Regulation
Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Vice President Kamala Harris wants to make groceries cheaper. However, her vague proposal to ban “price gouging” will have the opposite effect. Economists,…
Read More: Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic EconomicsEvery family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.
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Regulation
Chart: PA Pension Spike Delayed
After the passage of HB 2497 yesterday, assuming Gov. Rendell signs the bill, and it overcomes court challenges on its constitutionality, the dreaded pension spike will be merely delayed a…
Media
Read More: Chart: PA Pension Spike DelayedRegulation
Time to End State Borrowing for “Economic Development”
Fox 29 Philadelphia has a video story up about the use of RACP money—state borrowing for corporate welfare—for projects such as resort spas, sports stadiums, and Tasty Cakes (not…
Media
Read More: Time to End State Borrowing for “Economic Development”Taxes & Economy
Gas Pipelines and Eminent Domain
There is another battle brewing over the development of the Marcellus Shale—pipeline construction and eminent domain. With little infrastructure in place, pipeline companies are contributing to the Marcellus economic…
Media
Read More: Gas Pipelines and Eminent DomainEducation
‘Delivering on the Mandate’ forum brings together policy leaders, concerned citizens
A passionate panel of experts on school choice and smart state spending gathered today for the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Delivering on the Mandate” Policy & Principles Luncheon. According to school choice…
Media
Read More: ‘Delivering on the Mandate’ forum brings together policy leaders, concerned citizensRegulation
Pension “Reform” Goes to Gov. Rendell
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation expressed disappointment with today’s passage of House Bill 2497, which defers significant pension costs on to…
Press Release
Read More: Pension “Reform” Goes to Gov. RendellRegulation
HB 2497 Increases Pension Unfunded Liabilities
As we’ve pointed out, PSERS own charts show that the reform would leave the pension fund dangerously close to 50% funded—the…
Media
Read More: HB 2497 Increases Pension Unfunded LiabilitiesRegulation
Unwarranted Police Raids
Last week, the Daily Caller featured an article from the Institute for Justice (IJ), which revealed that police in Florida are raiding barbershops for drugs without search warrants,…
Media
Read More: Unwarranted Police RaidsRegulation
Trying to Redefine “Savings” in HB 2497
While many legislators we’ve spoke to agree that we need to move public employees into a Defined Contribution retirement plan—which HB 2497 doesn’t do—and away from the current Defined…
Media
Read More: Trying to Redefine “Savings” in HB 2497Regulation
The Politics of Pensions: Why the Taxpayers Lose
On Friday’s conference call regarding HB 2497, the Union Pension Bailout Bill (because it bails out the union from real pension reform), someone asked why there were so few…
Media
Read More: The Politics of Pensions: Why the Taxpayers LoseRegulation
Media and Bloggers Highlight Coming Pension Battle
In advance of Monday’s vote on HB 2497, the Union Pension Bailout—and afraid folks would be caught unaware of this lame-duck effort—the Commonwealth Foundation issued an action alert;…
Media
Read More: Media and Bloggers Highlight Coming Pension BattlePublic Union Democracy
School Union Continues to Deceive Its Members
Matt wrote earlier about the millions of dollars public sector unions have poured in political campaigns to get their union pension bailout.
Media
Read More: School Union Continues to Deceive Its MembersRegulation
Union Campaign Cash for HB 2497
Who is not aware that the natural gas industry gave tons of campaign cash to elected officials in PA? Very few, as the media loved to tell that story…
Media
Read More: Union Campaign Cash for HB 2497Regulation
13 Reasons to Oppose HB 2497
Pennsylvania's largest public pension plans—Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) and State Employees Retirement System (SERS)—are severely underfunded. But instead of reforming the defined-benefit pension system and paying down these…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 13 Reasons to Oppose HB 2497Government Accountability
Action Alert: Help Stop the Union Pension Bailout
Dear CF Friend, We’ve just learned that the Pennsylvania House will be returning on Monday for a lame duck session, and will likely vote on a union…
Media
Read More: Action Alert: Help Stop the Union Pension BailoutGovernment Accountability
Newspapers Decry Union Pension Bailout by Lame Duck PA House
Today, Speaker McCall called the Pennsylvania House back into voting session on November 15th. Members are expected to vote a couple of key pieces of legislation including the ill-conceived…
Media
Read More: Newspapers Decry Union Pension Bailout by Lame Duck PA HouseRegulation
Privatizing State Liquor Stores is a Real Possibility
After years of discussion, it appears the tides have finally turned in favor of privatizing Pennsylvania’s liquor stores. With a newly GOP controlled legislature, support for the policy is…
Media
Read More: Privatizing State Liquor Stores is a Real PossibilityTaxes & Economy
PennVEST Approves the Pipeline to Nowhere
Yesterday, the PennVEST board met in a crowded room and voted to approve an “emergency application” to construct a 12-mile pipeline to about 14 homes with a $11.7 million taxpayer-funded…
Media
Read More: PennVEST Approves the Pipeline to NowhereState Budget
Pennsylvania State Budget is Larger than You Think
When a lot of folks, both media and pundits, talk about the Pennsylvania state budget, and the fiscal crisis facing Governor-elect Tom Corbett, they mention a…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget is Larger than You ThinkRegulation
The New Food Justice Agenda
The food police are coming to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Board of Education is considering new nutrition guidelines for events at public schools, which would mean the end…
Media
Read More: The New Food Justice AgendaTaxes & Economy
Fracking Panel Candidate Misses Mark
Here’s a letter I wrote that ran in the Indiana Gazette today, giving perspective to Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania. To the Editor, After reading the news article,…
Media
Read More: Fracking Panel Candidate Misses MarkTaxes & Economy
Message from Voters in 2010 is Same as Message in 2006
Former Politics PA, now National Journal reporter Alex Roarty asks (via a re-tweet) whether there is any evidence that voters rejected Republicans in 2006 due to overspending. Luckily,…
Media
Read More: Message from Voters in 2010 is Same as Message in 2006