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
Moody’s Sounds the Four Alarms
Yesterday, Moody’s Investor Services downgraded Pennsylvania’s bond rating one level. The downgrade implies Pennsylvania bonds are riskier than previously assessed, and it could make it more expensive for the…
Media
Read More: Moody’s Sounds the Four AlarmsRegulation
Map of the Day: Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities
Pennsylvania’s government-run liquor monopoly doesn’t make citizens safer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data on alcohol-attributable deaths ranks Pennsylvania middle of the pack in terms of deaths per…
Media
Read More: Map of the Day: Alcohol-Related Traffic FatalitiesRegulation
Popping Popular Privatization Myths
When short on facts, blow a lot of hot air. That’s the strategy of liquor store union boss Wendell Young IV. Wendell and I were panelists on a recent Delaware County…
Media
Read More: Popping Popular Privatization MythsRegulation
Liquor Privatization: Just the Facts
In a recent Delaware County Times webcast on Pennsylvania liquor store privatization, on which I was a panelist, there was a great deal of information thrown into the mix which may have…
Memo
Read More: Liquor Privatization: Just the FactsRegulation
Dailies Declare Defending Dukes of Distillation Dereliction of Duty
Declaring a dereliction of duty to delay disposal of the PLCB’s monopoly of manipulation, mediocrity, mismanagement and malfeasance, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial team lambasted lawmakers, saying some stood as,…
Media
Read More: Dailies Declare Defending Dukes of Distillation Dereliction of DutyRegulation
Who Will Help CF Save You Money?
Organizations that love to lobby for your tax dollars and special handouts for their special interests are posturing against Gov. Tom Corbett’s corporate welfare package to lure Shell’s new…
Media
Read More: Who Will Help CF Save You Money?Regulation
Kings of Cabernet Caught Grabbing Grift, Gifts, Golf
So how do some alcohol vendors become wine winners and others liquor losers under a state-run monopoly? Well, a scathing new report by the Inspector General’s Office, broken this…
Media
Read More: Kings of Cabernet Caught Grabbing Grift, Gifts, GolfRegulation
Happy Hour or Last Call? What’s the Scoop on HB 11
Ready to toast to an end of the state-run monopoly on wine and spirits? Nearly seven out of 10 Pennsylvanians would raise their glasses with you. Government-sold booze is…
Media
Read More: Happy Hour or Last Call? What’s the Scoop on HB 11Regulation
Top-5 Liquor Liberty Myths Busted!
Pennsylvanians have come together, transcending party lines, gender, economic means and all geographic regions of the state to call for an end to the state-run monopoly on wine and…
Media
Read More: Top-5 Liquor Liberty Myths Busted!Regulation
Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars Go
Legislative leaders and Gov. Corbett have been negotiating a state budget and, according to the latest reports, are $233 million apart in terms of General Fund spending. Why the…
Media
Read More: Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars GoRegulation
Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!
Gov. Tom Corbett announced his support for full liquor store privatization today on Dom Giordano’s radio show. Now it’s the legislature’s turn to develop a plan that will free…
Media
Read More: Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!Regulation
Will Union Contracts Stop Liquor Store Privatization?
Desperate to protect the monopoly that provides his cushy $287,000 salary and benefits package, liquor store union boss Wendell Young IV has launched yet another dishonest attack. Mr. Young is…
Media
Read More: Will Union Contracts Stop Liquor Store Privatization?Regulation
The Unseen Effect of Cracker Credits
Gov. Tom Corbett is reportedly pushing a targeted tax credit for Shell and other companies that locate an ethane processing plant—often called a “cracker” plant—in Pennsylvania. The credit would…
Media
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Top-10 Reasons to Choose Booze or Lose
The Terrible 10: Whether You’re a Boozer (drinker) or Chooser (non-drinker), the PLCB Makes You a Loser. Find out the top-10 reasons that government in the booze business is a…
Media
Read More: Top-10 Reasons to Choose Booze or LoseRegulation
Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft
This week, Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, Sen. Mike Brubaker, Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman, and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi announced plans to introduce pension reform legislation. The…
Media
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Top 5 Ways Liquor Monopoly Wastes Your Money
There’s good reason why other states, like Washington, have moved to get government out of the booze business, and aren’t looking to copy Pennsylvania’s flawed monopoly model. This post…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Ways Liquor Monopoly Wastes Your MoneyPublic Union Democracy
The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers
I heard on the radio this week another ridiculous ad against allowing retail stores to sell wine or liquor, funded by UFCW dues to play on stations across…
Media
Read More: The Booze Business is a Lose Business for TaxpayersRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to Compete
In three separate studies on the state’s economic competitiveness and business climates, Pennsylvania remains near the bottom of the pack. The 2012 Alec-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index, ranks states economic…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to CompetePublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg
Laura Olson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pensions, and Gov. Corbett injecting pension reform into the budget discussion: Even with…
Media
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Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste
Another day, another story of waste at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. ABC 27’s Dennis Owens reports on the PLCB buying extravagant wine, then selling it at a discount…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB WasteRegulation
Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?
What's more dangerous, an incompetent barber or incompetent emergency medical worker? Most people would say and EMT, but a barber has to undergo almost nine times the hours of training…
Media
Read More: Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?