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
What’s in New Liquor Liberty Bill?
Rep. Mike Turzai’s liquor store privatization bill, HB 790, heads to the House floor after successfully passing amended out of committee today. While the amendment changed the bill significantly, it…
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Read More: What’s in New Liquor Liberty Bill?Regulation
The Sun Rises on Liquor Liberty
It wasn’t a typical Monday morning for me or the dozen citizen-patriots and CF team members that stood together in an empty hallway, outside a hearing room in the Capitol…
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Read More: The Sun Rises on Liquor LibertyPublic Union Democracy
Temper Tantrums Taint Liquor Debate
My four-year old niece likes to get her own way. When things going south—she has to take a nap, or worse, Dora the Explorer is over—no matter how much you…
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Read More: Temper Tantrums Taint Liquor DebateRegulation
Privatization Could End “Pay-to-Play”
“A culture of greed, corruption and political influence that is beyond imagination,” is how State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan described the latest Pennsylvania Turnpike scandal, which has led to…
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Read More: Privatization Could End “Pay-to-Play”Public Union Democracy
PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business Leaders
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Read More: PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business LeadersPublic Union Democracy
Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!
What does a Middle Eastern battlefield from biblical times have to do with where you buy your booze? Actually, quite a lot. At the Commonwealth Foundation, we call the government…
Media
Read More: Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!Regulation
Mow the Lawn…TODAY!
When it comes to privatizing the Pennsylvania’s government-run monopoly of wine and spirits, many politicians say they are in favor of it—including House Liquor Committee Chairman John Taylor (R-Philadelphia). But…
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Read More: Mow the Lawn…TODAY!Regulation
Desperate Times, Desperate Claims
UFCW President Wendell Young is so desperate to retain Pennsylvania’s 80-year old government liquor monopoly that he’ll say anything. Most recently, he claimed “privateers” were hacking an online poll…
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Read More: Desperate Times, Desperate ClaimsRegulation
Remove Politics from Pensions
A letter to the editor I sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes on some of the myths and facts of pension reform: Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh…
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Read More: Remove Politics from PensionsRegulation
Liquor Chair Wants to Hear from “Stakeholders”
Last night, Capitolwire.com reported (subscription required) that the chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, Rep. John Taylor, has proposed an amendment to the Governor’s liquor store privatization plan. …
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Read More: Liquor Chair Wants to Hear from “Stakeholders”Regulation
PLCB Contradictions Continue
Should the government have its own wine brand? Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board member Robert Marcus thinks so, telling lawmakers, “We have the legal ability to do it. We did…
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Read More: PLCB Contradictions ContinueRegulation
We Deserve Better than ‘Watery Beer’
Despite broad, bipartisan support to end Pennsylvania’s arcane monopoly on booze, legislators and special interests are saying “modernization” is good enough for Pennsylvania consumers. Make no mistake: “modernization” keeps government…
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Read More: We Deserve Better than ‘Watery Beer’Regulation
Principles of Liquor Privatization
While the Governor's proposal will likely change throughout the legislative process, privatization efforts should not be diluted into "modernization," which preserves the inefficient and wasteful Prohibition-era liquor system. Here are…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Principles of Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Privatization Could Open Doors for PA Winemakers
Gov. Corbett’s push for state liquor privatization could open up major doors for Pennsylvania wine makers. As highlighted by PA Independent, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has literally put a…
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Read More: Privatization Could Open Doors for PA WinemakersRegulation
Fact Check: Liquor Safety and Proliferation Myths
This is the second in a series of blog posts addressing the common myths opponents use against getting government out of the businesses of selling alcohol. Check out the first…
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Read More: Fact Check: Liquor Safety and Proliferation MythsRegulation
Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher Costs
The Allentown Morning Call features an article on pension reform in which a representative of the Public Employee Retirement Commission claims that Gov. Corbett’s proposal to put new employees…
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Read More: Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher CostsRegulation
Fact Check: Liquor Privatization Polling & “Profits”
A strong majority of Pennsylvanians want legislators to end the state’s Prohibition-era liquor system, just as Governor Corbett has proposed. But as today’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing for the…
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Read More: Fact Check: Liquor Privatization Polling & “Profits”Regulation
Public Opinion of Liquor Privatization
A strong majority of Pennsylvanians favor ending the government sale of wine and spirits according to a comprehensive poll conducted by nationally-renown pollster Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public Opinion of Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Can We Talk?
Today, CF held our first Google Hangout: A live video broadcast of a conversation between CF experts about the state budget. In under 20 minutes, we hit on Governor…
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Leader Launches Liquor Liberty Legislation
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai put forth a cosponsorship memo announcing legislation to end the government-run liquor store monopoly. The legislation will be officially introduced on March 4 as…
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Read More: Leader Launches Liquor Liberty LegislationRegulation
Liquor Privatization Myths & Facts
More than 60 percent of Pennsylvania residents support getting government out of the booze business. This is broad-based, bipartisan support that finds even the majority of union households want Liquor…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Liquor Privatization Myths & Facts