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.
Public Union Democracy
Opening the Curtain on Government Unions
Because such labor contracts involve billions of taxpayer dollars, citizens have a right to know what each side is proposing before being legally obligated to fund them. In addition, Pennsylvania…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Opening the Curtain on Government UnionsRegulation
Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk
Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk New Retirement Plan Will Protect Teachers, Troopers, State Workers, and Taxpayers Good morning, Despite Pennsylvania’s public pension costs jumping $2 billion—or $600…
Press Release
Read More: Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at RiskEducation
Charters Drowning in Red Tape
What could your family, business, or place of work do with an extra 700 hours? This is a question Pennsylvania charter schools are likely asking after a new report from…
Media
Read More: Charters Drowning in Red TapeRegulation
Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good Enough
During his budget address, Gov. Wolf stated, “It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” Why, then, does he continue to sidestep…
Media
Read More: Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good EnoughRegulation
Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension System
Public pensions have created one of the worst financial crises in Pennsylvania’s history—a monstrous, $50 billion debt that Gov. Wolf can no longer ignore. To prevent the crisis from…
Media
Read More: Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension SystemRegulation
The Monster at the end of this Blog Post
One of my favorite children’s books is titled “The Monster at the end of this Book.” In it, Grover (of Sesame Street fame) pleads with the reader not…
Media
Read More: The Monster at the end of this Blog PostRegulation
Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public Employees
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public Employees Critical Retirement Bill Heads to the House, Positioned for…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public EmployeesPublic Union Democracy
Pension Reform Toolkit
Pension costs are ballooning so quickly, they threaten to consume funds for education, public safety and welfare. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pension Reform ToolkitRegulation
Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform Bill Stops Sending More Public Employees Into Broken Retirement System May…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension ReformRegulation
It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…
“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…
Media
Read More: It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…Regulation
Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions
Pennsylvania’s $50 billion public pension problem isn’t going to solve itself. Reform is a must, which is why Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has rightly called for structural…
Media
Read More: Clarifying Pension Reform MisconceptionsRegulation
Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension System
While Gov. Wolf seems to think borrowing money will solve the pension crisis, the commonsense approach to getting out of our $53 billion pension hole is to “stop digging”–i.e., stop…
Media
Read More: Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension SystemPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Reform in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961, mandating that state and local governments pay construction contractors wages that “prevail” in each region on projects costing $25,000 or more. This…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Prevailing Wage Reform in PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
Collective Bargaining Transparency
Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Collective Bargaining TransparencyRegulation
Lesson from Washington State: Privatization Works
Is liquor privatization in Washington State a “failed experiment”? That’s the bold assertion from opponents of unshackling Pennsylvania from the chains of a government liquor monopoly. It’s also wrong. Washington…
Media
Read More: Lesson from Washington State: Privatization WorksRegulation
A Toast to the House, but Challenges Lie Ahead
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed liquor privatization legislation sponsored by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai. You can see how your legislator voted in this interactive graphic…
Media
Read More: A Toast to the House, but Challenges Lie AheadRegulation
Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not Politics
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not Politics Ending State Monopoly Would Help Fill Budget Hole February 26, 2015, HARRISBURG,…
Press Release
Read More: Liquor Privatization Passage Puts People First, Not PoliticsRegulation
Culture, Not Government, Drives Alcohol Use
Practically three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s twelfth graders tried alcohol at least once in their lifetimes, according to a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) report. This eye-opening statistic confirms the obvious:…
Media
Read More: Culture, Not Government, Drives Alcohol UseRegulation
Setting the Record Straight on Liquor Privatization
It’s back! Liquor privatization is once again up for debate and has already cleared its first hurdle, as lawmakers voted yesterday to advance the bill out of a House…
Media
Read More: Setting the Record Straight on Liquor PrivatizationPublic Union Democracy
Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor Privatization
Lawmakers took action in committees today on both liquor privatization and paycheck protection. Here’s what’s happened in Harrisburg: Liquor privatization: This morning, the House Liquor Control Committee advanced HB…
Media
Read More: Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for Change
Pennsylvania added nearly two dozen new lawmakers in November, and there’s a new face in the Governor’s Mansion. Indeed, that face will look very new, as Tom Wolf is the…
Commentary
Read More: Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for Change