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

GIving Taxpayers a Voice?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 7, 2006

With the new property tax “relief” law (Act 1 of the Special Session) each school district must have a “tax commission” examine any proposed tax increase, as reported in the…

Media

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Health Care

The 1% Solution

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • August 7, 2006

In the daily travails of state government, it appears the Senate is prepared to take action best described as “self-reform.” According to reports, beginning as early as September, employees of…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

Jesus and Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2006

Dimitri Vassilaros questions, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whether Jesus really endorsed the estate tax, higher income taxes, and raising the federal minimum wage.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Time to Kill Castroism

  • August 3, 2006

Peggy Noonan in today’s Wall Street Journal suggests that it is time to “seize the moment for some wise, judicious, free-market love-bombing” of Cuba.

Media

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Regulation

Record Number of Lottery Losers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Governor Rendell issued a news release on the state lottery. Proud of what he calls “a success story of good government and an organization of which all Pennsylvanians can…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Why Congress Should Reject a Minimum Wage Increase

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Two articles from the Heritage Foundation: The first details how a minimum wage increase will hurt job prospects among low skill workers, and won’t reduce poverty. The second…

Media

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Regulation

Getting state legislators to work is costly

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2006

Post-Gazette article on the cost to taxpayers of the travel of several state lawmakers. Just another example of a failure of many in cover to be frugal when someone…

Media

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State Budget

States Looking to Spending Caps

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2006

While legislation limiting the growth of state spending in Pennsylvania (the “Taxpayer Fairness Act”) has stalled in the House Rules Committee, at least six states will be having ballot initiatives…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Politics trumps economics in Chicago

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2006

The Chicago city council passed a law which would mandate “Big-Box” retailers pay a minimum wage of $10/hour and $3 in fringe benefits, essentially an effort to keep Wal-Mart out…

Media

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Regulation

Manufacturing Job Loss in the Great Lakes Region

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2006

The Brookings Institution released a study on manufacturing jobs lost in the Great Lakes region. The numbers and findings are interesting: many of the nation’s manufacturing jobs “lost” were…

Media

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State Budget

Budgeting in Neverland

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2006

Policy Analysis from the Cato Institute on how Congress overspends because they only hear from the spending lobby, not taxpayers, during the budget process. The same can be said…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

More Vinsanity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2006

A press release from Senator Vince Fumo’s office dismisses any notion that Pennsylvania business taxes are too high, citing select data showing Pennsylvania has merely a mediocre economic record…

Media

Read More: More Vinsanity

Regulation

Pay raise still helps Stetler

  • July 25, 2006

The York Daily Record highlights how Rep. Steve Stetler from York will garner $2,000 more per year in pension payouts because he kept more than $9K in “unvouchered expenses”–unconstitutionally…

Media

Read More: Pay raise still helps Stetler

Taxes & Economy

Dukakis on Minimum Wage and Immigration

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2006

Editorial by Michael Dukakis in today’s New York Times. Dukakis claims that if we raise the minimum wage to $8 hour, businesses will stop hiring illegal immigrants. Essentially…

Media

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Regulation

Pension system ‘a perfect storm’

  • July 24, 2006

More on the coming pension crisis in the York Daily Record. Side note: Democratic Rep. Steve Stetler–who is retiring in September to become the new Executive Director of the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2006

A report released today by The Tax Foundation looks at legislation expected to be voted on by the US House tomorrow on business taxes. This bill (HR 1956) would…

Media

Read More: PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?