State Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act
Summary Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural deficit that will force lawmakers to cut spending or increase taxes. State spending growth far outpaces inflation, population growth, and economic growth. This…
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection ActHigh taxes make for a slow-growing economy. And communities feel the pinch of high taxes as more and more native Pennsylvanians leave the Keystone State to prosper elsewhere. To remain economically competitive, Pennsylvania must lower state taxes and ensure businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Lower taxes will incentivize more individuals to call Pennsylvania their home, ultimately spurring our statewide economy forward.
Government Accountability
#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking
Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…
Media
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House fails to override veto of tax cut
Patriot-News story on yesterday’s action in the House where many Democrats who originally supported tax cuts renegged on their suppport.
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Minimum logic
A small businessman says, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, how he’ll deal with Rendell’s minimum wage increase … let go employees. Of course, those pushing this Fascist economic policy…
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The Politics of Ever-Expanding Government
A quality essay by Steven Malanga on how the recipients of increased government spending support increased government spending. Taxpayers are footing the bill for lobbying by by governments and…
Media
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A government big enough to give you everything you want …
There is a theory (articulate in a piece by Mark Bauerlein) that left-wing academics are engrossed in large scale group think, that when large numbers of the radical left…
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Read More: A government big enough to give you everything you want …Taxes & Economy
Higher minimum wage will hurt state
The Morning Call reprinted my letter to the governor in today’s newspaper. Also, tune in to WHP 580 AM today from 3-4pm when I will be debating a representative…
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Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum Wage
January 23, 2006 Governor Edward G. Rendell225 Main Capitol BuildingHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dear Governor Rendell, I understand that politicians sometimes change their policy positions. And I probably don’t…
Commentary
Read More: Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum WageTaxes & Economy
Not so fast, Eddie
Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute further demonstrates the folly of government-directed “economic development.” Indeed, Pennsylvania has been a leader among states in using tax dollars to “create jobs,” yet…
Media
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Minimum Wage; Maximum Ignorance
Gov. Rendell cozied up to his labor union buddies today with his push for an artificial increase in labor costs in PA of nearly 40%. (Remember, Rendell agreed with us…
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“Living in an alternate universe”
The Brownsville Area School District recently voted to give administrators some retirement benefits that no private sector would even consider–Nine years of free healthcare insurance for retiring early. As The…
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Read More: “Living in an alternate universe”Taxes & Economy
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
From the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal… Poll: Taxes are most pressing problem What’s the most pressing problem facing the state? The answer is taxes…
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Maryland’s Wal-Mart Bill: Coming to PA?
From the National Federation of Independent Businesses… Maryland lawmakers voted this week to over-ride a veto by Gov. Robert Erlich of a bill that will force Wal-Mart and other companies…
Media
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Maryland Senate seeks control over Wal-Mart
The Maryland Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the “Wal-Mart Bill” (Financial News – Yahoo! Finance), so called because it applies only to one company in the…
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Minimum wage, maximum deception
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes why labor unions are the chief proponents of artificially raising labor costs. “Odd what liberal politicians and union-types see as ‘fairness,’ considering wage floors do…
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Rendell’s minimum wage proposal too low?
With professional baseball’s minimum salary increasing by $9,000 to $327,000, aren’t Pennsylvania’s entry-level workers worth at least that much? Where’s your compassion Governor? Set your sites higher!…
Media
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The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector Pensions
Whether it is pensions for state workers, teachers or legislators, the financial promises made by politicians have put taxpayers on the hook. How much? Well, don’t ask the people who…
Media
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Defending the Indefensible
Gov. Rendell just doesn’t get it that if Pennsylvania is the next state to tax, borrow and spend itself to prosperity, it will also be the FIRST! In this…
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“inebriation of your own buncombe”
Colin McNickle of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gets it right on the money … no, make that YOUR money. Read ‘Public-purpose’ mountebanks in today’s Trib.
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Free lifetime health care will be costly
The growing tab for taxpayer-funded benefits, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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Read More: Free lifetime health care will be costlyTaxes & Economy
Pro free-markets and pro-business are not the same
George Mason University economics professor Don Boudreaux draws the important distinction between supporting free-markets and supporting businesses. For example, he writes: “Like many economists, I oppose minimum-wage legislation. But this…
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Should we repeal the minimum wage?
Hans F. Sennholz, Professor Emeritus at Grove City College, says “Good intentions, when guided by error and ignorance, may have undesirable consequences. There is no better example than minimum wage…
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