Regulation
Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Politicians celebrate taxpayer funds pouring into Pennsylvania to “bridge the digital divide.” Last month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) praised the approval of…
Read More: Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.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
BREAKING: State Monopoly Brings in Record Revenue
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reported record revenue and “profits,” leading some to claim that privatization just isn’t necessary. Not so fast. First, it should be no surprise that…
Media
Read More: BREAKING: State Monopoly Brings in Record RevenueGovernment Accountability
New Video: CF President on FOX Business
This morning, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on FOX Business’s Varney & Co. to highlight the public pension crisis facing Pennsylvania and cities and states across the…
Media
Read More: New Video: CF President on FOX BusinessRegulation
Copycat Union Letters Repeat Pension Myths
In July, a commentary by Matt Brouillette on why pension reform failed in our state legislature ran in several newspapers across Pennsylvania. Now response letters from teachers have been…
Media
Read More: Copycat Union Letters Repeat Pension MythsRegulation
Liquor Privatization Saves Lives?
A little more than one year ago, Washington state privatized its liquor stores (and liquor wholesale operations). As we’ve noted before, both sales and tax revenue increased under privatization.
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization Saves Lives?Regulation
“Failure” Leads to Downgrade for Pennsylvania
This latest look at Pennsylvania’s fiscal house shows the urgency of pension reform and spending restraint. Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Pennsylvania’s bond rating. This effectively sends a sign to…
Media
Read More: “Failure” Leads to Downgrade for PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms
Why haven’t liquor privatization and pension reform passed yet here in Pennsylvania? The reason is that the true divide in the General Assembly is not between the Republicans and Democrats,…
Commentary
Read More: Big Government Party Blocks Bold ReformsPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Torpedo Agenda
The state budget deadline came and went without passage of any of the “Big Three” policy items—liquor store privatization, pension reform, or transportation tax and fee increases. It was clear…
Media
Read More: Government Unions Torpedo AgendaRegulation
Consumers Still Waiting for Convenience
Consumers still demand convenience when it comes to purchasing alcohol, according to a story in the Patriot News, despite the General Assembly’s delay on passing liquor privatization until after…
Media
Read More: Consumers Still Waiting for ConvenienceRegulation
Liquor Liberty Coming to PA?
Early this morning, the Pennsylvania Senate passed an amendment written by Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi to the historic liquor privatization bill that passed the House three months ago. …
Media
Read More: Liquor Liberty Coming to PA?Regulation
New Senate Liquor Proposal Still Falls Short, Part Deux
The Senate’s latest liquor proposal is out, but from the consumer perspective, leaves much to be desired. The plan does not get government out of the booze business. Although…
Media
Read More: New Senate Liquor Proposal Still Falls Short, Part DeuxRegulation
Podcast: Where Does Pension Reform Stand?
On this BOX Program podcast, Representative Fred Keller (R) 85th District, joins Nathan Benefield to break down what’s been happening in the legislature on pension reform. Both the House and…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Where Does Pension Reform Stand?Regulation
Pension Reform Benefits Workers and Taxpayers
Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS), together have more tha than $47 billion in unfunded…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Workers and TaxpayersGovernment Accountability
Mailbag: That “Delaware Loophole” Thingamajig
A few readers responded to my op-ed on corporate tax reform, asking “If you want fairness, why don’t you support ‘ending the Delaware Loophole’?” Unfortunately, many believe that the…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: That “Delaware Loophole” ThingamajigRegulation
Putting Pension Projections in Perspective
Critics of pension reform cite certain actuarial reports claiming that shifting new employees to a defined contribution plan (like a 401(k) in the private sector) will actually cost taxpayers more. …
Media
Read More: Putting Pension Projections in PerspectiveRegulation
Senate Liquor Proposal Passes Committee
This afternoon, Sen. Charles McIlhinney’s liquor sales reform proposal passed out of committee by a vote of 6-5. Changes are expected to be made to the bill – changes we…
Media
Read More: Senate Liquor Proposal Passes CommitteeRegulation
PLCB Ultimatum: Our Way or the Highway
With the PLCB, control is the name of the game—in more ways than one. Not content with having both hands—retail and wholesale—in wine and liquor sales in the state, now,…
Media
Read More: PLCB Ultimatum: Our Way or the HighwayHealth Care
Budget Could Transform Pa., For Good or Ill
About one week remains for lawmakers to finalize a state budget. But along with a spending plan, a number of major policy reforms remain in the mix. The outcomes of…
Media
Read More: Budget Could Transform Pa., For Good or IllPublic Union Democracy
Nation Laughs at Pennsylvania
The state government liquor store union is once again running ads showing a young girl at a funeral mourning a parent killed by a drunk driver, then claiming this will…
Media
Read More: Nation Laughs at PennsylvaniaRegulation
Pension Reform Bill on the Move
We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for moving meaningful pension reform legislation. The Committee advanced SB 922 to put all new state and school district employees into a defined…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Bill on the MoveRegulation
Senate Liquor Proposal Falls Short
Senate Liquor Proposal Falls Short Harrisburg, PA – Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, issued a response to Sen. McIlhinney’s liquor reform proposal: Pennsylvanians are demanding…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Liquor Proposal Falls ShortRegulation
Podcast: Fixing Public Pensions
Two new BOX Program podcasts offer illuminating insight into our public pension crisis and how lawmakers can help fix the broken system. First, Matt talks with former Utah State…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Fixing Public Pensions