Media

Regulation

HB 80 Will Increase Energy Costs

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 2, 2009

Clean energy proponents are attempting to reignite the fire under HB 80, which would increase the amount of electricity utilities the state must produce from alternative energy sources. In a…

Media

State Budget

Pennsylvania August Revenues Come in a Bit Short

• Nathan Benefield
• September 2, 2009

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the preliminary collections report for August – the state collected just over $1.6 billion, $19 million (or 1%) below estimate. The consensus…

Media

Police, firefighters reject pension overhaul bill

• September 2, 2009

Media Hit

Education

PA’s Prepaid Tuition Program Under Fire

• September 1, 2009

State Treasurer Robert McCord announced yesterday he is delaying increased premiums on Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Savings Plan, which allows parents to purchase college tuition credits at current prices and…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Rendell Retreats from Natural Gas Tax

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 1, 2009

Yesterday, Governor Rendell took another of his proposed taxes off the negotiating table. His announcement perfectly demonstrates the points made in my new commentary on…

Media

Health Care

Is Individual Mandate Worse than “Public Option”?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 1, 2009

Cato’s Michael Cannon has a commentary on the effects of an individual mandate to buy health insurance. His poster child is chief spokesman critic of Obama’s health care proposals,…

Media

State Budget

Call to Action: Budget Must Keep PA Competitive

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2009

The Pennsylvania Prosperity Project has a new action alert on the Pennsylvania budget, with a form to contact your legislators and ask lawmakers to “focus on making Pennsylvania competitive…

Media

Taxes & Economy

New Study Shows Devastating Impact of High Corporate Tax Rates

• August 31, 2009

The Tax Foundation, came out with a new study this month on the negative impacts of high state corporate tax rates. The results have coincided with previous research,…

Media

Health Care

What’s Wrong with Medicare

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2009

Defenders of national health care proposals try to make the claim – in response to critics – that government-run health care is pretty good, citing Medicare (and Medicaid).  So what’s…

Media

Pennsylvania needs competitive electricity market

• August 30, 2009

Media Hit

Return Pennsylvania to prosperity’s path

• August 30, 2009

Media Hit

Facts show why state can’t keep upping taxes

• August 28, 2009

Media Hit

Government Accountability

Baby Boomers Dominate in State Legislatures

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2009

Interesting, if trivial analysis from NCSL on the age of state legislators. Only 4% of legislators nationally are under age 34. They also have a tool with demographic…

Media

Regulation

Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for Pennsylvania

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2009

Chris Freind writes on how the proposed increase of Philadelphia’s sales tax from 7% to 8% (6% state rate, local rate to double from 1 to 2%) will harm…

Media

Education

2009 SAT Scores by State

• Nathan Benefield
• August 28, 2009

EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released data on 2009 SAT Scores.  I’ve compiled the data into a spreadsheet of…

Media

Education

School District Makes Due Without Tax Hike

• Nathan Benefield
• August 27, 2009

ABC 27 has a story about East Pennsboro School District – the first stop on Gov. Rendell’s bus tour – using fiscal restraint, not higher taxes, to deal…

Media

Regulation

Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a Nutshell

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 27, 2009

Yesterday the Senate approved HB 1828, a long and complicated bill full of so-called pension reforms and potential local tax increases. Here’s a basic summary of the provisions following…

Media

Health Care

Medicare’s Administrative Costs vs. Private Insurance

• Nathan Benefield
• August 27, 2009

One of the myths is that Medicare has lower administrative costs than private insurance, and thus is the model for efficient health coverage. (This was an argument made by a…

Media

Health Care

The Success of Consumer-Driven Health Care

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 26, 2009

In the midst of debates over the right kind of health care reform, consumer-driven plans continue to attract consumers while keeping costs in check. Greg Scandlen of Consumers of…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Should Existing Interstate Highways Be Tolled?

• Nathan Benefield
• August 26, 2009

Interesting question posed by National Journal on tolling of existing freeways, with particular focus on tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania, offering several experts the opportunity to respond.  Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn…

Media

Compromise On Obamacare Public Option Unlikely

• August 26, 2009

Media Hit