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
Dead? Mostly Dead? What’s Happening with Privatization?
Have you heard that liquor privatization is dead? Or maybe just mostly dead? Well, as one of the great philosophers of our time (Billy Crystal in The Princess Bride)…
Media
Read More: Dead? Mostly Dead? What’s Happening with Privatization?Regulation
Facts Contradict Claims of Liquor Monopoly Supporters
I’ve received some email responses critical of my recent commentary on liquor privatization. These responses, unfortunately, echo many of faulty claims served up by supporters of the…
Media
Read More: Facts Contradict Claims of Liquor Monopoly SupportersRegulation
Liquor Privatization Done Right
It's decades past time to get government out of our Prohibition-era liquor system. Pennsylvanians have suffered from the PLCB's conflicts of interest and taxpayer-funded boondoggles for far too long. Until…
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Privatization Done RightRegulation
Perpetual Problems Plague PLCB
As Yogi Berra once quipped, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Another year and another audit of the PLCB released by the Auditor General’s Office found mismanagement at the state…
Media
Read More: Perpetual Problems Plague PLCBRegulation
Anti-Privatization Study Dismantled
A study frequently cited by liquor privatization opponents is soundly debunked in an article by Trevor Butterworth, a statistics guru at Forbes.com. Butterworth dismantles the methodology of the…
Media
Read More: Anti-Privatization Study DismantledRegulation
Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?
This is the third in a series of blog posts debunking the myths surrounding Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?Regulation
Privatization Great for Washington State
A year ago this June, the government liquor monopoly ended in Washington state. Critics of Pennsylvania’s plan to privatize state wine and spirits stores have pointed to Washington as an…
Media
Read More: Privatization Great for Washington StatePublic Union Democracy
Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…
Media
Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?Regulation
Pension Crisis Facts: Did Lawmakers Already Solve the Pension Crisis?
This is the second in a series of blog posts debunking the myths surrounding Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. Pennsylvania’s two main pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Did Lawmakers Already Solve the Pension Crisis?Regulation
Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You
As liquor privatization discussions are occurring in the Senate, some have suggested maintaining the PLCB’s wholesale monopoly while simply turning state retail stores over to private sellers. After all, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to YouRegulation
Good for Business: One Beer Distributor’s Privatization Perspective
What business owner wouldn’t jump at the chance to expand their business? Some of my fellow beer distributors, apparently. The association that is supposed to be representing my business interests…
Commentary
Read More: Good for Business: One Beer Distributor’s Privatization PerspectiveRegulation
Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?
Pennsylvania’s two main pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these plans have more…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?Regulation
New Life for Landmark Pension Reform
Landmark pension reform legislation was unveiled today, as the Commonwealth Foundation stood with Gov. Tom Corbett, state lawmakers, business leaders, school board members and other groups. The new bills, introduced…
Media
Read More: New Life for Landmark Pension ReformRegulation
Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. This publication addresses the common myths and benefits…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public Pensions: Past, Present, and FutureRegulation
Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”
In a guest post, State Rep. Glen Grell addresses the pension reform myth that Act 120 has fixed the pension crisis. For more facts & myths, click here. The…
Media
Read More: Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”Health Care
Reality Check: We’re Overspending
Bad revenue collections and updated projections highlight a big problem in the state budget: We are spending more than we are collecting. The problem is much worse than a recent…
Media
Read More: Reality Check: We’re OverspendingRegulation
Social Impacts of Liquor Privatization
Submitted Testimony of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Senate Law & Justice Committee, April 30, 2013 The Commonwealth Foundation would like to thank…
Testimony
Read More: Social Impacts of Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Consensus: Liquor Privatization No Threat to Safety
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer piece tries to give both sides of the debate over liquor privatization. But one key fact ingored was that the Community Preventive Services Task Force…
Media
Read More: Consensus: Liquor Privatization No Threat to SafetyRegulation
Sobering Facts on Liquor Privatization
Sen. Daylin Leach’s editorial on liquor store privatization repeatedly misstates facts. Here is my letter to the editor in the Delaware County Times to set the record straight:…
Media
Read More: Sobering Facts on Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
PLCB Boondoggles
Getting government out of the booze business would eliminate conflicts of interest, stop government from freezing out Pennsylvania wineries, reduce opportunities for cronyism, eliminate taxpayer-funded boondoggles and allow the PLCB…
Fact Sheet
Read More: PLCB BoondogglesRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts
Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these funds owe more than…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts