New Pennsylvania Law Eliminates Job-Killing Hair Braiding Licensing Requirements
Harrisburg, PA, October 16, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro today signed legislation freeing natural hair braiders from unnecessary and costly state licensing requirements. “Hair braiding licenses demonstrate how irrational state regulations…
Read More: New Pennsylvania Law Eliminates Job-Killing Hair Braiding Licensing RequirementsPennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.
Regulation
Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…Again
Redesigning state government has never been more important. For evidence, check out Pennsylvania’s poor performance in U.S. News & World Report’s recent Best States Rankings. Overall, the study puts the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Poorly…AgainCriminal Justice Reform
Policy Memo: Principles for State Budget
With the 2017 budget, lawmakers have an opportunity to double down on the idea of reinventing government and adopt meaningful reforms that will save taxpayers money, stimulate economic growth, and improve services…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Principles for State BudgetRegulation
Making the Most of Philadelphia’s Upswing
Last week I blogged about Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s misplaced confidence in government energy mandates to grow the Steel City. On the other side of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney…
Media
Read More: Making the Most of Philadelphia’s UpswingRegulation
Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Pension Reform
Yesterday Governor Wolf signed transformative pension reform. SB 1 will establish a side-by-side hybrid plan for new employees, greatly reducing taxpayer risk and laying the foundation for further reform.
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Pension ReformRegulation
Historic Pension Reform: Thank You!
Today's pension reform passage—and Gov. Wolf's support—mark a historic moment for our state. Pennsylvania is about to enact the most significant pension reform in the nation. You can read much more…
Media
Read More: Historic Pension Reform: Thank You!Regulation
News Release: Pa. to Enact Nation’s Most Significant Pension Reform
In an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, the state House today voted 143-53 to approve transformative pension reform legislation hailed as a part of a “major turn-around among states” by the…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Pa. to Enact Nation’s Most Significant Pension ReformGovernment Accountability
Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in Reading
Across Pennsylvania, school districts are struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of education driven by unsustainble penion expenses. Yet, a special perk built into over 20 percent…
Media
Read More: Lawsuit Seeks to End Ghost Teaching in ReadingRegulation
Can Environmental Mandates Reverse Pittsburgh’s Decline?
President Trump summed up his opposition to the Paris Climate Accord by saying he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris. In response, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued an…
Media
Read More: Can Environmental Mandates Reverse Pittsburgh’s Decline?Regulation
Making Sense of Pension Reform Legislation
Yesterday, the state Senate passed pension reform legislation—Senate Bill 1—which begins to transform the state’s pension systems into a sustainable model for public employees and taxpayers. We have already…
Media
Read More: Making Sense of Pension Reform LegislationRegulation
Policy Memo: Pension Reform in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s $71 billion unfunded pension liability is unsustainable for taxpayers and puts public employees at risk. Without timely reform, pension payments will crowd out funding for other services, property taxes will…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Pension Reform in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Teachers Need Pension Reform Too
Pension reform is critical for teachers as well as taxpayers, according to a new report from PennCAN. Among the key findings of this report is how pension costs…
Media
Read More: Teachers Need Pension Reform TooRegulation
News Release: Senate Passes Transformative Pension Reform
Today, the state Senate voted 40-9 to pass historic pension reform that Pew Charitable Trusts has said “would mitigate more risk” than reforms passed in any other state “while maintaining…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate Passes Transformative Pension ReformRegulation
Send Your Message: Pass Pension Reform!
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Media
Read More: Send Your Message: Pass Pension Reform!Regulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017
For the first time in seven months, the commonwealth’s revenue collections exceeded expectations. Pennsylvania collected $2.6 billion in May—$98.5 million more than anticipated. Still, total collections remain approximately…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: June 2017Regulation
SB 1 is Major First Step on Pension Reform
Yesterday, Elizabeth wrote about the reasons we need pension reform now. As the full Senate prepares to vote on SB 1, I wanted to provide some clarity on this…
Media
Read More: SB 1 is Major First Step on Pension ReformRegulation
5 Reasons to Enact Pension Reform Now
Pennsylvania is on the brink of transformative pension reform. Under SB 1, new school teachers and state employees, including new lawmakers and judges, would automatically be enrolled in a…
Media
Read More: 5 Reasons to Enact Pension Reform NowRegulation
Policy Memo: Pension Reform in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s $71 billion unfunded pension liability is unsustainable for taxpayers and puts public employees at risk. Without timely reform, pension payments will crowd out funding for other services, property taxes…
Memo
Read More: Policy Memo: Pension Reform in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Sports Teams Thrive at Taxpayer Expense
While sports teams across the county reap the benefits of lavish government subsidies to build stadiums, taxpayers bear the brunt of the cost, according to a working study by…
Media
Read More: Sports Teams Thrive at Taxpayer ExpenseRegulation
Op-Ed: Zippo Lights the Way on Pension Reform
When you think of lighters, you probably think of Zippo. Recently, the company announced a move that shines light of a different kind: Zippo is transitioning from pension plans for its…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Zippo Lights the Way on Pension ReformRegulation
News Release: State Senate Committee Advances Critical Pension Overhaul
Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved SB 1, a critical overhaul of Pennsylvania’s troubled public pension system. The bill offers new public workers a side-by-side hybrid pension option that…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: State Senate Committee Advances Critical Pension OverhaulRegulation
Senate Introduces Substantive Pension Reform
Now, more than ever, transformative reform in needed to address Pennsylvania’s undeniable pension crisis. Last week, the state Senate began this process by introducing pension reform bill SB…
Media
Read More: Senate Introduces Substantive Pension Reform