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.

State Budget

Rendell: Budget Could Be Worse

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 30, 2006

Governor Rendell names states who will be increasing their budgets faster than PA. Ironically, his list is identical to our list of “States we least want to emulate.” From…

Media

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Health Care

$1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local Governments

  • June 30, 2006

Joe Mysak asks on Bloomberg.com: “How much is it going to cost states and localities to pay for public employees’ health care and insurance after they retire? “Try between…

Media

Read More: $1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local Governments

State Budget

Budget expected to win support

  • June 30, 2006

Budget story in the Patriot-News… “Democrats are having a field day watching the Republicans help negotiate a budget that spends more than the 4 percent increase Rendell proposed in…

Media

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Regulation

The Merits of a Judicial Pay Raise in Pennsylvania

  • June 30, 2006

On July 7, 2005, a political firestorm was ignited in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the form of a controversial pay raise for legislators, members of the executive branch, and…

Fact Sheet

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Taxes & Economy

Wage Wars

  • June 29, 2006

I discussed the Minimum Wage rhetoric and reality on SmartMoney.com.

Media

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Regulation

Senators vs. Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2006

Not a game between minor league baseball teams, but three State Senators (Jane Orie, R-Allison Park, Pat Vance, R-Silver Spring Twp, and Pat Browne, R-Allentown) trying to Shift Focus…

Media

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Health Care

Accounting rule could bust state budgets

  • June 28, 2006

Stateline.org highlights the coming fiscal crisis in the states when governments are required to recognize medical benefits liabilities. Excerpt… Just when states found some breathing room after years…

Media

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Regulation

Oink-oink: Spend, spend, spend

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 26, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on corporate welfare and ‘walking around money’: “Better for Pennsylvanians if their money never ‘walked’ at all.”…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

State leaders won’t confront hard decisions

  • June 26, 2006

Columnist in New Jersey’s Express-Times nails it on the head–he writes: “It’s called a tax shift and has nothing to do with reducing the tax burden. In fact, ‘reducing’…

Media

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Government Accountability

Legislative Pensions: Avoid Them to Fix Them

  • June 26, 2006

The distance between the rulers and ruled continues to widen in Pennsylvania. For retiring and defeated members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the daily perks and privileges of office…

Commentary

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Regulation

Reformers should alter pension plan

  • June 25, 2006

In this exclusive Patriot-News commentary, former lawmaker John Kennedy encourages the dozens of future lawmakers (likely 50-60 new faces will be in Harrisburg come January 2007) to eschew the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage Myth-Busting

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2006

While the minimum wage debate heat up in DC and Harrisburg, check out this article in today’s Wall Street Journal on the “Labor Lost” from increasing the minimum wage…

Media

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Education

School Tax Hikes in Allegheny County

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2006

Interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about property tax hikes. Twenty of 43 school districts in Allegheny are planning to raise tax rates. Their justification is that the county…

Media

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Regulation

Lovely parting gifts

  • June 22, 2006

Lancaster New Era on legislative pensions. Once again demonstrating that “serving the public” doesn’t cost, it PAYS!…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Your Tax Dollars at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2006

Fine tribute to public sector unions, paid for with your tax dollars. I guess we were wrong to identify the Historical and Museum Commission as an example of pork…

Media

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Regulation

Ousted legislators find silver lining

  • June 18, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Some lawmakers who lost their jobs in the May primary will collect pensions almost as big as their current salaries. “Powerhouse Republican Sen. Robert Jubelirer,…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Does faux reform kill real reform?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2006

Brad Bumstead in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the likelihood that significant property tax relief is dead following the passage of the facade of reform passed Wednesday. Read our News…

Media

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Health Care

Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through Competition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2006

NCPA Analysis of how allowing insurers to offer healthcare coverage across state boundaries would reduce the cost of insurance. Examining only a handful of states, they find a discrepancy…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Decoding the Swann Property Tax Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2006

The property tax relief plan introduced by gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann last month offers a radically different approach to the problem. Swann’s proposal contains some good provisions, some flawed provisions,…

Commentary

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Taxes & Economy

FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex change

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2006

AP story on fraud in FEMA aid – as much as $1.4 Billion (16% of all FEMA aid for Katrina and Rita victims) may have been used improperly. My…

Media

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