Guest Blog: The Hidden Cost of Tax Complexity

• November 17, 2017

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of occasional blogs by a Philadelphia resident highlighting policy problems holding back the City of Brotherly Love. As a Philadelphia…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Wolf Tax Reform Hypocrisy

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2017

Gov. Wolf has criticized recent federal tax reform proposals—which would lower most tax rates and simplify the tax code by reducing loopholes—because it would eliminate the state and local…

Media

State Budget

Four Alternatives to the Warehouse Tax

• Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
• October 3, 2017

The latest tax proposal to balance the $2.2 billion budget shortfall is receiving a cool reception. The tax hike under consideration would extend the sales tax to commercial warehouses. The…

Media

Follow Our Lead

• Nathan Benefield
• September 25, 2017

Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…

Commentary

Follow Our Lead

• September 25, 2017

Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…

Commentary

State Budget

Policy Memo: Analysis of the State Senate’s Revenue Plan

• August 17, 2017

On July 27, the state Senate passed a $1.8 billion revenue package, which includes more than $1.2 billion in borrowing and $570 million in tax increases to pay for the…

Memo

Health Care

Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania Families

• Nathan Benefield
• August 4, 2017

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it would be arbitrarily raising prices on 422 wine and liquor products. This increase is a result of the “liquor modernization” efforts—which have…

Media

State Budget

The Tax Hike Non-Solution

• July 20, 2017

Contrary to the prevailing media narrative, it appears budget negotiations have taken a positive turn. According to Jason Gottesman of The PLS Reporter (paywall), House Republicans—led by Speaker Mike Turzai—have offered…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Poor Showings Aren’t Permanent

• July 20, 2017

The commonwealth continues to score poorly in 24/7 Wall St.’s list of the nation’s best-and worst-run states, ranking 42nd right between neighbors West Virginia and New Jersey. Put differently, Pennsylvania is…

Media