Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s ‘Economic Iron Curtain’

  • Gordon Tomb
  • May 15, 2017

Imagine discovering buried treasure on your property. Suddenly, you can provide for your family, send your kids to college debt-free, pay off your parent’s mortgage, or fund your retirement. It…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s ‘Economic Iron Curtain’

Regulation

Government that Works?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2015

Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…

Commentary

Read More: Government that Works?

Public Union Democracy

Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?

  • May 31, 2013

Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…

Media

Read More: Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?

Regulation

Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 10, 2010

A letter in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader attacks the Commonwealth Foundation for supporting moving state government and school districts employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k).  The…

Media

Read More: Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

Education

Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

The Fordham Institute, long advocates of national education standards, are celebrating the adoption of the Common Core Curriculum, calling it “national standards conservatives can love”. The basis for this…

Media

Read More: Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?

Regulation

Reviewing the Financial Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…

Media

Read More: Reviewing the Financial Crisis

Regulation

Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2010

The Wall Street Journal recently published an interview with Gov. Rendell that highlighted Rendell’s analysis of policy issues – the stimulus, Wall Street/bailouts, and Immigration – at least in…

Media

Read More: Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate

State Budget

Build America Bonds Encourage “Buy Now, Pay Later” Mentality

  • April 8, 2010

As part of the 2009 stimulus package, President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner created a new program to subsidize municipal bonds. Unlike traditional municipal bonds, Build America Bonds are…

Media

Read More: Build America Bonds Encourage “Buy Now, Pay Later” Mentality

Regulation

(Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2010

Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story – which bashes taxpayer bailouts of big Wall Street companies – was itself the recipient of taxpayer subsidies from the state of…

Media

Read More: (Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies