Before we get into a new report that says only eight states have higher total corporate taxes than Pennsylvania and only six have higher property taxes, we cite two events in Pittsburgh that shed light on us for a national audience. Jeb Bush, Florida governor and presidential brother, was accosted by United Steelworkers union and anti-war protesters when he was in town for a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. Gov. Bush sought refuge in a subway station supply closet. Two of the protesters were subdued by stun gun. Actress Sienna Miller, in town for a film shoot, was quoted in Rolling Stone magazine saying a nasty about the city. Well, how dare she, and the media accosted folks to chide Ms. Miller and say nice things about Pittsburgh. The defensiveness (i.e. lack of confidence) was remarkable — but understandable. Pittsburgh is a city so vibrant it has half the population of 45 years ago while the nation’s has grown more than 60 percent. The Tax Foundation ranked Pennsylvania 22nd overall in business-tax friendliness, up from 28th in 2003. Our neighbors, Ohio, New Jersey and New York, were far worse at 49th, 48th and 47th, respectively. You might say, “Well, 22nd isn’t so bad.” But Pennsylvania can’t be just so-so and expect to dig itself out of a hole. The corporate net income tax at 9.9 percent, second highest in the country, is a red flag. High property taxes are another. These stand out — for a national audience.

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