West Virginia = Almost Heaven?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 9, 2010

The “never-met-a-tax-I-didn’t-like” Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center claims that West Virginia has a booming natural gas drilling industry, despite a natural gas severance tax. This “fact” is extremely misleading.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 6, 2010

In a Capitolwire interview (subscription), gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato advocated a low natural gas severance tax rate with exemptions. Onorato highlighted three states as good examples of a…

Media

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Regulation

Privatizing Workers’ Compensation

  • June 29, 2010

Leonard Gilroy of the Reason Foundation recently highlighted the trend to privatize workers’ compensation. Some of the experimentation occurring in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arizona began before…

Media

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State Budget

Yes, a Severance Tax Will Discourage Drilling

  • May 4, 2010

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently depicted Gov. Rendell as willing to compromise on a natural gas severance tax in Pennsylvania, asking the industry to accept a fair severance tax. In…

Media

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Energy

Budget Facts 2010: Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • April 7, 2010

Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax of 5% on the value of extracted natural gas, plus $.047 per thousand cubic feet of extracted gas. There is an exemption for marginal…

Fact Sheet

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Taxes & Economy

Facts and Myths About a Natural Gas Tax

  • April 1, 2010

Gov. Rendell has labeled himself as the “best ally” of the natural gas industry, an odd statement for someone who frequently gets the facts wrong. Here are some corrections…

Media

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Regulation

Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax

  • March 19, 2010

According to a recent op-ed by Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a 2007 cigarette tax is having an adverse effect on the Free State’s economy. While…

Media

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Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2010

Once upon a time, "Keystone State" represented more than just a nickname, as Pennsylvania was central to America's economy. Over the past several decades, however, our importance has diminished. Our…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Two New State Business Climate Rankings

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2009

The Tax Foundation released their updated State Business Tax Climate Index for FY 2010. In the latest rendition, Pennsylvania ranks 27th overall. Broken down by category the Keystone State…

Media

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