Why Lawmakers Don't (And Shouldn't) Raise Taxes
AUGUST 26, 2010 | by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Terry Madonna and Michael Young have a new column asking why Pennsylvania lawmakers are so loath to raise taxes: This response differs dramatically from past practice. Throughout most of the 20th century, despite partisan differences, governors and legislatures raised taxes to balance state budgets during recessions. In just the last 25 years, for example, state leaders raised the income tax three times - 1983, 1991, and 2003 - to meet budget shortfalls.
More on Philadelphia's "Blogger Tax"
AUGUST 25, 2010 | by NATHAN BENEFIELD
After we noted earlier this week Philadelphia's forcing of any blogger with blogging income to pay the city's business privilege license ($50/year or $300 for lifetime), several others have weighed in on the matter. Reason Foundation notes this as another example of the misuse of occupation licensing: Business and occupational licensing regulations are just another example of such coercive molestation.
The A-Team View of Taxes
AUGUST 23, 2010 | by NATHAN BENEFIELD
As a kid growing up, I used to love watching the A-Team every week. Each week the A-Team would find someone in trouble, usually due to a violent gang of bullies, but the A-Team would be able to out-think and out-fight the bad guys. Amazingly, though the A-Team fights typically included hundreds of rounds of machine gun fire, a few explosions, a good fist-fight (with someone being thrown through a table or a plate glass window), and at least one car being flipped over during a chase, no one was ever killed or seriously wounded (except in one episode where Murdock got shot, and Mr.
How to Write Leading Poll Questions
AUGUST 20, 2010 | by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Gov. Rendell continues to push for higher taxes and fees for transportation, this time by commissioning a poll -- paid for with campaign funds (which are legally only to be used to influence an election) but released by the Governor's office -- showing voters love his plan. After letting the administration know that "releasing a poll" requires you to release a poll, not just tell people you have one, Scott Detrow got the actual language used.
Happy Cost of Government Day 2010
AUGUST 19, 2010 | by KATRINA CURRIE
Today is Cost of Government Day, a date on your calendar you probably won't want to celebrate. Americans for Tax Reform calculated the date Americans collectively have earned enough to pay for all government spending and regulations. This means the average person has to work 231 days, or 63% of the year, to pay his or her share of local, state, and federal spending and regulation.
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers a series of recommendations for resolving the current revenue shortfall and reducing the size and burden of government on Pennsylvanians.
Why Lawmakers Don't (And Shouldn't) Raise Taxes
August 26
Terry Madonna and Michael Young have a new column asking why Pennsylvania lawmakers are so loath to raise taxes: This response differs dramatically from past practice. Throughout most of the 20th century, despite partisan differences, governors and legislatures raised taxes to balance state budgets ...
