Prosperity
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’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
House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right Direction
The pension reform bill is quickly making its way through the Pa. House. The latest iteration, SB 1071, mirrors the Senate's version (SB 1082; read our summary here),…
Media
Read More: House Pension Compromise Is Step in Right DirectionRegulation
Latest Pension Bill a Mixed Bag
Yesterday the State Senate passed a revised pension reform bill (SB 1082) including a side-by-side hybrid, with a smaller defined benefit pension and a defined contribution…
Media
Read More: Latest Pension Bill a Mixed BagRegulation
With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even Worse
Now that the Pennsylvania Senate has begun passing legislation, taxpayers can finally see what’s in Gov. Wolf’s “framework” for a new budget. Based on the passage of SB 1073 and…
Media
Read More: With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even WorseRegulation
Prohibition Never Ended
Tomorrow marks 82 years since the official end of Prohibition. Yet, Pennsylvania is still dealing with its own version of Prohibition in the form of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The…
Media
Read More: Prohibition Never EndedRegulation
Pension Reform Saves Another City
A few weeks ago Clairton became the second Pennsylvania city to leave the Act 47 program for distressed municipalities. Nanticoke was the first city to leave earlier this year. Instrumental…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Saves Another CityRegulation
10 Reasons to Banish the Booze Bureaucracy
Gov. Wolf is committed to protecting the government's monopoly on the sale of wine and liquor. When talking to reporters this past Monday, the governor’s spokesman said of Wolf…
Media
Read More: 10 Reasons to Banish the Booze BureaucracyRegulation
How is Property Tax Relief Doled Out?
Among the many questions in a tentative state budget deal is how revenue from the sales tax increase would be distributed. The Associated Press notes this will be…
Media
Read More: How is Property Tax Relief Doled Out?Education
Philly Union Priorities: Politics over Teachers
How would you feel if your employer took funds meant for your health insurance and spent them on partisan politics? Sadly, this is a reality for thousands of teachers in…
Media
Read More: Philly Union Priorities: Politics over TeachersRegulation
Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America
Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in America Latest Budget Plan Seeks Biggest Sales Tax Hike Since 1956 November 10, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvanians may soon pay more for…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Could Face 2nd-Highest Sales Tax in AmericaRegulation
Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Deal
Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored Budget Deal Sales Tax for Property Tax Swap Rumor Leaves Taxpayers on the Hook November 9, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—The…
Press Release
Read More: Backdoor $600 Million Tax Increase in Rumored DealRegulation
Corporate Welfare and Cronyism in Bethlehem
Election day was a quiet affair in most communities, but in Bethlehem residents used the a local election to protest the appearance of cronyism in connection with a new corporate…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare and Cronyism in BethlehemRegulation
A PLCB Special: Red Ink
Supporters of the state liquor monopoly defend the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) as a cash spigot for the state, which is one of the reasons they refuse to support privatization.
Media
Read More: A PLCB Special: Red InkGovernment Accountability
A Revolving Door of Corruption
The revolving door of politics—when top government officials change careers and become consultants for the industry they once regulated—is alive and well in Pennsylvania. Except in the case of the…
Media
Read More: A Revolving Door of CorruptionRegulation
Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax Hikes
“I’m not taking anything off the table” said Gov. Wolf shortly after his tax plan was resoundingly defeated in the House last week. The governor’s refusal to abandon…
Media
Read More: Tackling our Structural Deficit Without Tax HikesRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis Grows
When you assume an investment return rate of 7.5 percent and your actual returns are 3.04 percent you have a problem. If you are the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System you…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis GrowsRegulation
The Mirage of Green Jobs
Promoters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon-emission regulation attempt to playdown the jobs it would kill with promises of “green jobs”. Yet these positions pay less and are largely…
Media
Read More: The Mirage of Green JobsRegulation
Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget Compromise
On September 16, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—to hire a private contractor to manage the government…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Analysis of Governor Wolf’s Budget CompromiseRegulation
Government that Works?
Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…
Commentary
Read More: Government that Works?Regulation
Losers and Phony-Baloneys
Last week, Gov. Wolf unveiled new, bad policy ideas—to slightly adjust a misguided pension proposal, and to propose a private manager to a government run liquor monopoly. But just as…
Media
Read More: Losers and Phony-BaloneysRegulation
New Wolf Offer, Same Bad Policy
Yesterday, 28 days after receiving a budget compromise proposal from legislative Republicans, Gov. Wolf rejected that offer and issued his own plan—hiring a private contractor to manage the government liquor…
Media
Read More: New Wolf Offer, Same Bad PolicyRegulation
Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’ Liquor and Pension Proposals Fall Short of Much-Needed Change Good morning, Yesterday, Governor Tom…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Wolf Offers Status Quo Packaged as ‘Reform’