Regulation
Cutting Red Tape in Pennsylvania
This report presents findings from Mercatus Center’s State RegData database, analyzing regulations in the Pennsylvania Code as of 2022. The report provides an overview of state regulations, how Pennsylvania’s regulatory…
Read More: Cutting Red Tape in 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
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 ProbeRegulation
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?Regulation
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?Regulation
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
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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
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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?