Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Business Tax Climate below average

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 7, 2008

The Tax Foundation has released its latest State Business Tax Climate Index. Pennsylvania ranks a middling 28th on the index, which takes into account five factors (listed in order…

Media

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Government Accountability

Voter Beware

  • October 6, 2008

ACORN, a “community organizing” grassroots group, has been raising a few eyebrows lately. The group engages in activism, lobbying, get-out-the-vote drives, and voter registration. The organization’s activities almost always help…

Media

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State Budget

How much of a budget deficit is Pennsylvania facing?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2008

Capitolwire.com is reporting that there is a top-secret memo from one of the four legislative caucuses estimating that Pennsylvania is facing a potential $2.5 billion budget deficit going into…

Media

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Government Accountability

Down with the Senate?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 4, 2008

Rep. Rich Grucela introduced a measure to eliminate the Pennsylvania Senate. Pennsylvania has functioned under a bi-cameral legislature since 1790, but Rep. Grucela is frustrated with…

Media

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Health Care

RendellCare 3.0

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has revised his proposal to increase government spending and eligibility for health insurance yet again. The latest edition has lowered the cost of the program…

Media

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Government Accountability

Constitutional Convention in IL gets a boost

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2008

The Illinois Constitutional Convention ballot question, discussed in a previous post, got a couple of boosts in the last week. First came news that the Cook County Assessor…

Media

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State Budget

PA Budget Deficit Growing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 1, 2008

The latest Pennsylvania Revenue Department report indicates that collections were $160 million below estimates in September, and $280 million below for the fiscal year which began in July.

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State Budget

Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later

  • October 1, 2008

$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation renewed its call for Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to take action to prevent a…

Press Release

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Health Care

Converting Medicaid into Premium Assistance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 30, 2008

The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder (click here for PDF) on how states can convert Medicaid spending into premium assistance for insurance – a proposal which would…

Media

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