Taxes & Economy

Wagner’s Warning on Turnpike Debt Not Exaggerated

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 10, 2012

Auditor General Jack Wagner claims the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is in a state of fiscal crisis following a 181 percent increase in long-term debt since 2007. This shouldn’t…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Transportation Funding Must be Tied to Reform

• Matthew Brouillette
• September 28, 2011

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette to the Senate and House Transportation Committees Thank you Chairman Rafferty and Chairman Geist and members of the committees for the invitation to testify today…

Testimony

Regulation

Turnpike Tolls Totally to Transit?

• Nathan Benefield
• July 12, 2011

Amid all the budget turmoil, PA Independent notes the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission is looking to use tolls on Turnpike drivers—those going to the state as part of…

Media

Regulation

Privatizing “Yellow Pages” Government

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 26, 2011

This report surveys the scope of Yellow Pages Government in Pennsylvania, looks at examples of state and local privatization throughout the country, and outlines best practices to equip lawmakers to…

Report

State Budget

Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt

• April 15, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett's FY 2011-12 budget proposal includes $63.6 billion in total operating spending—$27.3 billion in General Fund spending—a reduction of $3.3 billion from FY 2010-11. This budget restores overall…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

Corbett Budget Offers a New Path

• Nathan Benefield
• March 10, 2011

Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  For too long Pennsylvania state government has been spending beyond its means and…

Commentary

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

PLCB’s Scheme to Preserve Power

• February 23, 2011

This week, we received the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s semi-secret alternative to liquor store privatization given to legislators-a scheme to preserve its power. This proposal goes beyond the typical…

Media

State Budget

Is State Bankruptcy a Solution?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 16, 2011

What do New York, California and Illinois have in common? They are in fiscal disarray and may soon be asking for a bailout from Congress. Bailing out these states would…

Media