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.
Public Union Democracy
The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas
A faux-grassroots group funded by government unions is protesting a proposed contract for a private company to manage the Pennsylvania Lottery. The deal would guarantee a minimum of…
Media
Read More: The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ ChristmasRegulation
Wizards of Wine Hide Behind Irony Curtain
Here in the land of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, within the comfy confines of the Wine Shrine bellows a great voice. “Do you presume to criticize…
Media
Read More: Wizards of Wine Hide Behind Irony CurtainRegulation
Poor Pension Policy Could Harm Bond Rating
Last week, Moody’s Investor Service released a warning to state and local governments on borrowing to finance underfunded pension systems, commonly referred to as pension obligation bonds. The report…
Media
Read More: Poor Pension Policy Could Harm Bond RatingRegulation
PLCB: As Modern as Rotary Phones
When was the last time you used a rotary phone? It seems like a million years ago you were sticking your finger in the dial and painstakingly turning…
Media
Read More: PLCB: As Modern as Rotary PhonesPublic Union Democracy
Distilleries Despot Delivers Tinctures Tantrum
Desperately seeking to hold on to a shred of credibility and hope lawmakers aren’t watching the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board majestically implode under “Vinogate,” United Food and Commercial Workers…
Media
Read More: Distilleries Despot Delivers Tinctures TantrumRegulation
Fishing in Barrel Lands Union Support
Unnecessary, unfair and un-American? Welcome to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the government liquor monopoly that union boss Wendell Young has made a lucrative career defending. As papers across the commonwealth continue…
Media
Read More: Fishing in Barrel Lands Union SupportCriminal Justice Reform
Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing
Late last month, the Independent Fiscal Office released its annual report looking at Pennsylvania’s economy and forecasting state budget expenditures and revenues. The trends remain alarming. Most notably, state…
Media
Read More: Three of Four Alarms Still RingingRegulation
Film Credits More Blooper Reel than Blockbuster
Film industry lobbyists are renewing calls for more corporate welfare for the film industry, through expansion of Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit. As we’ve noted time and…
Media
Read More: Film Credits More Blooper Reel than BlockbusterRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Ranks 10th (Again), but Pension Bomb Ticking
Last week, America kept its president and Congress, and Pennsylvania’s legislature stayed largely the same too. There’s another thing that Pennsylvanians can count on—ranking 10th in the United States for…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Ranks 10th (Again), but Pension Bomb TickingRegulation
Pension Crisis Deniers Debunked
Last Thursday night, Katrina Currie debated the AFL-CIO’s Rick Bloomingdale on PCN’s call in show on the public pension crisis. Bloomingdale largely argued that there was no crisis (at least…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Deniers DebunkedPublic Union Democracy
Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
The Wall Street Journal today writes about “Big Labor’s Losses” in Tuesday’s election. This may seem hard for many Pennsylvanians to fathom, given the role government union bosses…
Media
Read More: Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to PennsylvaniaRegulation
Sultans of Syrah Snub Sunshine Act
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s stunning Saturday story, the scandalous Sultans of Syrah systematically snubbed the state’s Sunshine Act. Referring to the backdoor government-branded wine and spirits that have…
Media
Read More: Sultans of Syrah Snub Sunshine ActRegulation
Poll: Pennsylvanians Powerfully Plea for Privatization
Ever wonder if you were alone in your desire for freedom from the Czars of Zinfandel? Wonder no more, comrades. According to a recent poll commissioned by the Philadelphia…
Media
Read More: Poll: Pennsylvanians Powerfully Plea for PrivatizationRegulation
How Big is the Pension Bomb?
Taxpayers will have to pay $1,385 more each year for 30 years to fully pay off pension liabilities, according to a new study on the cost of pension plans…
Media
Read More: How Big is the Pension Bomb?Regulation
PLCB Chair Tastes Sour Grapes, Selects Probe
Waiting for the new Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board booze boss to make a monopolistic menu of Chairman’s Selection? Well there’s a new sommelier in town and he’s found a great new…
Media
Read More: PLCB Chair Tastes Sour Grapes, Selects ProbePublic Union Democracy
Union Members Protest Union Bosses Pay Grab
California DMV worker Mariam Noujaim is furious with how union bosses are spending her hard-earned dues. In 2010, she and many other DMV workers were laid off while leaders…
Media
Read More: Union Members Protest Union Bosses Pay GrabRegulation
Trib: PLCB Bottling Lies
Forget for a moment ongoing ethics investigations concerning Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board execs and the myriad of reasons to brand the Barons of Booze an abomination. For the…
Media
Read More: Trib: PLCB Bottling LiesRegulation
Public vs Private Workers: Who Earns More?
State governments pay on average 6.2 percent more per hour in wages and benefits, including pension benefits, than the private sector according a new report from Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW). Public…
Media
Read More: Public vs Private Workers: Who Earns More?Health Care
Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension Crisis
Last night’s presidential debate (despite the focus on foreign policy) featured much talk on skyrocketing debt and unsustainable entitlement programs. Protecting the middle class from growing debt isn’t a problem…
Media
Read More: Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension CrisisRegulation
Decipher PLCB Clues, Taxpayers Lose
Do you remember playing the board game Clue? It was one of my favorites as a kid; I loved deducing who committed the crime, in what room, and with…
Media
Read More: Decipher PLCB Clues, Taxpayers LoseRegulation
Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?
Last month, I testified to the House Finance Committee that targeted tax breaks and corporate welfare subsidies prevent across-the-board tax rate reductions that would benefit all Pennsylvanians. As a follow-up…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?