Facts, Not Hysteria, About the Soda Tax

Posted by Marc Stier on April 11, 2017 1:31 pm
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Co-authored by Diana Polson.

The reaction of the beverage industry to the Philadelphia soda tax continues to be self-centered, hysterical, and dubious.

Before looking at their claims, let’s keep in mind something very important: every tax has some negative consequences for some businesses. And, yes, it is a shame if some business absorbs some costs and a few people lose jobs as a result. But public policy has to be driven by the consequences for all of us. So, the question is not whether an individual business is hurt by the Philadelphia soda tax, but whether the city and its citizens benefit on the whole. We think the answer is clearly yes, not just because of the investment in Pre-K education and community recreation centers made possible by this tax, but because of the health and economic benefits of reduced soda consumption.

Guest Blogger: We Must Have Missed the Memo

Posted by Guest Blogger on April 10, 2017 11:55 am
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by Jin David Kim, Communications Director, PCCY

Some state representatives, siding with the research and the will of the people they represent, have boarded the quality pre-k train only to threaten to derail it in this, the first week of PA’s budget process.

Why Do Rural Legislators Vote for Voucher Programs That Deliver NO Benefits to Their Counties?

Posted by Stephen Herzenberg on April 7, 2017 1:04 pm
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Imagine two Pennsylvania programs that subsidize a mix of the state's most expensive private schools catering to the very rich plus faith-based instruction hostile to those with different beliefs. Imagine, further, that you don't have either kind of school in your rural county, which is served virtually entirely by public schools.

The (Wholly Inadequate) GOP Budget Proposal (HB 218)

Posted by Marc Stier on April 6, 2017 2:34 pm
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The House Republican Budget proposal for 2017-2017 is deeply problematic in six respects. 

First, the proposal does not close the state’s budget deficit, but leaves a gap of close to $800 million. Most of the revenue ideas presented by the House Republican Caucus to fill that gap are similar to the one-time revenues and fund transfers that have failed to fix our structural deficit in the past. The Republicans do not seem to be considering any proposal to increase recurring revenues by fixing our upside-down tax system.

A Teachable Moment in the PLCB Debate

Posted by Marc Stier on April 5, 2017 10:23 am
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Those of us who have been parents or teachers often talk about “teachable moments.” Teachable moments occur when something problematic happens from which we can learn some important lesson.

The bills being considered today to privatize the operations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) give us teachable moments — moments that might help people understand why we cannot simply privatize the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board without the state losing $300-400 million per year in General Fund Revenues.

KRC on U.S. Senate Action to Prevent Cities from Improving Retirement Security for Private Sector Workers

Posted by Stephen Herzenberg on March 31, 2017 4:39 pm
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We issued the following statement in my name this week in response to the U.S. Senate vote on H.J. Resolution 67 blocking a rule that would make it easier for cities to help private-sector employees save for retirement.
 
 
“Earlier today, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey joined all but one member of the Republican Majority in the U.S. Senate to block large cities such as Philadelphia, New York, and Seattle from empowering employees of private-sector companies to save for retirement. Sen. Toomey and his colleagues made clear that they stand for the Wall Street financial firms who charge bigger fees to individuals who set up retirement savings plans on their own. Sen. Toomey and his colleagues stand against the Main Street retirees that would benefit when big cities bargain lower fees from financial services vendors and use competitive bids to select high-quality savings options.

Essential Benefits Are... Essential

Posted by Marc Stier on March 24, 2017 8:31 am
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The ACA repeal effort failed in the House on Thursday. But it will be voted on today. 

And the bill keeps getting worse and worse — and that one particular way in which it got worse today may ultimately kill it, even if it passes the House today. 

A recent report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, points to some of the ways the bill that emerged on Thursday morning deepens cuts to health care:

Repeal of the Affordable Care Act: A $31 billion tax cut for a handful of the wealthiest taxpayers

Posted by Mark Price on March 20, 2017 3:34 pm
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In Pennsylvania, the top 1% of families have captured just over half of all the growth in market incomes between 1979 and 2013 (Figure A above). As we have argued, this imbalance is largely the result of policy choices that have favored financial executives and CEOs over working families.

Trump Budget Slashes State and Local Grants at Tough Time for States

Posted by Anonymous on March 20, 2017 1:59 pm
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This post, written by Iris J. Lav, originally appeared on the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities blog on March 17, 2017. You can view the original post here.

Health care must be provided communally

Posted by Marc Stier on March 19, 2017 4:53 pm
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This piece originally ran in Newsworks on January 26, 2017. You can find the original here. 

Every once in a while, when I write something in defense of the Affordable Care Act, or point out, as the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center recent reported, that repealing it will lead 1.1 million Pennsylvanians to lose their insurance and 3,425 to die each year as a result, someone comments, “I pay for my own health insurance. Why should I pay taxes for anyone else’s?”

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