Energy

Budget Facts 2010: Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • April 7, 2010

Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax of 5% on the value of extracted natural gas, plus $.047 per thousand cubic feet of extracted gas. There is an exemption for marginal…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Budget Facts 2010: Natural Gas Severance Tax

Time for Serious Transportation Funding Solutions

  • April 6, 2010

Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) rejection of Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)…

Press Release

Read More: Time for Serious Transportation Funding Solutions

Education

Gov. Rendell Learned His Lesson

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 6, 2010

Last year, Gov. Rendell went on a bus tour across Pennsylvania, at taxpayer expense, to lobby for more education spending. Rendell was…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Learned His Lesson

State Budget

Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

  • April 6, 2010

Pennsylvania's latest budget shortfall is the result of a pattern in which state legislators abandon fiscal prudence in "good years" and face spending cuts or tax hikes in down times.

Commentary

Read More: Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

Education

Is Choice Harming Public Schools?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 2, 2010

The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story this week about the number of students (314,000 over nine years) served by Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC provides tax…

Media

Read More: Is Choice Harming Public Schools?

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2010

  • April 1, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of March, state General Fund revenues are $719 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Tax collections have…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2010

Taxes & Economy

Facts and Myths About a Natural Gas Tax

  • April 1, 2010

Gov. Rendell has labeled himself as the “best ally” of the natural gas industry, an odd statement for someone who frequently gets the facts wrong. Here are some corrections…

Media

Read More: Facts and Myths About a Natural Gas Tax

State Budget

Debating Taxes on Services

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

The New York Times has a piece on expanding state sales taxes to cover many services, with a specific focus on Pennsylvania. The articles focus primarily on the “modernization”…

Media

Read More: Debating Taxes on Services

Health Care

Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction.  But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…

Commentary

Read More: Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?