State Budget and Tax Policy

Time to Close the Loopholes: Sales Tax Vendor Discount

June 10, 2010

In the latest installment in a series on tax loopholes and special tax preferences, PBPC asks why the Commonwealth is paying $74 million a year to people for work that’s actually done for them by computers and automated cash receipt systems.

Time to Close the Loopholes: Cigars and Smokeless Tobacco

June 7, 2010

This is the first part of a series examining special tax preferences and potential cuts that will impact the 2010-11 state budget.

Loss of Federal Funds Imperils State Budget

June 4, 2010

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a jobs bill after stripping out a six-month extension of federal assistance to states for health care costs. Learn more and take action to prevent deep cuts to health and human services.

PBPC Introduces Severance Tax Ticker

June 3, 2010

By not having a natural gas severance tax, Pennsylvania has lost more than $54 million to date that could have funded vital state services including education and health care, as well as drilling-related environmental and local costs. PBPC's new Severance Tax Ticker provides a real-time estimate of the lost revenue.

May Revenue Collections Come in $125 Million Below Estimate

June 1, 2010

With one month left in the fiscal year, the Commonwealth faces a $1.2 billion revenue shortfall. Tax collections for the fiscal year trail last year's collections by $905 million.

Pa. House Delays Vote on Revenue Plan

May 26, 2010

The House delayed the vote amid members' concerns about the allocation of revenue from a natural gas severance tax, the sidelining of a plan to close corporate tax loopholes and a proposed increase in the cigarette tax.

Just the Facts on Combined Reporting

May 26, 2010

Combined reporting would close corporate tax loopholes and make it harder for multi-state corporations to avoid paying corporate net income tax on income earned in Pennsylvania. PBPC corrects several assertions about combined reporting made by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

PBPC Responds to Gas Industry-Financed Report on Marcellus Shale's Economic Impact

May 25, 2010

Natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale has the potential to bring jobs and economic opportunity to Pennsylvania. However, the gas industry is overstating the economic benefits of increased drilling and overestimating the impact of a severance tax.