Many Pennsylvanians face chronic unemployment, welfare dependency, and the cycle of poverty. This happens because labor incentives have been overridden by bad policies that keep millions out of the workforce and enact excessive red tape. We can reverse this trend by ending the practice of waiving work requirements on able-bodied Pennsylvanians with no dependents, removing barriers to employment for those seeking a fresh start, and creating a healthcare system without burdensome regulations.

Health Care

Government Health Care Still Kills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2009

A couple of PA state legislators have recently cited a recent Harvard study to make the claim that thousands “are dying because of a lack of insurance”…

Media

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Health Care

Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals

  • October 20, 2009

President Obama has pushed national health care reform, making it a priority. While there is no official "Obama plan," and several different proposal in Congress, the leading proposals have several…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals

Government Accountability

Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care Debate

  • October 19, 2009

The discussion surrounding tort reform is often subdued when talking about health care costs. Trial lawyers, like the American Association for Justice, claim that undermine litigation costs as a part…

Media

Read More: Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care Debate

Health Care

Health Care “Facts” Disputed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2009

Michael Cannon and Ramesh Ponnuru have an editorial challenging the assertions of Obama on health care.  The article came out a few weeks ago, and specifically cites claims made…

Media

Read More: Health Care “Facts” Disputed

Health Care

Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage.  (HT to Carpe…

Media

Read More: Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Corrections Spending

  • October 15, 2009

Facing a massive budget deficit, and with sizeable financial obligations looming, Pennsylvania needs to re-examine how taxpayer dollars are spent.  Spending on the Department of Corrections has grown far beyond…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections Spending

Health Care

Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 12, 2009

A report by Dr. Sven Larson from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation examines policies to remove government barriers and restore competition to the market for individual…

Media

Read More: Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs

Health Care

My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2009

I just uploaded my video message to Congress on health care reform.  This is part of a project of the National Taxpayers Union, who is preparing DVDs…

Media

Read More: My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform

Health Care

NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project

  • October 5, 2009

The National Taxpayers Union has recently announced a new video project aimed at letting the American taxpayer have their say in the healthcare debate. Entitled the “Special Delivery Project”, NTU is encouraging Americans…

Media

Read More: NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project

State Budget

Re-examine Public Welfare Spending

  • September 30, 2009

Pennsylvania has, as of this writing, gone 90 days without a budget, longer than any other state.  The impasse has been driven by Gov. Rendell's demand for higher spending and…

Commentary

Read More: Re-examine Public Welfare Spending

Health Care

States to Challenge Individual Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 30, 2009

The New York Times has a story on state legislators pushing back against the individual mandate that could be a part of health care reform.  Health Care Horse…

Media

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Health Care

More Health Care Lessons from Massachusetts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2009

My colleague Joe Sterns sent me an article, in which Mitt Romney again declares Massachusetts health care reform a success, claiming the increase in taxpayer spending was “only” $700…

Media

Read More: More Health Care Lessons from Massachusetts

Health Care

Not-True Statements about Health Insurers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2009

I’ve already picked on the left-wing Keystone Progress this week for absurd statements, but I got another missive from them on…

Media

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Health Care

When a Tax Isn’t a Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

In a post this morning, I criticized PA Senate Republicans for their loose definition of “broad-based taxes” with an emphasis on “broad…

Media

Read More: When a Tax Isn’t a Tax

Health Care

Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2009

The latest “leading” national health care reform proposal is a bill Sen. Baucus (already being panned by the left for getting rid of the “public option” and replacing it with…

Media

Read More: Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

Health Care

Ten More “You Lie” Opportunities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2009

John Hawkins has a list of 10 more lies, mistruths, or inaccurate claims put out by President Obama on health care: The President is working with Republicans. Republicans haven’t…

Media

Read More: Ten More “You Lie” Opportunities

Education

The Right Direction

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 11, 2009

A colleague of mine suggests that the budget deal (see our grade of the budget agreement) is better than we say it is,…

Media

Read More: The Right Direction

Health Care

More Thoughts on Obama’s Health Care Speech

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 10, 2009

Here are some poignant comments on Obama’s latest health care speech: Greg Scandlen notes that in Obama’s “29th speech devoted exclusively to health care since he became president” he…

Media

Read More: More Thoughts on Obama’s Health Care Speech

Health Care

Obama’s Pants are on Fire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 10, 2009

Obama’s health care speech, in which he denounces misinformation and scare tactics, he offered quite a bit of misinformation and scare tactics (e.g “more will die as a result”).  The…

Media

Read More: Obama’s Pants are on Fire

Health Care

ObamaCare Live Blog

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 9, 2009

President Barack Obama will address Congress at 8pm tonight in an effort to push through his health care agenda. Cato Institute policy experts Michael D. Tanner and…

Media

Read More: ObamaCare Live Blog