Every family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.

Taxes & Economy

Property Tax Relief that Isn’t

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 11, 2006

The new property tax “relief” plan, Act 1, is already taking heat for not providing much relief – even for senior citizens, the group targetted for immediate relief – based…

Media

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Regulation

Hair Braiding Drama

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 6, 2006

Patriot News article on the fear of unlicensed hair-braiders vs. the danger in regulatory professions (though they emphasize the former). Read Stephen Albert’s commentary on the burdens of…

Media

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Health Care

Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 6, 2006

NCPA Analysis of Health Insurance Mandates, such as the new Massachusetts law and proposals discussed at recent hearings in Pennsylvania. Bottom line: they won’t work, and they could drive…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Incomes and Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 2, 2006

Wall Street Journal article on income disparity and inconsistent political rhetoric.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Household Income Analysis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 1, 2006

Interesting note by the The Tax Foundation on recent household income data. While a recent Census Report indicates that real median household income (adjusted for inflation) has declined since…

Media

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Health Care

Tax Credits for Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2006

While Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss mandating universal health care coverage, a Census Bureau report indicates fewer people are receiving health insurance from their employers, and more are paying for…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Soak the Poor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2006

Analysis of how not “extending the Bush tax cuts” (i.e. raising taxes dramatically in 2011) would hurt low- and moderate-income familes from Investors Business Daily, summarize here by…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Economic Benefit of Wal-Mart

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2006

Op-Ed by Robert Samuleson in today’s Washington Post on how Wal-Mart’s low-price policies benefit all Americans – doing a much better job controlling inflation than the Federal Reserve. “A…

Media

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Health Care

Reveal Health Care Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2006

Health care pricing – the only good or service I can think of where you don’t learn the price until the bill comes – may be changing. USA Today…

Media

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Regulation

Fines for Sex without a License

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2006

Legislation proposed by State Rep. Keith McCall would require prospective massage therapists to take 600 hours of classroom training, have instruction in CPR and HIV, pass an exam, and…

Media

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Regulation

Pa. bureaucracy pursues a love of licensing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2006

Read Commonwealth Foundation intern Stephen Albert’s commentary on the regulation of economic freedom in today’s York Dispatch.

Media

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Regulation

The 1% Solution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2006

Read Commonwealth Foundation senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss’s latest commentary on senate health care cost sharing in today’s Patriot News.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell-conomics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2006

According to News Release from the Governor, he has revitalized local communities by locating state offices in downtown locations. Apparently the key to economic growth is bigger state government…

Media

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Regulation

The Burden of Over-Regulation

  • August 28, 2006

Summer’s Best Two Weeks (SB2W) is a non-profit summer camp located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Mountains for children ages 8 to 18. SB2W counselors have led campers on…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Legislative leaders need a diet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2006

A must-watch story from KDKA exposing how many legislators leaders take $141 per-diem for “lodging and meals” every day they are in Harrisburg, then charge taxpayers for catering or…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

How to fix our road

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2006

A book released from the Independent Institute discusses various options for transportation agencies to privatize, outsource, and use market incentives for road repairs and usage.

Media

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Health Care

The Benefits of Health Savings Accounts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2006

Data from Americans for Tax Reform shows that since the creation of Health Savings Accounts (January 2004) the annual growth in health care costs slowed, and health care costs…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Subsidy Economics 101

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2006

Cato Institute commentary on why government subsidies have made housing, health care, and education more expensive for twenty-somethings. “According to data from the College Board, over the past 20…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Transportation Funding Study

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2006

A PennDot commission released a report on funding for transporation titled “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Transporation Funding Crisis” (they identify a funding “crisis” because of too little taxpayer funding for transportation,…

Media

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Regulation

$13,000 fees for new homes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2006

The Patriot News reports on a PA House committee hearing on charging impact fees on new homes – of $13,000 per home – in growing areas. Why would we…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

State sues over HIA attempt to seize land

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2006

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has filed suit to stop the Harrisburg Airport from using eminent domain to take Cramer Airport Parking, reports the Patriot News. Cramer Airport Parking…

Media

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