Taxes & Economy

The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2013

This policy brief utilizes PA-STAMP to estimate the impact of Gov. Corbett’s proposed tax reform package.  Accordingly, by 2017-18, these reforms (compared with current policy) would result in: 1,259 additional…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax Reform

Regulation

Pennsylvania Stuck in Prohibition

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 6, 2013

Eighty years ago, baseball was still segregated, Social Security was non-existent and it was illegal to buy alcohol in the United States. Times have changed, and Prohibition has since ended…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Stuck in Prohibition

Regulation

Desperate Times, Desperate Claims

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 8, 2013

UFCW President Wendell Young is so desperate to retain Pennsylvania’s 80-year old government liquor monopoly that he’ll say anything.  Most recently, he claimed “privateers” were hacking an online poll…

Media

Read More: Desperate Times, Desperate Claims

Regulation

House Passes Corporate Welfare Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2012

This week the Pennsylvania House passed RACP (pronounced RCAP) reform by a wide margin of 184 to 9. RACP – the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program – is a political…

Media

Read More: House Passes Corporate Welfare Reform

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Freezes in Perspective

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 5, 2012

Yesterday, Gov. Corbett and the Office of the Budget released a list of 2011-12 budgetary freezes—reductions in spending from the enacted General Fund budget—due in part to revenue shortfalls. I…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Freezes in Perspective

Welfare

Welfare Funds for Home Bowling Alley

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 29, 2011

What do bowling alleys, chandeliers, and six-person hot tubs have in common? They’ve all been purchased with state welfare funds. Yesterday Tim Costa, executive deputy secretary of the Department of…

Media

Read More: Welfare Funds for Home Bowling Alley

State Budget

Understanding the Pennsylvania State Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 7, 2011

Pennsylvania's total state operating budget for FY 2010-11 is approximately $65.4 billion-or $5,193 for every man, woman and child in the commonwealth.  This policy brief looks at the entire state…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Understanding the Pennsylvania State Budget

State Budget

Pennsylvania State Budget Resources

  • June 2, 2010

Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $1 billion.  Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion General Fund budget for 2010-11 that increases businesses taxes, imposes…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Resources

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 Billion

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2009

Both the Pennsylvania House Democrats and Republicans are reporting an April General Fund revenue shortfall of $941.5 million. I am still waiting for the report from the Department of…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Grows by Nearly $1 Billion