Regulation
Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Vice President Kamala Harris wants to make groceries cheaper. However, her vague proposal to ban “price gouging” will have the opposite effect. Economists,…
Read More: Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic EconomicsEvery 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.
Related Issues
Regulation
Steering Online Gamblers Toward State Lotteries
Jacob Sullum of the Reason Foundation wonders why some members of Congress are pushing for tougher measures banning online gambling while supporting state lotteries and casinos. The answer is…
Media
Read More: Steering Online Gamblers Toward State LotteriesTaxes & Economy
Cost of Government Day
Americans for Tax Reform released their Cost of Government Day Report yesterday, which was coincidently the national Cost of Government Day. This represents the day in which American earned…
Media
Read More: Cost of Government DayTaxes & Economy
Minimum Rationality for Minimum Wage
In an election year, legislators do irrational things, such as spend more money than the budget supports, fund pork projects for their districts, and raise the minimum wage.
Commentary
Read More: Minimum Rationality for Minimum WageTaxes & Economy
Stocking up on tax dollars
Meadville Tribune editorial on how the state is spending the “windfall” surplus instead of returning it to taxpayers.
Media
Read More: Stocking up on tax dollarsGovernment Accountability
Mere Coincidence
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the six-figure government job awarded to Joseph Hoeffel – who earlier this year dropped out of the Lt. Gov. race after a meeting with Governor…
Media
Read More: Mere CoincidenceTaxes & Economy
Analysis shows that school-tax reform was just a gesture from Harrisburg : The Morning Call Online
Morning Call editorial on “referendum in name only” as well as “tax reform in name only.” We only wish that more editorial boards would have listened to us…
Media
Read More: Analysis shows that school-tax reform was just a gesture from Harrisburg : The Morning Call OnlineState Budget
Whiskey and Car Keys
Author P.J. O’Rourke once wrote: “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” He must have been thinking about Gov. Rendell and…
Commentary
Read More: Whiskey and Car KeysRegulation
Looks like business as usual – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Dimitri Vassilaros writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the effort to defund one of PA’s corporate welfare programs” No doubt many businesses are successful because their close relationships with…
Media
Read More: Looks like business as usual – Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewTaxes & Economy
Minimum wage increase might hurt teens
“Might”? Hmmm… When the cost of something goes up, don’t we buy less? Oh, our politicians in Harrisburg are passing a law to nullify the laws of economics. Good luck…
Media
Read More: Minimum wage increase might hurt teensRegulation
Stop the charade
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on Sen. Jane Orie’s effort to cut some corporate welfare in PA.
Media
Read More: Stop the charadeRegulation
Senate acts to cut back a few perks
As reported in the Patriot News, the state Senate plans to force Senators to contribute to their health care plans (possibly 1% of salary) and reduce the money available…
Media
Read More: Senate acts to cut back a few perksState Budget
Governor Rendell’s Sense of Irony
On the anniversary of the 2005 pay raise, Governor Rendell will be handing out pork in the Capitol … non-metaphorical pork in this case. From News Release: HARRISBURG…
Media
Read More: Governor Rendell’s Sense of IronyRegulation
Want to braid hair? Talk to Big Brother.
Despite not having time to address lobbyist reform during the past few weeks, the General Assembly was able to pass a myriad of minor bills, including one (SB 707)…
Media
Read More: Want to braid hair? Talk to Big Brother.Taxes & Economy
Wal-Mart Tax Fizzle
Wall Street Journal article on how the “Wal-Mart tax” push is failing in almost every state. Read our analysis of why the Wal-Mart tax is bad for Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Wal-Mart Tax FizzleState Budget
Budget Coverage
Some press coverage of the late night/early morning state budget deal: Herald Standard (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Pittsburgh TribPost Gazette (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Philadelphia Inquirer (Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Budget CoverageTaxes & Economy
Bill to raise minimum wage gets House’s OK
Economics is once again trumped by political rhetoric in Harrisburg. Who can be against boosting the pay of someone on the lowest rung of the wage ladder? Unfortunately, by raising…
Media
Read More: Bill to raise minimum wage gets House’s OKTaxes & Economy
State spending to jump in ’06-07
Alison Hawkes in the Herald-Standard on budget negotiations.
Media
Read More: State spending to jump in ’06-07State Budget
Rendell: Budget Could Be Worse
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
Read More: Rendell: Budget Could Be WorseHealth Care
$1 Trillion Shock Awaits States, Local Governments
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 GovernmentsState Budget
Budget expected to win support
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
Read More: Budget expected to win supportRegulation
The Merits of a Judicial Pay Raise in Pennsylvania
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
Read More: The Merits of a Judicial Pay Raise in Pennsylvania