz and his deeply flawed report that alleged Marcellus Shale…
Media
Read More: Volz, Pitt Part WaysRegulation
Good News for Home Builders
Back in January 2010, I noted the unwise decision by the Department of Labor & Industry to implement new building codes based on recommendations by the International Code…
Media
Read More: Good News for Home BuildersTaxes & Economy
Happy Tax Freedom Day 2011, Pennsylvania
According to the Tax Foundation, if every Pennsylvanian started working on January 1, we would have to work until April 14, or 104 days of the year, in order…
Media
Read More: Happy Tax Freedom Day 2011, PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this Week
The Pennsylvania State House has been especially productive this week, passing four pieces of key legislation that CF blogged on last week.
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Read More: PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this WeekGovernment Accountability
Bring PA Toward the Mainstream in Limiting Lawsuit Abuse
Having defeated a slew of trial-lawyer amendments, Pennsylvania's House of Representatives approved the Fair Share Act for the third time on Monday. The legislation, which has passed both chambers of the…
Commentary
Read More: Bring PA Toward the Mainstream in Limiting Lawsuit AbuseEducation
Can’t Cut, Can We?
While Pennsylvania’s public universities continue to cry poverty, pesky facts keep proving otherwise. Here’s a snippet from a piece by Debra Erdley in yesterday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Professors at…
Media
Read More: Can’t Cut, Can We?Taxes & Economy
Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy Source
The Marcellus Works proposal is a package of seven bills designed to incentivize natural gas vehicles through a combinations of tax credits and government loans. The bills include: HB…
Media
Read More: Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy SourcePublic Union Democracy
Taxpayers First: The New, New Deal
Today, the average government employee enjoys better health care benefits, better pensions, better job security, and an earlier retirement than the average private-sector worker. To pay for this, however, taxpayers…
Commentary
Read More: Taxpayers First: The New, New DealTaxes & Economy
Lies, Heinz and Volz
Last week Steve Milloy of Junkscience.com published an expose’ of a water quality report by University of Pittsburgh gas frack panicker Conrad…
Media
Read More: Lies, Heinz and VolzTaxes & Economy
House Republicans Introduce Welfare Reforms
Public Welfare is both the largest—at over $27 billion in total spending— and among the fastest growing programs in the Pennsylvania state budget. In…
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Read More: House Republicans Introduce Welfare ReformsGovernment Accountability
Is Lawsuit Abuse Reform Coming to PA?
Pennsylvania is on its way to joining the 41 states that have either repealed or updated their joint and several liability law. HB 1, known as the Fair…
Media
Read More: Is Lawsuit Abuse Reform Coming to PA?Education
Higher Education Spending & Performance
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Higher Education Spending & PerformanceTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011
Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Resources 2011Education
Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania
Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania represents a partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation and the department of economics at Duquesne University. Key findings in these five papers include Over…
Commentary
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