Regulation
Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Politicians celebrate taxpayer funds pouring into Pennsylvania to “bridge the digital divide.” Last month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) praised the approval of…
Read More: Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.Pennsylvania’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
5 Reasons to Continue the Push for Liquor Privatization
Some lawmakers and the media have labeled the latest liquor reforms as “historic” and “sweeping.” The Patriot-News described the reform as the “most substantial overhaul of Pennsylvania's liquor system…
Media
Read More: 5 Reasons to Continue the Push for Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Shell Cracker Plant Proves Taxes Matter to Job Creators
Workers hit by the natural gas slump in western PA received some much needed good news this week. Shell announced they will proceed with building a multibillion dollar chemical…
Media
Read More: Shell Cracker Plant Proves Taxes Matter to Job CreatorsRegulation
Wolf’s Wine Signature a First Step Toward Privatization
Wolf’s Wine Signature a First Step Toward Privatization Pitfalls of Government-Run Liquor Remain Unaddressed June 8, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Wolf’s anticipated signature today on HB 1690, which allows…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Wine Signature a First Step Toward PrivatizationRegulation
Wine Expansion Improves Convenience But Falls Short of Privatization
Wine Expansion Improves Convenience But Falls Short of Privatization Government Liquor Monopoly Remains Unaddressed June 7, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state House passed legislation allowing select grocery stores…
Press Release
Read More: Wine Expansion Improves Convenience But Falls Short of PrivatizationPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania’s Pension Funds Still on a Collision Course
If Pennsylvania were a ship, say the Titanic, then the iceberg that ship is bearing down on is the commonwealth’s public pension funds. At a combined $63.2 billion in debt,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Funds Still on a Collision CourseRegulation
Erase Corporate Welfare from the Budget
Pennsylvania’s tradition of concentrating economic power in the hands of a few has proven to be inadequate at best, and harmful at worst. Corporate welfare spending makes this concentration…
Media
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Pennsylvania is Losing Ground
Pennsylvania’s economic performance wasn’t always subpar. In the first half of the twentieth century, the commonwealth’s personal income per capita exceeded the national average. It then descended into mediocrity. While Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania is Losing GroundEducation
An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a Boost
“I want to put more education dollars in our classrooms, not our school buses,” said Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, while releasing an analysis of 19 school districts that exceeded…
Media
Read More: An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a BoostRegulation
New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension Politics
Today, the House State Government Committee passed a pension reform bill featuring an unproven “stacked hybrid” plan. This proposal falls short of the pension reform taxpayers needs to protect…
Media
Read More: New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension PoliticsRegulation
Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNC
As Pennsylvania residents and visitors know quite well, our state's liquor laws are outdated. Pennsylvania remains one of only two states where the government completely controls the sale of wine and…
Media
Read More: Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNCHealth Care
Free Market Solution Expands Access to Care
Harmful regulations prevent Pennsylvania’s nurse practitioners—highly-trained medical professionals who interpret diagnostic tests, treat chronic conditions, and prescribe medication—from doing what they do best: providing quality health care for patients in…
Media
Read More: Free Market Solution Expands Access to CareRegulation
The Consequences of Concentrated Power
We aren't the type of people to begrudge anyone a well-deserved raise. But when it's a $9,000 raise for an inessential position running a government booze monopoly…well, that raises some…
Media
Read More: The Consequences of Concentrated PowerPublic Union Democracy
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion. In truth, SERS'…
Media
Read More: Pension Debt Grows by Another BillionRegulation
Time to End Corporate Welfare Handouts
Conservatives loathe government handouts. Liberals denounce special favors to corporations. One thing can unify these two sides: ending Pennsylvania’s budget-busting corporate welfare handouts.
Commentary
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How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and Disabled
Earlier this week, I used Uber to get a ride in downtown Philadelphia. Curious, I asked my driver how long he’d been driving for Uber. “Two years,” he told me,…
Media
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Wolf’s False Choice
If lawmakers don’t raise taxes, Pennsylvanians should brace for drastic cuts to education and human services. This myth is promoted endlessly by the Wolf Administration to justify taking…
Media
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Rhetoric vs. Reality
Pennsylvania’s nine-month budget saga has concluded, but not everyone is pleased with the ending. The Philadelphia Inquirer published a caustic editorial criticizing state lawmakers for failing to surrender…
Media
Read More: Rhetoric vs. RealityRegulation
Audio: State Worker Costs & EPA Mandates Burden Pennsylvanians
State employee compensation costs have soared to nearly $93,000 per worker per year, with health care and pensions the largest contributors. Meanwhile, costly EPA mandates on carbon and mercury…
Media
Read More: Audio: State Worker Costs & EPA Mandates Burden PennsylvaniansHealth Care
Improving Health Care Access While Cutting Costs
Is it possible to improve health care access while also cutting a costs? Yes—according to a recent study by Edward Timmons of the Mercatus Center. Writing in U.S.
Media
Read More: Improving Health Care Access While Cutting CostsHealth Care
6 Reasons Not to Celebrate Obamacare’s 6th Anniversary
6 Reasons Not to Celebrate Obamacare’s 6th Anniversary Problems Persist as Health Care System Flounders March 21, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Lower costs? Improved access? Promises made—and broken—in the…
Press Release
Read More: 6 Reasons Not to Celebrate Obamacare’s 6th AnniversaryRegulation
PA Faces Another Costly EPA Mandate
President Obama’s energy tax—also known as the Clean Power Plan—is just one of many EPA mandates stifling Pennsylvania’s economy. One mandate in particular imposes enormous costs on Pennsylvania farmers and…
Media
Read More: PA Faces Another Costly EPA Mandate