Prosperity
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’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.
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?Government Accountability
Oh, Great, More “Convenience”
From the fine makers of the wine kiosk catastrophe, government-branded grapes of wrath, uncorked comedic cronyism and wasteful wine surplus trailer parks comes “Convenience…
Media
Read More: Oh, Great, More “Convenience”Regulation
PLCB Spills Grapes of Wrath!
Wine Shrines, Kiosk Catastrophes and ethics investigations step aside (okay, hold that last one), the Kings of Cabernet have uncorked their latest mayhem of modernization, malfeasance and…
Media
Read More: PLCB Spills Grapes of Wrath!Regulation
Pension Iceberg Grows $4 Billion
Pennsylvania’s ailing government worker pension system just landed taxpayers an estimated $4 billion more in unfunded pension liabilities. The Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS)—the largest government worker pension system…
Media
Read More: Pension Iceberg Grows $4 BillionRegulation
Simply Naked or Simply Stupid?
Contradictions, corruption and chaos have consistently characterized the conduct of the Kings of Cabernet. So it should be no surprise today they renewed a kids’ contest designed to bring…
Media
Read More: Simply Naked or Simply Stupid?Regulation
Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?
I testified yesterday before the House Finance Committee about how government-directed “economic development” hampers economic growth. A prime example of this happened Tuesday, where taxpayers forked over more…
Media
Read More: Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?Regulation
Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy
Testimony of Katrina M. Currie to Pennsylvania House Finance Committee, September 19, 2012 Good afternoon, my name is Katrina Currie; I am a policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s…
Testimony
Read More: Growing Pennsylvania’s EconomyPublic Union Democracy
Mailbag: Why Not Pay for Unused Sick Days?
Our post last week highlighting WGAL’s story on government workers receiving hefty payouts for unused sick days sparked a lively discussion. Here’s a question that popped up frequently: Do…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Why Not Pay for Unused Sick Days?Regulation
Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?
One of our PolicyBlog readers asks: What bills would help address the Four Alarm Fire you keep speaking about? Here are a few bills we have been tracking: Taxpayer…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?Regulation
PLCB Drinks Taxpayers Under Table
Thirsty for better selection and prices, lawmakers failed to quench citizens’ desire to end Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era liquor system before leaving for summer break. Some politicians defended the government’s liquor monopoly…
Media
Read More: PLCB Drinks Taxpayers Under TableRegulation
Principles for Public Pension Reform
Projected taxpayer contributions for PSERS and SERS will increase from $1.7 billion in 2011-12 to more than $6.2 billion in 2016-17—a 263% increase. Contributions will continue to rise at a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Principles for Public Pension ReformRegulation
Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible Funding
Thirty counties have applied for slots in the Department of Public Welfare’s Human Services County Block Grant pilot program. Unfortunately, the pilot program was limited to 20 counties. The…
Media
Read More: Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible FundingRegulation
Booze Bosses Busted?
The unethical behavior of top Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board executives, including “CEO” Joe Conti, has landed the Kings of Cabernet under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The…
Media
Read More: Booze Bosses Busted?Public Union Democracy
Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms
CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…
Media
Read More: Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension ReformsHealth Care
ACA a Boon to Special Interests
Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…
Media
Read More: ACA a Boon to Special InterestsGovernment Accountability
Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down Drain
Need some Zeppelin with your zinfandel, Coldplay with your chardonnay or Seger with your Seagrams? Well, wait no more music and driving fans, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has a…
Media
Read More: Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down DrainRegulation
No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?
Pennsylvania Independent’s Melissa Daniels writes that corporate welfare programs to benefit solar companies are on their way out in Pennsylvania, saving consumers more than $100 million. Two major state…
Media
Read More: No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?Regulation
Liquor Lies Dropping Like Flies
State-run liquor store advocates are watching as their most commonly trumpeted arguments drop like flies in recent weeks. First there’s the debunking of the erroneous claim that government-run liquor…
Media
Read More: Liquor Lies Dropping Like FliesRegulation
Ready for Higher Liquor Prices?
The floodgates have opened on the Lords of Liquor’s most infamous (and erroneous) claim that government-run liquor stores bring in lots of cash for the state. In reality, the PLCB…
Media
Read More: Ready for Higher Liquor Prices?