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Energy
Private investment—not subsidies—will empower Pennsylvania’s nuclear energy
Originally published at The Patriot-News Three Mile Island (TMI), the site of the infamous 1979 non-lethal reactor incident, may soon see new life—thanks to private investment. On…
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Education
What educational reform can learn from urban renewal
Read More: What educational reform can learn from urban renewal
Education
Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation names Andrew Lewis as new president and CEO
Energy
Gov. Shapiro’s permitting reforms are not enough
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s permitting reforms are not enoughTaxes & Economy
Building Excise Fees are Not Property Tax Relief
Henry David Thoreau said, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” In Pennsylvania, that “evil” is the school property…
Commentary
Read More: Building Excise Fees are Not Property Tax ReliefState Budget
Gov. Rendells Blah, Blah, Blah Campaign Strategy
Ever had a conversation with someone who starts to tell a story and then, midway through, says “Blah blah blah” (or words to that effect) and then skips ahead to…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendells Blah, Blah, Blah Campaign StrategyEducation
Property Tax Relief through School Choice
Pennsylvanians deserve property tax reform and relief—not a shift and a sham. But the only way to relieve all homeowners while not burdening other taxpayers is to reduce public school…
Commentary
Read More: Property Tax Relief through School ChoiceGovernment Accountability
A Revolution in 2006?
The 2006 primary election will serve as an important yardstick as to the lingering outrage in the electorate from the legislative pay raise on July 7, 2005 and failure to…
Commentary
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The Governments Gas Problem
Government’s energy policies and regulations have been leading us down the wrong road for years, yet the only solution Governor Ed Rendell and plenty of Republicans like Sen. Arlen Specter…
Commentary
Read More: The Governments Gas ProblemEducation
PHEAAs Split Personality
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has a split personality complex, complete with an uncanny ability to assume different identities at a moment’s notice. One day, the student loan…
Commentary
Read More: PHEAAs Split PersonalityTaxes & Economy
The Key to Property Tax Relief
The failure to pass a property tax “relief” plan in Harrisburg has everything to do with politics—politicians can’t agree on whose ox to gore. Current proposals require some taxpayers to…
Commentary
Read More: The Key to Property Tax ReliefTaxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania
Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania! If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, you need look no further than Tax Freedom Day.
Commentary
Read More: Tax Freedom Day in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market
Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…
Commentary
Read More: Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job MarketHealth Care
“Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job Providers
Remember the old saying “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? When it comes to the ongoing war between Wal-Mart and Big Labor, it has turned into “If you can’t…
Commentary
Read More: “Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job ProvidersState Budget
Breaking Pennsylvania’s Budget Tradition
Traditionally in Pennsylvania’s “budget season,” the governor has submitted his spending plan for the coming fiscal year, and the General Assembly has accepted it as the starting point for the…
Commentary
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Renouce the “Faith”
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on June 15, 2004. Politicians are fond of saying, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does." Yet the machinations of state and federal…
Commentary
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China’s Economic Development Lessons for Pennsylvania
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on April 19, 2004. Tax Day 2004 has come and gone, and as Pennsylvanians wrote their annual big checks to big government, they should…
Commentary
Read More: China’s Economic Development Lessons for PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match Reality
As election time draws nearer, Gov. Ed Rendell is issuing a flurry of press releases to convince voters that his administration has improved Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and economic growth. To that…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendell and PA’s Business Climate: Rhetoric Doesnt Match RealityTaxes & Economy
Close the Loopholes
Few issues get politicians more exercised than the issue of tax “loopholes” – provisions in the tax code that allow affected taxpayers to reduce the amount of money they must…
Commentary
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Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction Projects
In the current debate over school property tax reform in Pennsylvania, all of the plans under consideration in Harrisburg focus solely on the revenue side of the school finance equation…
Commentary
Read More: Let Common Sense Prevail on School Construction ProjectsRegulation
The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in Pennsylvania
It’s a shame that King Canute never ran for office in Pennsylvania. King Canute was the mighty English ruler who, tired of the ceaseless flattery of his advisors, had them…
Commentary
Read More: The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial Disasters
The “Process Improvement Theory” relates to the timing in a process when errors are diagnosed and fixed. As the theory goes, at each ensuing interval in which a problem is…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial DisastersState Budget
State Spending Limits: The Real “Road Less Traveled”
In his 2006-07 budget address, Gov. Ed Rendell claimed to be taking the “road less traveled.” But in unveiling his new spending plan, the governor revealed that he is speeding…
Commentary
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The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had a good tax year – that is, in government collection terms. General Fund revenues will exceed expectations this year by a projected $353 million. But…
Commentary
Read More: The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?Taxes & Economy
Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum Wage
January 23, 2006 Governor Edward G. Rendell225 Main Capitol BuildingHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dear Governor Rendell, I understand that politicians sometimes change their policy positions. And I probably don’t…
Commentary
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