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.
Regulation
Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMs
During yesterday’s press conference, Roxbury News reported Gov. Rendell saying, “Opportunity Grants are not WAMS.” Really? Forget the numerous failures of Opportunity Grant recipients, like the $750,000 awarded to…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMsTaxes & Economy
Alternative Energy Mandates Remain Costly
This month, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) report evaluating the state’s alternative energy mandates surfaced, a mere two years overdue. Undoubtedly, pressure from the press for…
Media
Read More: Alternative Energy Mandates Remain CostlyState Budget
“Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy
Gov. Rendell announced that to balance the Pennsylvania state budget — after getting $250 million less from Congress than predicted — he would be ordering cuts of 1.9% “across-the-board,”…
Media
Read More: “Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy PolicyTaxes & Economy
Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum Prohibition
The Post-Gazette features an article on a proposed ban on natural gas drilling in the city of Pittsburgh: Ben Price, who helped draft the bill as projects director…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum ProhibitionTaxes & Economy
George Soros vs. Natural Gas
Is anyone surprised that George Soros is against the tapping of shale gas because of “dangerous hydrofracking”? One of America’s real hopes for economic recovery is on the line,…
Media
Read More: George Soros vs. Natural GasState Budget
State Budget Gaps and State Budget Growth
In a recent report, Matthew Mitchell from the Mercatus Center provides solutions to the “rock and hard place” situations states are finding themselves in while they try to…
Media
Read More: State Budget Gaps and State Budget GrowthPublic Union Democracy
Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher Taxes
Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a…
Commentary
Read More: Time to Exit Rendell’s Road to Higher TaxesTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale: One Study Goes Beyond the Hype
A recent study that looks at the environmental and regulatory issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas is a refreshing change of pace from the attacks and emotionally charged analyses. Frac…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale: One Study Goes Beyond the HypeTaxes & Economy
Fact Check: DEP Funding
A Capitolwire article (subscription) on DEP funding highlights an argument between a former and current Department of Environmental Protection secretaries. Former DEP Secretary David Hess says the Department is…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: DEP FundingTaxes & Economy
But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …
The Club for Growth highlights a Washington Post article on the expiration of the “Bush tax cuts” in 2011 (or, depending on your word choice, the “currently-scheduled tax…
Media
Read More: But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …Government Accountability
More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Funded PropagandaHealth Care
States Saying No to Individual Mandate
Merrill Matthews has a good article up on Forbes about what states are doing to fight the individual health insurance mandate in the new law. He touches both on…
Media
Read More: States Saying No to Individual MandateTaxes & Economy
How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?
Pop quiz: Drilling in Pennsylvania is as attractive as drilling in A) Arkansas B) Kansas or C) Cambodia? The correct answer is Cambodia. Currently, the Keystone State is one of…
Media
Read More: How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?Education
Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?
The good news: Penn State is no longer the #1 party school in the US, according to the Princeton Review’s (user account) annual student-produced rankings. It has fallen…
Media
Read More: Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?State Budget
Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?
Yesterday, Bob Caton, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Democrats, and Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republican, engaged in a Twitter argument over which caucus’ TV shows were more…
Media
Read More: Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?Taxes & Economy
Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending
Yesterday, I tweeted Dan Mitchell’s blog post, which in turn cited Richard Rahn’s article on the evidence of “stimulus spending” vs. limited government on growing the economy. Mitchell…
Media
Read More: Quote for the Day on Stimulus SpendingRegulation
SEPTA’s Extravagant Spending
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from SEPTA officials defending their lavish spending habits during a state transportation funding crisis. Senator Rafferty expressed concern, saying:…
Media
Read More: SEPTA’s Extravagant SpendingTaxes & Economy
Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High
In a Capitolwire interview (subscription), gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato advocated a low natural gas severance tax rate with exemptions. Onorato highlighted three states as good examples of a…
Media
Read More: Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too HighEducation
Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs
Here is a letter to the editor I recently submitted on Gov. Rendell’s threats of layoffs if Congress doesn’t give him FMAP Money: Gov. Rendell has been busy lobbying…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers LayoffsTaxes & Economy
Coming to Philly: ‘Brilliance’
PennFuture and other climate catastrophists are promoting a fall global warming conference in Philadelphia, and they’ve invited the unintentionally amusing Bill…
Media
Read More: Coming to Philly: ‘Brilliance’Taxes & Economy
Fact Check: Oil Companies Profits Tax
For claiming he’s “not a crazy tax guy”, Gov. Rendell sure does propose a lot of new taxes. His latest plan regurgitates his 2007 idea to tax Big…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Oil Companies Profits Tax