Media

Taxes & Economy

Three Reasons a Severance Tax Is a Bad Idea

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 25, 2017

The hunt for money to satisfy Harrisburg's overspending problem is in full gear. Lawmakers and special interests want to impose an additional tax on gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale, the…

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Regulation

PLCB Strikes Again!

• September 22, 2017

As lawmakers continue to debate balancing the state budget, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) gave Pennsylvanians yet another reason to privatize the antiquated liquor system. The agency unleashed…

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State Budget

“Recurring Revenues” Lead to Recurring Pain

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 21, 2017

The House’s preferred approach to close the state’s $2.2 billion deficit recently came under fire for its reliance on one-time revenue sources rather than recurring revenues, i.e., tax increases. But this…

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Regulation

The Solution to Pa.’s Credit Downgrade

• Jessica Barnett
• September 20, 2017

Pennsylvania’s irresponsible spending increases have taken their toll – and credit rating agencies have taken notice. Following a credit downgrade from Standard & Poor’s Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania’s…

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Regulation

We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers

• Nathan Benefield
• September 20, 2017

The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…

Media

House Budget Solution Spares Taxpayers

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 19, 2017

Tired of hearing about the state budget impasse? There could finally be light at the end of the tunnel and, for taxpayers, it’s not an oncoming train. On Wednesday, the…

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State Budget

More Budget Scare Tactics

• Nathan Benefield
• September 18, 2017

Gov. Wolf announced on Friday that he will delay $1.7 billion in payments to Medicaid providers (for a week) and to the public school employees' pension fund. The governor cited the General…

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State Budget

House Lawmakers Vote to Protect Taxpayers

• Elizabeth Stelle
• September 14, 2017

Last night, 103 House lawmakers voted for a no-tax, no-borrowing plan that will balance the state budget once fully implemented. Please take a moment to thank those lawmakers.

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State Budget

Lawmakers’ Choice: Take from Taxpayers or Rein in Reserves

• September 11, 2017

The path to ending the state budget impasse is becoming increasingly clear. Two plans with competing visions are at the forefront of debate in Harrisburg. The first option is a…

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State Budget

Inquirer Hurls Insults While Lawmakers Embrace Budget Solutions

• September 7, 2017

Yesterday, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial (paywall) attacking House Republicans for defending Pennsylvanians against tax increases and working to avoid driving the state deeper into debt. The editorial…

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State Budget

Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest Allies

• Nathan Benefield
• September 7, 2017

A few misconceptions surrounding the House Republicans’ plan to balance the budget need to be corrected. First, the plan would redirect just 14 percent of the $9.3 billion…

Media

State Budget

The Numbers behind the Shadow Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• September 6, 2017

Yesterday, a group of House Republicans unveiled a proposal to balance the state budget without borrowing or major tax increases. The crux of the plan relies on the use of $1.3…

Media

State Budget

House Lawmakers Unveil New Revenue Proposal

• September 5, 2017

Today, a contingent of House Republicans—with the support of House leadership—released a plan to balance the state budget without borrowing or imposing broad-based tax increases. This is a positive development…

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State Budget

House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s Bills

• September 5, 2017

In a potential breakthrough in the state’s two-month budget stalemate, House Republicans today unveiled a plan to use state government fund surpluses to help balance the budget. The funds in…

Press Release

Here’s How to Pay Last Year’s Bills without Tax Hikes

• September 1, 2017

On Tuesday, House Republicans will unveil their plan to balance the budget without hiking taxes on families and job creators and without costly borrowing. How will they do it? Transferring…

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Public Union Democracy

Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching Fight

• September 1, 2017

The free ride is over for one local teachers' union. This week, The Morning Call reported on a major change to ghost teaching in the Allentown School District. The…

Media

Regulation

Higher Prices Coming to a State Store Near You

• September 1, 2017

Years of boondoogles and blunders at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) make for a compelling list of reasons for complete privatization. Now there's another item to add to the…

Media

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Irresponsibility Bears Repeating

• Nathan Benefield
• August 31, 2017

A critic, responding to my op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, opines that I am repeating the “mantra” that lawmakers should control the growth of spending and avoid job-killing tax…

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Education

Diverse Students Need Diverse Choices

• August 31, 2017

Were a doctor to give every patient an aspirin regardless of their diagnosis, most would consider the doctor unqualified. Sure, the patients with a fever or a headache might be satisfied, but…

Media

State Budget

Treasurer Playing Chicken with State Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• August 30, 2017

In a news interview yesterday, State Treasurer Joe Torsella threatened that he won’t allow the state to borrow any more money to pay bills, unless the budget is balanced.

Media

Taxes & Economy

Severance Tax Talk is Stunting Investment in Pa.

• Elizabeth Stelle
• August 30, 2017

One tax is emblematic of Pennsylvania’s failure to grow the economy with more government spending: the natural gas severance tax. Special interest groups have worked for a decade to enact a…

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