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.

Education

Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 10, 2015

With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question.  CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…

Media

Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse Debate

Regulation

Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

  • September 9, 2015

State officials often hail the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP or R-Cap) as a tool for “economic development” projects across the commonwealth. The program uses borrowed money—with interest payments financed by taxpayers—to…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare’s Hazards

Public Union Democracy

Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 8, 2015

Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…

Commentary

Read More: Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

Regulation

Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 2, 2015

Another day passes without a state budget in Pennsylvania, causing panic among public officials who can't pay the bills and among parents who have children attending schools unable to make payroll.  Still, Gov.

Media

Read More: Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse

Regulation

Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-B

  • September 1, 2015

When it comes to government corruption investigations, Attorney General Kathleen Kane has dominated the conversation this summer. But now, as if seemingly miffed at the spotlight being taken away from…

Media

Read More: Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-B

Regulation

PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal

  • August 31, 2015

Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal  Ethics Charges Latest in String of Corruption   Good evening, Today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB)…

Press Release

Read More: PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal

Regulation

Ridesharing Freedom En Route to Pennsylvania

  • James Paul
  • August 28, 2015

Uber and Lyft provide inexpensive rides to customers across the country despite numerous regulatory hurdles—chief among them the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which has previously thwarted the businesses from…

Media

Read More: Ridesharing Freedom En Route to Pennsylvania

Regulation

Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 26, 2015

As state budget negotiations drag on, Gov. Wolf is pointing the finger at Republicans, claiming they have refused to move after he made “concessions on everything.” So what compromises are included in…

Media

Read More: Audio: A Look at Gov. Wolf’s “Concessions”

Regulation

Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2015

Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…

Commentary

Read More: Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

Regulation

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Gambling Problem

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 21, 2015

There are numerous ways Gov. Wolf can balance the budget without raising taxes: reforming the pension system, cutting corporate welfare and selling the liquor business. Instead, he…

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Gambling Problem

Public Union Democracy

Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2015

Pennsylvania government unions rely on disproven myths to lobby against pension reform. Their actions, however, demonstrate they don't believe their own snake oil, and offer their employees' the same retirement plans…

Media

Read More: Exposing Union Myths and Hypocrisy on Pension Reform

Public Union Democracy

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 19, 2015

Legislative leaders have rightly rejected a so-called pension reform “compromise,” a plan that fails to address the problems in our pension system and continues to put our kids and grandkids on…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

Regulation

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

  • August 18, 2015

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow Who’s Really Being ‘Disingenuous’ During Budget Talks? As budget negotiations continue, Gov. Wolf recently called Republicans “disingenuous” for criticizing his pension “compromise.” But…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

Regulation

Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2015

Gov. Wolf proposed a new “compromise” on pensions and the budget last week, according to news reports. Here is what that compromise includes: A defined contribution plan for new…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

Education

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 17, 2015

I chose teaching because I enjoy interacting with students and helping them learn.  My science classes show students that certain actions yield predictable results.  With this in mind, I am…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

Regulation

Entrepreneurs Speak Out Against the PLCB

  • August 10, 2015

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) partisans are quick to defend the agency as an asset for the state, but the PLCB’s finances—and the entrepreneurs who deal with the booze bureaucracy—tell a different story. On the financial front, the board reported $117 million in net…

Media

Read More: Entrepreneurs Speak Out Against the PLCB

Regulation

Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Gordon Tomb
  • August 5, 2015

180 workers in CONSOL Energy’s coal division recently lost their jobs. Now, Pennsylvania’s legislature may be the only thing standing between the Obama administration and complete destruction of the…

Media

Read More: Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?

Regulation

Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto Warns Wolf on Pension Bonds

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • July 30, 2015

This week, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto criticized Gov. Wolf’s plan to sell $3 billion in pension obligation bonds. In a meeting with editors and reporters from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto Warns Wolf on Pension Bonds

Public Union Democracy

A Double Shot of Liquid Courage

  • July 15, 2015

It shouldn’t take a double shot of liquid courage to finally end Prohibition in Pennsylvania. With pension deficits, revenue shortfalls, PLCB ethics violations, and consistent popular support, this should be…

Commentary

Read More: A Double Shot of Liquid Courage

Regulation

Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the Past

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2015

Earlier this week, we pointed out how Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of liquor privatization—using talking points from union leaders to justify his action—didn’t make much sense. Wolf’s reasoning…

Media

Read More: Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the Past