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.
State Budget
Chart of the Day: Is it a Spending Problem?
In his budget address, Gov. Corbett talked a great deal about the overspending during the Rendell administration. Ben Waxman responds in the Daily News (I’m paraphrasing) “Nuh-uh, there’s no…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Is it a Spending Problem?State Budget
Corbett Budget Offers a New Path
Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." For too long Pennsylvania state government has been spending beyond its means and…
Commentary
Read More: Corbett Budget Offers a New PathTaxes & Economy
Time to Reinvestigate Mann and Now PSU
My American Tradition Institute colleague Chris Horner reports today at the Daily Caller that a NOAA inspector has dug up proof of deception in…
Media
Read More: Time to Reinvestigate Mann and Now PSUEducation
Chart of the Day: Public School Revenue
The chart below highlights Pennsylvania public school revenue, by source, from 1988-89 to 2008-09 (the latest year with data from the state Department of Education). Over the last 20…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Public School RevenueState Budget
Understanding the Pennsylvania State Budget
Pennsylvania's total state operating budget for FY 2010-11 is approximately $65.4 billion-or $5,193 for every man, woman and child in the commonwealth. This policy brief looks at the entire state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Understanding the Pennsylvania State BudgetState Budget
Reality-Based Budgeting
Pennsylvania state government will tax and spend more than $65 billion this fiscal year. With the loss of federal stimulus money and the exhaustion of all one-time expenditures, the legislature…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Reality-Based BudgetingTaxes & Economy
EPA: Regulation without Representation
Yesterday, I presented comments to the EPA’s advisory committee on the revision of the air standard for ozone, regulated under the Clean Air Act. The proposed standard…
Media
Read More: EPA: Regulation without RepresentationTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Drillers Invest Billions in Pennsylvania
During Monday’s Pennsylvania Press Club meeting, Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Charles Zogby remarked on the economic benefits the Marcellus Shale industry is bringing to Pennsylvania. Secretary Zogby commented that the Marcellus…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Drillers Invest Billions in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Medicaid Reforms Start with the States
Medicaid spending threatens to consume the entire Pennsylvania state budget, and we aren’t alone. Without greater flexibility, states will be forced to cut services, raise taxes or drop out…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Reforms Start with the StatesTaxes & Economy
No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC Move
It seems the number of Penn State graduates who are upset at recent actions of their alma mater grows by the…
Media
Read More: No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC MoveTaxes & Economy
Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of Proportion
Reactions to the Corbett administration’s revoking of mandatory impact reports on state lands targeted for drilling fail to see the big picture. Comments from environmentalists imply that without an extra…
Media
Read More: Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of ProportionRegulation
And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?
Given that Gov. Corbett may end Pennsylvania’s $75 million film tax credit program, the film industry is out in force to prove it’s more unique than other industries, saying it…
Media
Read More: And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?Regulation
Video: Matt Brouillette Breaks Down PA’s Fiscal Problems
Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Matt Brouillette was recently interviewed by Tony May, a partner at Triad Strategies. They discuss a broad range of topics including Pennsylvania’s current fiscal situation…
Media
Read More: Video: Matt Brouillette Breaks Down PA’s Fiscal ProblemsCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Prison Postponed, Pork Prolonged
Yesterday, Gov. Corbett cancelled a planned prison construction project in Fayette County, estimated to cost taxpayers $200 million. In January, Auditor General Wagner called for a halt on…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Prison Postponed, Pork ProlongedPublic Union Democracy
The Tide Against Public Sector Collective Bargaining
Earlier this week, I blogged on state bankruptcy and how some believe budget problems can be solved if states are willing to challenge the…
Media
Read More: The Tide Against Public Sector Collective BargainingState Budget
Is State Bankruptcy a Solution?
What do New York, California and Illinois have in common? They are in fiscal disarray and may soon be asking for a bailout from Congress. Bailing out these states would…
Media
Read More: Is State Bankruptcy a Solution?Taxes & Economy
Hanger: Gas Fracking is Safe
John Hanger, who just departed with Gov. Ed Rendell as his Secretary of Environmental Protection, recently gave an exit interview to the anti-natural gas,…
Media
Read More: Hanger: Gas Fracking is SafeTaxes & Economy
Green Energy Could Lead to More Blackouts
Recent controlled blackouts in Houston were reportedly caused by the inability of older fossil fuel power plants to operate in unusually cold temperatures. Now proponents of green energy are…
Media
Read More: Green Energy Could Lead to More BlackoutsHealth Care
Five Reasons Corbett Should Stop Implementing Obamacare
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has indicated the state will continue to implement federal health care mandates, such as an an insurance exchange, at least for the time being. Here are…
Media
Read More: Five Reasons Corbett Should Stop Implementing ObamacareTaxes & Economy
A Tax by Any Name Should Still Smell Defeat
State Senator Gene Yaw is pitching a new natural gas tax. The idea is to allow local communities to include the value of natural gas in property tax assessments,…
Media
Read More: A Tax by Any Name Should Still Smell DefeatTaxes & Economy
Obama’s Energy Agenda
President Obama traveled to Penn State University yesterday to discuss his energy agenda and unveil his new taxpayer funded program incentivizing states to retrofit commercial buildings for energy efficiency.
Media
Read More: Obama’s Energy Agenda