State Budget
Big Government Limits Economic Growth
Last month, Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address kicked off state budget negotiations. As lawmakers debate priorities, one thing is crystal clear—low government spending fosters economic growth. The Mercatus Center’s…
Media
Read More: Big Government Limits Economic GrowthPublic Union Democracy
Pop Quiz: Would You Pay $126 or $84 for the Same Product?
Yesterday, we noted how Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law is a “rent” for labor unions. Here’s an example of how it plays out in real life—when our schools are…
Media
Read More: Pop Quiz: Would You Pay $126 or $84 for the Same Product?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Businesses Face the Highest Taxes
A new study from the Tax Foundation finds that mature Pennsylvania businesses are the highest taxed in the nation. Newly established operations in the commonwealth are the second highest taxed,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Businesses Face the Highest TaxesPublic Union Democracy
Rent Seeking: Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Musical
“Rent” isn’t just a depressing musical about New Yorkers facing AIDS. It’s also a term economists use to describe the benefits special interests win for themselves in the political…
Media
Read More: Rent Seeking: Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage MusicalRegulation
Sounding the Alarm to Save Pennsylvania
A four-alarm fire is engulfing Pennsylvania's economy. If we don't regain control of the state debt, corrections costs, public welfare growth and government employee pensions, our state taxpayers will be…
Commentary
Read More: Sounding the Alarm to Save PennsylvaniaState Budget
5 Scary Facts about Pennsylvania’s Welfare Spending
Welfare spending in Pennsylvania is out of control. The Department of Public Welfare is now the largest department in the state. It will continue to crowd out education, environmental…
Media
Read More: 5 Scary Facts about Pennsylvania’s Welfare SpendingEducation
Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending
Pennsylvania's K-12 education revenue increased from $13 billion in 1995-96 to $26 billion in 2009-10. Adjusted for inflation, that represents a 44% increase in revenue per student. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending
Got Freedom? PLCB Has No App for That!
Ah yes, the Merry Minions of Merlot, makers of mediocrity, mismanagement and the modish mockery of “modernization” are at it again. But instead of truly bringing us into the 21st…
Media
Read More: Got Freedom? PLCB Has No App for That!Education
Exposing Two Class Size Myths
The Patriot-News reports that while schools in the mid-state have laid off some employees, most districts are still below the national average student-teacher ratio of 15.1. The student-teacher ratio…
Media
Read More: Exposing Two Class Size Myths