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
Stimulus 5.0
President Obama has proposed yet another round of stimulus spending. Of course, he won’t call it a “stimulus,” because of how unpopular that has become. Others are, erroneously,…
Media
Read More: Stimulus 5.0Regulation
Outsourcing Park Management a Budget Saver
With economists speculating a double dip recession, unemployment high, and a national deficit expected to reach $1.5 trillion this year, you might disapprove of unnecessary government spending, like putting…
Media
Read More: Outsourcing Park Management a Budget SaverTaxes & Economy
PA’s Highways Remain Poorly Managed
Pennsylvania ranks 38th in the nation in state highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to Reason’s latest Annual Highway Report. While the Keystone State’s ranking remains unchanged, nationally highway…
Media
Read More: PA’s Highways Remain Poorly ManagedTaxes & Economy
PennFuture’s Revised Lobbying Numbers
After ranting about alleged “egregious errors” in our report about their secret, unreported lobbying expenses and siccing their lawyer on us, PennFuture has…
Media
Read More: PennFuture’s Revised Lobbying NumbersGovernment Accountability
A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania Taxpayers
The Tribune Review revisits the Rendell Administration’s leasing tens of thousands of acres of state forest lands via no-bid contracts. State records the Tribune-Review obtained show that, in…
Media
Read More: A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
Dan Onorato’s Natural Gas Tax
Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Onorato held a press conference yesterday announcing he supports a tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania (and that he kinda-sorta opposes other tax…
Media
Read More: Dan Onorato’s Natural Gas TaxTaxes & Economy
PA Unemployment Fraud Adding to Already-Bankrupt System
As PA Independent reports today, Pennsylvania had $374 million in overpayments for Unemployment Compensation (UC) last year, including $227 million in fraudulent claims, according to the US Department of…
Media
Read More: PA Unemployment Fraud Adding to Already-Bankrupt SystemTaxes & Economy
Solar Subsidies Sink State
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation expresses its displeasure with Gov. Rendell’s pronouncement today of awarding more taxpayer funds for solar energy projects and advocating an increase in a mandate…
Press Release
Read More: Solar Subsidies Sink StateTaxes & Economy
Should Higher Taxes be a “Priority”?
Here is a letter I sent the Patriot News on a natural gas jobs tax: Your August 31 editorial states that a natural gas tax should be the…
Media
Read More: Should Higher Taxes be a “Priority”?Taxes & Economy
PPL’s Distribution Rate Increase and Electric Choice
Earlier this year, we put out an electricity guide for citizens and businesses explaining why electricty rates were increasing, and how Pennsylvanians can to shop for the best…
Media
Read More: PPL’s Distribution Rate Increase and Electric ChoiceTaxes & Economy
Coal Faces an Onslaught of New Regulations
Debate over new regulations by the EPA puts the Pennsylvania coal industry at a crossroads. Last week, experts met in Philadelphia to discuss a new ruling known as the Clean…
Media
Read More: Coal Faces an Onslaught of New RegulationsTaxes & Economy
The Imagined Effect of the Stimulus
Louis Woodhill writes on Real Clear Markets how the CBO’s estimated impact of the stimulus is a fantasy. In fact, the CBO readily admits it is simply plugging…
Media
Read More: The Imagined Effect of the StimulusEnergy
Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s Economy
Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is…
Commentary
Read More: Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s EconomyTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel Taxes
Grove City College economist Tracy Miller explains why Pennsylvania drivers are resistant to a higher gasoline tax. In contrast to prior periods when the tax was viewed as a…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel TaxesTaxes & Economy
Municipalities Gain Authority to Regulate Drilling
Previously, local municipalities could not impose restrictions on gas drilling separate from those required by the state. However, several Pennsylvania court decisions have begun to give local officials additional regulatory…
Media
Read More: Municipalities Gain Authority to Regulate DrillingTaxes & Economy
Had Enough Skewed Polls from Gov. Rendell Yet?
Ed Rendell’s “campaign” financed a new poll which was then given to the Governor’s Office to distribute, as well as to the propaganda arm of DEP and a…
Media
Read More: Had Enough Skewed Polls from Gov. Rendell Yet?Health Care
Insurance Hypocrisy
I saw a commercial during an episode of Jeopardy from the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority. It warns people against trying to buy car insurance after an accident…
Media
Read More: Insurance HypocrisyEducation
Gov. Rendell’s Gamesmanship
While table games have been in Pennsylvania casinos for more than a month, I don't know if Gov. Rendell has tried his luck. But it would be a safe wager…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendell’s GamesmanshipTaxes & Economy
The U.S. ‘Jobs Spill’
Today the American Energy Alliance released a video about how tax policies on U.S. energy development drive jobs overseas. Included in the piece is…
Media
Read More: The U.S. ‘Jobs Spill’Taxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their Spoils
The Patriot News today reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) are arguing over how much money the PTC has to pay…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their SpoilsState Budget
Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise Taxes
Terry Madonna and Michael Young have a new column asking why Pennsylvania lawmakers are so loath to raise taxes: This response differs dramatically from past practice. Throughout most…
Media
Read More: Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise Taxes