Regulation

Rendell’s “Press Release Economics”

  • April 27, 2010

Press-release economics has long been part of a political charade in which lawmakers use other people's money to fund their political gain. In Pennsylvania, agencies such as the Department of…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and Reprioritization

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2010

Now that the federal government has rejected the ill-conceived plan to toll I-80 for a third, and supposedly final time, Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly must implement serious solutions…

Commentary

Read More: Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and Reprioritization

Education

Ten Tips to Balance the Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 8, 2010

Contrary to Gov. Rendell's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and cuts that can balance the budget without taking more from the pockets of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Here are ten…

Commentary

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State Budget

Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

  • April 6, 2010

Pennsylvania's latest budget shortfall is the result of a pattern in which state legislators abandon fiscal prudence in "good years" and face spending cuts or tax hikes in down times.

Commentary

Read More: Rendell’s Higher Taxes Equals Fewer Jobs

Health Care

Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 30, 2010

Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction.  But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…

Commentary

Read More: Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?

Regulation

Private Parks Promote Public Preservation

  • March 25, 2010

It is an oft-disseminated myth that government has to be the sole guardian of our historic sites, museums, and parks.  For instance, during the 2009 state budget impasse, Gov. Rendell…

Commentary

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Energy

Natural Gas Severance Tax: Still A Bad Idea

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2010

In the coming months, debate on a proposed natural gas severance tax will heat up as legislators attempt to pass a balanced budget before June 30. Last year, lawmakers and…

Commentary

Read More: Natural Gas Severance Tax: Still A Bad Idea

Government Accountability

The Case for a Part-Time Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 19, 2010

There is a direct link between our full-time legislature and our state economy.  A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a…

Commentary

Read More: The Case for a Part-Time Legislature

Government Accountability

For Whom The Turnpike Tolls

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 9, 2010

Tolls are appropriate because they are imposed directly upon travelers for their use of roads.  However, the plan to toll I-80 represents more than a toll.  It is also a…

Commentary

Read More: For Whom The Turnpike Tolls

Public Union Democracy

Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 8, 2010

Gov. Rendell, of course, didn't declare war on all special interests - only those who oppose his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda.  For example, while he lambasts the natural gas industry for opposing…

Commentary

Read More: Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests

State Budget

The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 17, 2010

Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009, the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, unemployment continues to grow,…

Commentary

Read More: The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation

State Budget

No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

The Keystone State for years has been afflicted by government inefficiency and overspending.  Since Gov. Rendell took office in 2003, Pennsylvania’s burden of state and local taxes has increased from…

Commentary

Read More: No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget

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

Read More: Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2010

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will start…

Commentary

Read More: Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80

Government Accountability

Time for Term Limits Again

  • January 21, 2010

Unfortunately, this spirit of civic virtue yielded to self-aggrandizement. Early on, legislators served a few terms in a public office and then returned to private life to live under the…

Commentary

Read More: Time for Term Limits Again

Education

Mann-Made Global Warming?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 19, 2010

Climategate was born in late November 2009 with the release of more than a thousand emails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia…

Commentary

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A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 15, 2010

Some members of Congress are pushing a third economic "stimulus" in as many years (pundits often forget the Bush stimulus of 2008). Supporters of yet another round of deficit spending…

Commentary

Read More: A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm

Taxes & Economy

A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

  • December 29, 2009

The top-heavy PTC, with more than 2,000 employees, is responsible for overseeing an exponentially smaller infrastructure than PennDOT. The PTC manages 537 miles of turnpike highways; PennDOT manages nearly 40,000…

Commentary

Read More: A Road to Savings: Abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

Energy

Five Threats to Pennsylvania’s Prosperity

  • December 16, 2009

Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth,…

Commentary

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Regulation

Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania

  • December 8, 2009

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…

Commentary

Read More: Outward Bound – Taxes Driving People Out Of Pennsylvania

Education

Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2009

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…

Commentary

Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?