Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh 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
Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill Jobs
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a new video out explaining how minimum wage laws kill jobs. From 2006 to 2009 the…
Media
Read More: Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill JobsGovernment Accountability
How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget
The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…
Media
Read More: How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the BudgetTaxes & Economy
Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’
Offering more evidence that CVPA’s call for Tom Corbett to return campaign contributions was a partisan stunt, Anadarko also gave Sen. Arlen Specter…
Media
Read More: Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’Taxes & Economy
More Reforms Before More Revenue in Transportation
Good morning and thank you Chairman Rafferty for the invitation to testify before your committee and for your consideration of our policy solutions to help address Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure funding…
Testimony
Read More: More Reforms Before More Revenue in TransportationEducation
A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers…
Report
Read More: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”
I sent the letter below to the group “Conservation Voters of PA“: I saw your press release demanding Tom Corbett return the $6,000 campaign contribution he…
Media
Read More: Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”Energy
The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus
The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study…
Commentary
Read More: The Marcellus Shale: A Real StimulusTaxes & Economy
Government Spending and Economic Growth
The Mercatus Center has a new brief policy analysis reviewing the economic literature on the role of government spending and economic growth. Their conclusion would (but should not)…
Media
Read More: Government Spending and Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
Gasland Debunked
Tonight, HBO premiered the documentary Gasland – a film about the impacts of natural gas drilling across the United States. Director/producer and Pennsylvania native Josh Fox has been touring the…
Media
Read More: Gasland DebunkedTaxes & Economy
Baptists and Bootleggers
ReasonTV has a new video up on “Bootleggers and Baptists.” This is a concept that relates to virtually everything we do here at the Commonwealth Foundation. The…
Media
Read More: Baptists and BootleggersTaxes & Economy
New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still Grim
Contrary to Gov. Rendell’s seemingly rosy interpretation of Pennsylvania latest job numbers, the BLS data hardly inspires confidence. In May (seasonally adjusted data): Pennsylvania added 19,000 payroll jobs…
Media
Read More: New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still GrimTaxes & Economy
Video: Welfare Fraud
CF Research Associate Elizabeth Stelle gives testimony on welfare fraud and abuse in Pennsylvania in this latest video, courtesy the PA House Republican Policy Committee. You…
Media
Read More: Video: Welfare FraudTaxes & Economy
Amish Carrots, Corporate Sticks
Ten days ago the New York Times reported how Amish farmers are being encouraged by environmental bureaucrats and activist groups to clean up the way they farm: For…
Media
Read More: Amish Carrots, Corporate SticksTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Reports Two Years Overdue
In 2004, Pennsylvania passed the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS). Part of this legislation ordered the PUC to publish annual reports evaluating the AEPS, yet the PUC…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Reports Two Years OverdueGovernment Accountability
Rendell Requests Another Federal Bailout
Gov. Ed Rendell is at it again, lobbying the federal government for “Stimulus 4” (following the 2008 Bush stimulus, the 2009 Obama stimulus, and the 2010 “jobs bill”) demanding another…
Media
Read More: Rendell Requests Another Federal BailoutTaxes & Economy
Why are PA Roads so Bad?
Some of my friends and I like to take road trips to and through the states that border PA. One of the jokes we always make is, “You can tell…
Media
Read More: Why are PA Roads so Bad?Government Accountability
Tort Reform Opponents: “Let Us Eat Cake”
This month the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) released its U.S. Tort Liability Index: 2010 Report chronicling the critical condition of tort, one facet of America’s law system. Pennsylvania shuffles…
Media
Read More: Tort Reform Opponents: “Let Us Eat Cake”Taxes & Economy
Hey, PennFuture: Return Your BP Money
In today’s Washington Times, the husband-and-wife team of David and Amy Ridenour at the National Center for Public Policy Research make the case that nonprofit organizations and…
Media
Read More: Hey, PennFuture: Return Your BP MoneyTaxes & Economy
Economics is Funky
In discussing a natural gas severance tax, Patriot News reporter-columnist Laura Vescey makes fun of the fundamental economic principle that companies…
Media
Read More: Economics is FunkyTaxes & Economy
PA Senators Effectively Support Job-Killing Cap & Trade
Last week, the United States Senate voted on legislation that would have stopped the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, 53 Senators, including Pennsylvania’s Casey and Specter, voted…
Media
Read More: PA Senators Effectively Support Job-Killing Cap & TradeGovernment Accountability
Budget Ideas for PA from Other States
The April 2010 edition of the Inside ALEC newsletter has a number of ideas Pennsylvania lawmakers should look at to balance the state budget, and for long-term fiscal reform.
Media
Read More: Budget Ideas for PA from Other States