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
Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension Systems
Most workers are shortchanged by Pennsylvania’s public employee pension programs, according to two recent studies. The Urban Institute gives Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) an “F”…
Media
Read More: Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension SystemsEducation
Rendell’s Legacy Handcuffs Schools
Former Governor Ed Rendell wrote to the Philadelphia Inquirer and took issue with our policy points on Philadelphia school trends. The Inquirer…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Legacy Handcuffs SchoolsRegulation
Audio: Is Selling Liquor a Core Function of Government?
Is it government’s job to monopolize a service that private enterprise can easily provide? Matt Brouillette says no—and Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor monopoly is a prime example of why government should…
Media
Read More: Audio: Is Selling Liquor a Core Function of Government?Regulation
Monopolizing Success
Is it time to wave the white flag on liquor privatization? After all, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) reported record revenue and transfers to the state’s General Fund…
Media
Read More: Monopolizing SuccessRegulation
Great Communicators: Pension Reform
Ed. note: These are the remarks given by Dawn Meling, CF’s director of marketing & outreach, at the Great Communicators Tournament in Denver, CO. on September 25, 2014. Thank…
Testimony
Read More: Great Communicators: Pension ReformEducation
Lies from PSEA Leadership
Repeating the same lie over and over does not make it magically come true. Yet this hasn’t stopped the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) leadership from an…
Media
Read More: Lies from PSEA LeadershipPublic Union Democracy
Union Lobbying Holds Back Lottery Performance
Illinois’s decision to terminate its lottery private management agreement with Northstar is being misinterpreted as proof that Pennsylvania dodged a bullet by failing to approve a private lottery management…
Media
Read More: Union Lobbying Holds Back Lottery PerformanceEducation
Pension Costs Forcing Teacher Layoffs
We’ve debunked on this blog the “billion dollar education cut” myth time and time again. Yet another common refrain—even among those who admit state…
Media
Read More: Pension Costs Forcing Teacher LayoffsEducation
School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity
Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…
Media
Read More: School Reserves Offer Pension Reform OpportunityRegulation
Pennsylvanians Win: Liquor Markup Increase Nixed
Finally some good news for booze consumers: the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has decided against increasing the markup added to each wine and spirits product, according to PLCB…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Win: Liquor Markup Increase NixedRegulation
Study: Selective Carve-Outs Make Poor Tax Policy
Lawmakers across the country have promoted specific, targeted tax breaks that encourage businesses to invest in their state. According to a recent study, these incentive programs are…
Media
Read More: Study: Selective Carve-Outs Make Poor Tax PolicyEducation
PSEA Spokesman Wins the Pinocchio Award
Readers of PolicyBlog already know that Pennsylvania education spending is at a record high, that state funding to school districts for…
Media
Read More: PSEA Spokesman Wins the Pinocchio AwardRegulation
Survey: Pennsylvania Unfriendly to Small Business
You’re probably aware that Pennsylvania’s tax burden is among the most oppressive in the country. But the tax code is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes…
Media
Read More: Survey: Pennsylvania Unfriendly to Small BusinessRegulation
Downgrade Detrimental to Taxpayers
For the third time in two years, a major bond rating agency gave Pennsylvania a downgrade. The most recent downgrade, courtesy of Moody’s, has real implications for taxpayers. Moody’s…
Media
Read More: Downgrade Detrimental to TaxpayersRegulation
Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction
Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 PA’s ‘Growing Structural Imbalance’ Cited in New Credit Downgrade One-Time Revenue Sources and Unfunded Pension Liabilities the Cause Good afternoon, Today, credit rating…
Press Release
Read More: Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension InactionEducation
Is There a Pension Crisis?
PolicyBlog readers will be well-familiar with the fact that Pennsyvlania state funding for public schools is at a record high. So why do government union leaders and some…
Media
Read More: Is There a Pension Crisis?Regulation
Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain
A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…
Commentary
Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges RemainRegulation
Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle
On Friday, CF President Matt Brouillette joined The David Madeira Show to talk about Pennsylvania’s looming $50 billion public pension crisis and the biggest obstacles to reform: government union leaders.
Media
Read More: Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest ObstacleRegulation
Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension Reform
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Lawmakers Must Battle Government Union Leaders on Pension Reform Government union leaders cited as primary opposition to tax-saving legislation Good morning, Gov. Corbett’s…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Right to Blame Gov. Union Leaders on Pension ReformRegulation
As Budget Hangs in Balance, Consequences of Pension Inaction Emerge
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Pension Reform Critical to Shield PA’s Public Workers from Cut Detroit Retirees Face Major Losses This Week Due to Inaction on Reform Good…
Press Release
Read More: As Budget Hangs in Balance, Consequences of Pension Inaction EmergeRegulation
Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union Executives
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Government Union Executives Again Stand in the Way of Reform Pension Bill Stalls in House Despite Looming Crisis July 1,…
Press Release
Read More: Pension Reform Roadblock: Gov. Union Executives