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

New Life for Landmark Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2013

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 Reform

Regulation

Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future

  • May 6, 2013

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 Future

Regulation

Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”

  • May 6, 2013

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”

Regulation

Reality Check: We’re Overspending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 2, 2013

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 Overspending

Regulation

Social Impacts of Liquor Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2013

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 Privatization

Regulation

Consensus: Liquor Privatization No Threat to Safety

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2013

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 Safety

Regulation

Sobering Facts on Liquor Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2013

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 Privatization

Regulation

PLCB Boondoggles

  • April 25, 2013

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 Boondoggles

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts

  • April 25, 2013

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

Regulation

McIlhinney Renews Hope for Liquor Privatization!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 24, 2013

On Tuesday, Senator Chuck McIlhinney appeared on The Dom Giordano Program on 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia to discuss liquor privatization—giving taxpayers and consumers renewed hope that Pennsylvania may finally…

Media

Read More: McIlhinney Renews Hope for Liquor Privatization!

Regulation

Talking Pensions with Rep. Gabler

  • April 17, 2013

In CF‘s latest Google+ Hangout, we talk with Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield and Elk) about the latest on Pennsylvania’s pension crisis, how it will affect taxpayers, and what we…

Media

Read More: Talking Pensions with Rep. Gabler

Regulation

Are You a Bootlegger?

  • April 17, 2013

If you’ve ever bought alcohol in other states and brought it back into Pennsylvania to drink, you’re a bootlegger. You’ve broken a state law….but you’re certainly not alone. As a…

Media

Read More: Are You a Bootlegger?

Regulation

Public Pension Crisis Averted?

  • April 16, 2013

Has Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis been averted? Not by a long shot. This weekend, the Tribune-Review heralded a $69 million budget surplus in the Pennsylvania School…

Media

Read More: Public Pension Crisis Averted?

Regulation

Mailbag: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis

  • Priya Brannick
  • April 10, 2013

Several readers wrote in with questions on my Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed from Sunday, “Pension Crisis is Going to Hit Hard.” Here are answers to some of the most common…

Media

Read More: Mailbag: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis

Regulation

Fact Check: Liquor Liberty in Washington

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2013

In 2011, voters in Washington State approved a ballot measure to privatize the state wholesale and retail liquor monopoly, allowing private retailers to sell liquor. Unlike Pennsylvania, wine was already…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: Liquor Liberty in Washington

Regulation

Millions Blown in Border Bleed

  • April 8, 2013

It’s time for another look at common myths opponents use against getting the government out of the booze businesses. Find more myths debunked here and here. Myth #5:…

Media

Read More: Millions Blown in Border Bleed

Regulation

Pennsylvania Stuck in Prohibition

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 6, 2013

Eighty years ago, baseball was still segregated, Social Security was non-existent and it was illegal to buy alcohol in the United States. Times have changed, and Prohibition has since ended…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Stuck in Prohibition

Regulation

Union Poured Member Dues into Defeating Liquor Privatization

  • Priya Brannick
  • April 3, 2013

They’re a familiar sight in the state Capitol, wearing mustard-colored T-shirts emblazoned with their union’s logo. Now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported on how United Food and Commercial Workers…

Media

Read More: Union Poured Member Dues into Defeating Liquor Privatization

Regulation

Liquor Privatization: Good for Business (Except in Jersey)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 2, 2013

Ending Pennsylvania’s government liquor monopoly has some folks worried…like liquor store owners in New Jersey. Writes Jason Laday of the South Jersey Times: At any given time, on…

Media

Read More: Liquor Privatization: Good for Business (Except in Jersey)

Regulation

Drawing Liquor Lessons from the Turnpike Commission

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 1, 2013

Following last week's House vote, the Pennsylvania Senate has the opportunity to end similar corruption and taxpayer costs by dismantling the PLCB—the Turnpike Commission's cousin in wasted money and broken…

Commentary

Read More: Drawing Liquor Lessons from the Turnpike Commission