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MARCH 2, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of February, state General Fund revenues are $477 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
DECEMBER 8, 2009 | Commentary by ABHILASH SAMUEL
Outward Bound - Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania
Between 2000 and 2008, Pennsylvania suffered the depletion of one of its most valuable resources - people. During this period, the state lost 56,000 net residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, ranking 11th in migration loss among all states. In the decade prior, Pennsylvania lost over 250,000 net residents to interstate migration - rank
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 | Commentary by ELIZABETH BRYAN, NATHAN BENEFIELD
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money to pay for their profligate ways: a 1% tuition tax on the city's financially-strapped college students.
Recent Blog Posts
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
Tax Foundation Analysis of Rendell's Tax Proposals
Joe Henchman of the Tax Foundation has put together a Fical Fact looking at Gov. Rendell's tax increases in the proposed Pennsylvania state budget. Here is the quick overview:
The budget includes significant tax proposals.
- Broaden the state sales tax and lowering the rate from 6% to 4%. The change would eliminate many unjustified exemptions but would double-tax some retail items by taxing business-to-business transactions. The largest unjustified exemptions (most groceries, clothing, legal and medical services) would remain. The change would be a net revenue increase despite the rate reduction.
- Eliminate sales tax vendor compensation.
- Reduce the corporate income tax rate from 9.99% to 8.99%, eliminate the cap on net operating loss carry-forwards, but impose combined reporting and single-sales factor apportionment. The net result of this package of positive and negative reforms would be an increase in business tax burdens, particularly for out-of-state businesses.
- Impose a new severance tax on natural gas extraction.
- Seek federal aid by increasing unemployment benefits and exploit the federal Medicaid matching fund system.
Click here for the full PDF.
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 11:57 AM | 0 comment
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
NTU Congressional Ratings for Pennsylvania
The National Taxpayers Union released their annual Congressional report card (for votes in 2009). Here are the votes they rated. NTU's rating is based on "every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy," rating how "friendly" lawmakers were to taxpayers.
Among the Pennsylvania delegation, no one earned an A, or a "Taxpayer's Friend", but there were several F's, and Chakah Fattah was cited for the lowest overall score in the nation.
| Member | Grade | Percentage |
| Specter | D | 26% |
| Casey | F | 6% |
| Pitts, J | B+ | 88% |
| Shuster, B | B | 81% |
| Thompson, G | B | 80% |
| Dent, C | C+ | 64% |
| Gerlach, J | C+ | 60% |
| Platts, T | C+ | 60% |
| Murphy, T | C | 55% |
| Altmire, J | D | 25% |
| Carney, C | D | 16% |
| Holden, T | F | 15% |
| Dahlkemper, K | F | 12% |
| Murphy, P | F | 8% |
| Kanjorski, P | F | 6% |
| Sestak, J | F | 5% |
| Schwartz, A | F | 3% |
| Brady, R | F | 1% |
| Doyle, M | F | 1% |
| Fattah, C | F | 1% |
| Murtha, J | DECEASED | NA |
| State Average | 32% |
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 08:15 AM | 0 comment
FEBRUARY 24, 2010
Pennsylvania Bottom-of-the Pack in State Competitiveness
A recent report by the Beacon Hill Institute, a free-market think-tank out of Suffolk University in Massachusetts, provided even more dismal news on Pennsylvania's economic climate.
According to the study, Pennsylvania is ranked 39th out of the 50 states in economic competitiveness, citing high taxes, high crime rates and other factors for it's less-than-desirable ranking. Given the burden our state continues to place on our families and small business by way of both personal income tax and business taxes, our low ranking is not surprising.
Until we can provide a economic climate that can allow small business to flourish and reduce the onerous levels of taxation on our citizens, Pennsylvania will continue to miss out on opportunities for real growth.
For a complete version of the BHI study click here
posted by MICHAEL NEROZZI | 09:52 AM | 0 comment
