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.

Regulation

New York’s Pension Peril

  • June 9, 2006

E. J. McMahon, the director of the Manhattan Institute’s Empire Center for New York State Policy, writes in the New York Post about NY’s pension problem.

Media

Read More: New York’s Pension Peril

State Budget

Cut (half) the Waste!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2006

Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial on the Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006.

Media

Read More: Cut (half) the Waste!

Taxes & Economy

The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’t

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 7, 2006

How does a $56,000 salary sound? Not bad? What if that salary was for working on a political campaign? Still better? Now imagine that salary was for your 2nd job,…

Media

Read More: The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’t

State Budget

Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual Budget

  • June 7, 2006

The General Assembly’s post-primary return to Harrisburg signals the start of budget season in Pennsylvania—and taxpayers all across the Commonwealth should be clutching their wallets a little tighter in nervous…

Commentary

Read More: Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual Budget

Taxes & Economy

Tax Dollars Spent on PR

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2006

The Patriot News reports on how your tax dollars are working hard to fund the public relations campaigns of legislative leaders – namely House Speaker Perzel spending $5,000/month on…

Media

Read More: Tax Dollars Spent on PR

Regulation

Nice Pensions for Lawmakers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2006

Coverage of lawmakers’ pensions in the Chambersburg Public Opinion and Lebanon Daily News.

Media

Read More: Nice Pensions for Lawmakers

Taxes & Economy

Groups target legislative spending

  • June 2, 2006

From the Courier Times: “Asked about the WAMS — legislative grants for economic development — Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, said, “I don’t know any one of them I would…

Media

Read More: Groups target legislative spending

State Budget

When Fish is Really Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2006

A press release from the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) attempts to justify the Fish Fund as a core function of government. However, we maintain our assertion…

Media

Read More: When Fish is Really Pork

Regulation

Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spending

  • June 1, 2006

Public Radio Capitol News on our Piglet Book 2006. Although reporter Damon Baughmer probably doesn’t appreciate the fact that we think his employer (we, the taxpayers) should be funding…

Media

Read More: Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spending

Regulation

Pension problem looming

  • May 31, 2006

The Altoona Mirror says “Pennsylvanians need to look past the headlines on legislators because there is a much bigger problem lurking.” We couldn’t agree more!…

Media

Read More: Pension problem looming

State Budget

Piglet Book Coverage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2006

Coverage of the Pennsylvania Piglet Book in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Download the full Piglet Book here.

Media

Read More: Piglet Book Coverage

State Budget

Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2006

The Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006 is the joint effort of the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) to make the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania aware of…

Report

Read More: Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006

Regulation

Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakers

  • May 28, 2006

“Voters probably weren’t thinking about it at the time, but when they ousted Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Senate Majority Leader David “Chip” Brightbill, R-Lebanon, they opened…

Media

Read More: Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakers

Regulation

State gaming official arrested

  • May 28, 2006

“A state Gaming Control Board investigator arrested outside a South Side bar early Saturday, allegedly after threatening and then trying to run from police, has become the fifth agency employee…

Media

Read More: State gaming official arrested

Taxes & Economy

Swann plan requires work …

  • May 28, 2006

So says our friend Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Dr. Haulk concludes that “it’s still tax-shifting, relies on magic money, wrongly disses property tax…

Media

Read More: Swann plan requires work …

Regulation

Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays

  • May 28, 2006

Excellent article from the Centre Daily Times on the coming pension crisis. “It’s a train wreck waiting to happen — it’s barreling down the tracks at us,” said Centre…

Media

Read More: Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…

Media

Read More: Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics

Regulation

Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…

Media

Read More: Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’