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.
Regulation
Calling Shenanigans on Liquor Union Bosses
Pennsylvania’s liquor store union bosses have been called out by Dr. Antony Davies, an associate professor at Duquesne University, and James Harrigan, a fellow of the Institute of…
Media
Read More: Calling Shenanigans on Liquor Union BossesGovernment Accountability
‘Shocked and Appalled’ by PLCB
You’ve heard of shock and awe? Well here is ‘shock and appalled,’ brought to you by the duplicitous, doublespeaking Deacons of Distilleries who are at it again, this time dumping…
Media
Read More: ‘Shocked and Appalled’ by PLCBPublic Union Democracy
Unions Bankrupt Scranton, Who’s Next?
The City of Scranton is broke. It can’t pay its employees and faces a budget deficit of about $16 million this year, thanks to a toxic combination of declining…
Media
Read More: Unions Bankrupt Scranton, Who’s Next?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
Read More: The Unseen Effect of Cracker CreditsRegulation
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
Read More: Senate Seeks to End Generational TheftRegulation
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 Compete