Taxes & Economy

The Benefits of Lower Tobacco Taxes

  • July 9, 2010

Gov. Rendell hailed the budget, as he signed it into law on Tuesday. However, Rendell isn’t all smiles– the Governor lamented the fact that lawmakers failed to increase…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Why are PA Roads so Bad?

  • June 16, 2010

Some of my friends and I like to take road trips to and through the states that border PA. One of the jokes we always make is, “You can tell…

Media

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Regulation

PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2010

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House approved legislation – HB 2399 – to allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to borrow and additional $50 to $100 million for additional “economic development…

Media

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State Budget

Help Stop a Tax Increase in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2010

Citizens Against Government Waste has a new action alert about proposed tax hikes in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania already has the highest Corporate Net Income Tax rate in the world,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings

  • April 15, 2010

This month, the American Legislative Exchange Council released their third annual ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index. Unfortunately, in the last three years Pennsylvania’s economic rankings not only have been…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Cost-Saving Ideas for Pennsylvania State Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2010

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Research, Commonwealth Foundation to the Pennsylvania Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission, April 12, 2010 Good morning; I am Nathan…

Testimony

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State Budget

Build America Bonds Encourage “Buy Now, Pay Later” Mentality

  • April 8, 2010

As part of the 2009 stimulus package, President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner created a new program to subsidize municipal bonds. Unlike traditional municipal bonds, Build America Bonds are…

Media

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Education

Ten Tips to Balance the Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 8, 2010

Contrary to Gov. Rendell's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and cuts that can balance the budget without taking more from the pockets of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Here are ten…

Commentary

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Regulation

Illinois Passes Pension Reductions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2010

While the Pennsylvania General Assembly is holding hearings to assess our public pension crisis is really bad, or really-really bad, Illinois is acting to reduce state pension benefits…

Media

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