Media

Taxes & Economy

Map of State and Local Sales Tax Rates

• Nathan Benefield
• October 19, 2009

The Tax Foundation has a new map showing sales tax rates by state – including both the state rate and the average local rate. With the local included, Pennsylvania…

Media

Health Care

Health Care “Facts” Disputed

• Nathan Benefield
• October 19, 2009

Michael Cannon and Ramesh Ponnuru have an editorial challenging the assertions of Obama on health care.  The article came out a few weeks ago, and specifically cites claims made…

Media

Critics Skeptical About Fate Of Lawmakers’ Grants

• October 18, 2009

Media Hit

Legislators protect their own finances while cutting budget

• October 18, 2009

Media Hit

Special interests spared from state budget cuts

• October 18, 2009

Media Hit

Punishing The Next Generation: The Rendell Pension Legacy

• October 18, 2009

Media Hit

State Budget

Facts About Spending Limits from Colorado

• Nathan Benefield
• October 16, 2009

Voters in Maine will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum limiting state spending and tax increases. The Maine Heritage Policy Center released a new paper offering…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Job Losses in Pennsylvania Counties

• Nathan Benefield
• October 16, 2009

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data on county employment and wages today.  It is a little dated (March 2009) relative to national data, but does offer a profile…

Media

Health Care

Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

• Nathan Benefield
• October 16, 2009

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage.  (HT to Carpe…

Media

State parks and environment could take hits, advocates say

• October 16, 2009

Media Hit

The Film Tax Credit: A bad program survives

• October 16, 2009

Media Hit

The Pension Bomb

• October 15, 2009

Media Hit

State Budget

Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?

• Nathan Benefield
• October 15, 2009

Yesterday, blogger for the Time Herald/State Senator Daylin Leach attacked ATR’s no-tax pledge and Sen. Orie for signing it a few years ago before voting to increase taxes…

Media

Education

Misguided Efforts Fail to Make College More Affordable

• October 15, 2009

Gubernatorial hopeful Jack Wagner pledged to start a scholarship program to help students who decide to stay in Pennsylvania to attend college. The proposed HOPE (Helping Our Pupils to…

Media

Regulation

Pensions and Skyrocketing Taxes

• Nathan Benefield
• October 14, 2009

Ethan Demme has a good synopsis of the coming crisis in state and local pensions in Pennnsylvania, and why this will drive up taxes, from the RE Harper Economic…

Media

Government Accountability

Weekly Blog Roundup

• October 14, 2009

The uproar over the budget this week has spurred many bloggers to look to CF research and analysis: Grassroots PA and Sights on Pennsylvania give links to Nate…

Media

Government Accountability

What Voters Think of PA Judges and Courts

• October 14, 2009

A recent statewide public opinion survey conducted by The Federalist Society  – in advance of November’s judicial elections – showed Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support our system of judicial selection…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling Plan

• Nathan Benefield
• October 13, 2009

A new study on the impact of tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania by Grove City College economist Tracy Miller highlights several flaws in the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll…

Media

Health Care

CF Joins 32 State Think Tanks in Offering Alternative, Patient-Centered Reforms

• Nathan Benefield
• October 13, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation joined leaders from 32 other state think tanks in announcing a “patient-centered” plan for health care reform. In response to national calls for an alternative to Obamacare…

Media

Budget cuts force PBS-39 to cancel programs

• October 13, 2009

Media Hit

The state budget: A weaselly punt

• October 13, 2009

Media Hit