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.
Taxes & Economy
Politics of Punditry Troubling in Tucson Tragedy
I knew it would be a challenging few days as I took off the tie and laced up my combat boots to proudly serve a training weekend with my National Guard unit. Friday…
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Read More: Politics of Punditry Troubling in Tucson TragedyState Budget
How to Limit State Spending
A recent study by Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center suggests that not all spending and taxation limits are created equal. The study examines the effect of certain…
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Mann: From Transparency Champion to ‘Bully’ Victim
As Chris Horner blogged yesterday, the Environmental Law Center at American Tradition Institute (where I am executive director) has requested under the state Freedom of Information…
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Read More: Mann: From Transparency Champion to ‘Bully’ VictimTaxes & Economy
New Poll Shows Gas Tax Popular in Areas without Drilling
The Tribune-Review released a poll today showing support for a natural gas tax jumped 40 percent since the May…
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Read More: New Poll Shows Gas Tax Popular in Areas without DrillingTaxes & Economy
Penn State’s Mann Under More Scrutiny
Also today Pennsylvania Independent reports that the American Tradition Institute, where I am executive director, has filed a Freedom of Information…
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Read More: Penn State’s Mann Under More ScrutinyTaxes & Economy
A True Renewables Comparison
The Patriot-News over the weekend ran two letters to the editor in response to my op-ed that called for the Commonwealth’s new elected leadership to repeal…
Media
Read More: A True Renewables ComparisonEnergy
Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates
A lot can be spun from the results of the Nov. 2 elections, but one fact is uncontrovertible: Pennsylvanians are sick of centrally planned, highly regulated, gimmick-driven economic policy. It…
Commentary
Read More: Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables MandatesTaxes & Economy
Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’
As the old saying goes, “it takes one to know one,” and outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell, who has obviously spent more time analyzing the Philadelphia Eagles than bringing jobs back…
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Read More: Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’Taxes & Economy
Reverse Coercion Course
That’s what I wrote yesterday in an opinion piece for the Patriot-News, about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to purchase 18 percent of their electricity…
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Read More: Reverse Coercion CourseTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues
A recent Williamsport Sun-Gazette article gives props to the natural gas industry for being an economic boost, and keeping unemployment relatively low in Bradford County, a central hub for…
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Read More: Marcellus Shale Job Creation ContinuesTaxes & Economy
So Long, Specter
The Washington Examiner‘s Tim Carney today reviews Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter’s farewell speech to the U.S. Senate, and characterizes it as “20 minutes of self-serving gripes, empty name-calling,…
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Read More: So Long, SpecterTaxes & Economy
Skewed Poll on Gas Drilling
A recent survey by the Civil Society Institute is so misleading that even professional skewed poll creators PennFuture and Gov. Rendell can pick up tips. The only…
Media
Read More: Skewed Poll on Gas DrillingRegulation
Cigarette Taxes Increase Crime
Our friends at the Mackinac Center have released a study on the smuggling of cigarettes due to high cigarette taxes. While politicians often tout raising taxes as a tool to…
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Read More: Cigarette Taxes Increase CrimeHealth Care
Medicaid: A State Budget Buster
Medicaid is gobbling up state budgets left and right, and Pennsylvania is no exception. State Medicaid costs from 2014 through 2020 are estimated to increase by $841.2…
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Read More: Medicaid: A State Budget BusterTaxes & Economy
Oregon Ducks Renewable Energy Failure
In 2001, Mayor Vera Katz promised Portland, Ore. would acquire 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. Today, only nine percent of Portland’s energy comes from renewables. What…
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The “Fair Share” Canard
Tonight, I’ll be on WITF’s Smart Talk to discuss why jobs aren’t coming back quicker and if we should allow tax rates to increase (i.e., allow the Bush tax…
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Pipeline to Nowhere is Dead
In November, the PennVEST board, heavily pressured by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), approved an almost $12 million taxpayer-funded grant and loan to pay for a water line…
Media
Read More: Pipeline to Nowhere is DeadRegulation
New Poll Shows Growing Support for Selling Liquor Stores
Released today, the Quinnipiac University poll shows that 66 percent of Pennsylvania voters support selling state liquor stores—a rise from the 50 percent reported by a F&M poll…
Media
Read More: New Poll Shows Growing Support for Selling Liquor StoresState Budget
The Pot of Debt at the End of Rendell’s Rainbow
These days it's hard enough for Pennsylvania families to think about meeting their obligations let alone piling on more debt. But that's exactly what outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell did this…
Commentary
Read More: The Pot of Debt at the End of Rendell’s RainbowTaxes & Economy
Facts Not Fear For Drilling Issue
Below is my guest opinion published in the Lebanon Daily News today, which confronts a misleading letter to the editor addressing gas drilling. After reading Joyce Kunkle’s Dec.
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I Got Your Energy Security Right Here
The Toronto Globe and Mail yesterday reported how vast discoveries of new North American energy sources could “reflect the beginning of the end for U.S. dependence on Mideast…
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