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

Poll: Privatization must include wholesale

  • June 13, 2013

Eliminate the Government Middleman: Poll Shows Privatizing Retail Alcohol Sales without Wholesale Privatization Insufficient Harrisburg, PA  – A new poll conducted on June 11th by Red Maverick…

Press Release

Read More: Poll: Privatization must include wholesale

Regulation

Goverment Middleman Bad for Consumers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 12, 2013

The Scranton Times Tribune has an excellent editorial explaining that the state government monopoly over liquor wholesale is just a bad as its monopoly over wine and spirits retail…

Media

Read More: Goverment Middleman Bad for Consumers

Regulation

Podcast: Why Does Wholesale Privatization Matter?

  • June 10, 2013

For most of us, liquor privatization means making liquor more convenient and affordable by getting rid of Prohibition era, state-run stores and unleashing the power of the private sector. But…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Why Does Wholesale Privatization Matter?

Regulation

Shocking Sheetz Statement Shames Senator

  • June 7, 2013

Fellow Pennsylvanians, we’ve all been there: road-weary on a long drive home, hungry and low on gas, and there it is…a big, red beacon of hope and MTOs…you have made…

Media

Read More: Shocking Sheetz Statement Shames Senator

Regulation

Government Wholesale Monopoly Bad for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2013

Testimony to the Senate Law and Justice Committee yesterday illustrated why wholesale privatization must be a part of “modernizing” liquor sales in Pennsylvania. The PLCB’s wholesale monopoly can’t serve current,…

Media

Read More: Government Wholesale Monopoly Bad for Pennsylvania

Regulation

New Video: What’s Happening with Liquor Privatization?

  • June 5, 2013

The final Senate hearing on liquor privatization has concluded, where do things stand for Pennsylvania taxpayers and consumers? Carl Marrara, director of government affairs for Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and…

Media

Read More: New Video: What’s Happening with Liquor Privatization?

Regulation

Time is Ticking

  • June 4, 2013

This morning marks the final hearing in the Senate on the House-approved proposal to privatize Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era liquor system.  Time is ticking for the Senate to finally end the government…

Media

Read More: Time is Ticking

Regulation

CF: Wholesale Privatization Key to Greater Selection, Lower Prices

  • June 3, 2013

Contact: John Bouder (717) 671-1901 | JBouder@commonwealthfoundation.org As the Senate Law and Justice Committee concludes hearings on privatization of liquor sales, the Commonwealth Foundation has released the following fact…

Press Release

Read More: CF: Wholesale Privatization Key to Greater Selection, Lower Prices

Regulation

Washington Liquor Privatization: One Year Later

  • May 31, 2013

On June 1, it will be one year since Washington state ended its government monopoly on liquor sales. To mark the occasion, the Seattle Times has provided a nice…

Media

Read More: Washington Liquor Privatization: One Year Later

Public Union Democracy

Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?

  • May 31, 2013

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: Will Switching to a 401(k) Plan Cost You More?

Regulation

Liquor Monopoly: Turning Citizens into Criminals

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 28, 2013

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 Criminals

Regulation

Myth: PLCB vs Largest Wholesalers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2013

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 Wholesalers

Public Union Democracy

Pension Crisis Facts: Are 401(k)s Enough?

  • May 24, 2013

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

  • May 23, 2013

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 Benjamins

Regulation

Privatization Opponents: Distorting or Ill-Informed?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2013

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?

  • May 22, 2013

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

Facts Contradict Claims of Liquor Monopoly Supporters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 16, 2013

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 Supporters

Regulation

Liquor Privatization Done Right

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 15, 2013

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 Right

Regulation

Perpetual Problems Plague PLCB

  • May 15, 2013

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 PLCB

Regulation

Anti-Privatization Study Dismantled

  • May 15, 2013

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 Dismantled