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

Booze Monopoly Bad for Business

  • April 1, 2014

This winter, a snow storm knocked the power out at the Continental Tavern, but Frank used a generator to keep his doors open and his customers in good spirits. The…

Commentary

Read More: Booze Monopoly Bad for Business

Health Care

Protected from Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 31, 2014

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act promised to provide more affordable and better health care for all. Unfortunately, the law has delivered just the opposite—so much so that President…

Media

Read More: Protected from Obamacare

Regulation

NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 28, 2014

Thanks to a recent minimum wage increase, 61 percent of New Jersey businesses are likely to raise their prices. In addition, a Congressional Budget Office analysis found increasing…

Media

Read More: NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill Jobs

Regulation

Wine, Dine, and Bribe

  • March 18, 2014

“Today’s featured wine has notes of bureacracy, boondoggles, and waste, with a lingering aftertaste of corruption. May I interest you in this PLCB blend?” Unlike a fine wine, the PLCB…

Media

Read More: Wine, Dine, and Bribe

Regulation

PLCB Monopoly Breeds Corruption and Cronyism

  • March 17, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PLCB Officials Used Public Positions for Personal Gain State monopoly has culture of corruption and cronyism on the…

Press Release

Read More: PLCB Monopoly Breeds Corruption and Cronyism

Regulation

A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2014

Is your family ready to bend their budget to pay for Pennsylvania’s pension crisis? State pension costs are set to drive up the average family’s taxes by nearly $900 annually,…

Media

Read More: A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

Regulation

Fact Check, Please! Anti-Liquor Privatization Study Falls Short

  • Bruce Cornibe
  • March 12, 2014

As several states (Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Oregon) look to rid themselves of antiquated government-run liquor systems, the defenders of state-control status quo are fighting back harder than ever.  And some…

Media

Read More: Fact Check, Please! Anti-Liquor Privatization Study Falls Short

Regulation

End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 26, 2014

Taxpayers have spent millions on four different occasions to subsidize the infamous “Sony site” in Westmoreland County. In the 1970’s Volkswagen got $70 million in state aid under Gov.

Media

Read More: End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

Regulation

A Look at Job Growth in Pennsylvania

  • February 25, 2014

Pennsylvania’s economy is beginning to recover from the 2007 recession, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since 2010, Pennsylvania has added 86,400 jobs, ranking…

Media

Read More: A Look at Job Growth in Pennsylvania

Regulation

Tableleaf is Dead, Booze Bureaucracy Remains

  • February 24, 2014

In a long overdue move, the PLCB is discontinuing its in-house wine, Tableleaf. As a refresher, Tableleaf is the PLCB’s own government-branded wine, which it introduced in 2011. Tableleaf…

Media

Read More: Tableleaf is Dead, Booze Bureaucracy Remains

Regulation

Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • February 3, 2014

Over the past six fiscal years, the commonwealth has spent more than it has taken in.  This fiscal gap is projected to widen as expenditures are on pace to grow…

Report

Read More: Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

Regulation

Don’t Stop Halfway

  • January 31, 2014

Liquor privatization has been a promise, a priority and even passed the House last year. And in the roughly 11 months since that historic vote, progress remains stalled. But it’s…

Media

Read More: Don’t Stop Halfway

Public Union Democracy

Prohibition in Pa: 94 Years Old Today and Still Kicking

  • January 17, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Prohibition in PA: 94 Years Old Today and Still Kicking Gov. union leaders keep Pennsylvania stuck in the…

Press Release

Read More: Prohibition in Pa: 94 Years Old Today and Still Kicking

Regulation

For Pennsylvania, Prohibition Never Ended

  • January 17, 2014

It has been 94 years since the beginning of the nationwide prohibition on the production, distribution and sale of alcohol. Fortunately, states had the good sense to repeal the 18th…

Media

Read More: For Pennsylvania, Prohibition Never Ended

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions’ Lottery Misinformation Campagin

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 6, 2014

“Save the PA Lottery,” “Seniors pay the price,” and “Corbett’s secretive scheme” are just a few examples of how government union bosses employed scare tactics to conduct a massive misinformation…

Media

Read More: Government Unions’ Lottery Misinformation Campagin

Regulation

2014: A Year for Pension Reform

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 2, 2014

Pension reform promises to be on the forefront of the legislative agenda in the new year, and for good reason. PSERS and SERS, the state’s two pension systems for…

Media

Read More: 2014: A Year for Pension Reform

Education

Top 5 Articles of 2013

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 31, 2013

Yesterday, we gave you the 5 most popular blog posts of 2013.  Today, we are highlighting the 5 most read articles of 2013 on our website. 1) The (Growing)…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Articles of 2013

Education

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2013

As 2013 winds to a close, we thought we’d run down the top stories of the past year.  Here are Commonwealth Foundation’s top 5 blog posts, as chosen by you…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013

Public Union Democracy

Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save Pensions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 4, 2013

“They are going to take away your pension!” is a common scare tactic used by Pennsylvania government union leaders to oppose pension reform (even though private school unions have…

Media

Read More: Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save Pensions

Regulation

Not in the Holiday Spirit(s)

  • December 3, 2013

If you like a good deal, nothing beats shopping during the holidays. Retailers will do whatever it takes—sales, coupons, early bird specials—to get an edge over their competition, all to…

Media

Read More: Not in the Holiday Spirit(s)

Health Care

Pennsylvania’s Bleak Budget Future

  • November 19, 2013

Pennsylvania’s fiscal outlook looks bleak according to a detailed report examining state revenue and spending released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) last week. The agency projects a general…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Bleak Budget Future