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.
Regulation
Liquor Monopoly: Turning Citizens into Criminals
Last weekend’s Memorial Day celebration got off to a rocky start for three Pennsylvanians who were issued citations by state police. Their crime? Looking for greater selection and lower…
Media
Read More: Liquor Monopoly: Turning Citizens into CriminalsRegulation
Myth: PLCB vs Largest Wholesalers
One popular myth in the liquor debate is that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has enormous “buying power” that benefits Pennsylvanians. The story goes that the state is the largest, or…
Media
Read More: Myth: PLCB vs Largest WholesalersPublic Union Democracy
Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?Regulation
Diddy & PLCB: It’s All about the Benjamins
On Wednesday, Harrisburg was graced with a visit from Hip Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, hawking premium Cîroc vodka to Pennsylvania entrepreneurs business owners…
Media
Read More: Diddy & PLCB: It’s All about the BenjaminsRegulation
Privatization Opponents: Distorting or Ill-Informed?
Critics of liquor store privatization claim that a CDC study suggests liquor privatization would result in greater social harms. The problem: The flawed study doesn’t support that claim, and…
Media
Read More: Privatization Opponents: Distorting or Ill-Informed?Regulation
Pension Crisis Facts: What Are Our Options?
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. What are our options? The current system is…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: What Are Our Options?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”