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
Goodbye Gus, Hello Private Partnerships
Say goodbye to the second-most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania. Not having Gus in Pennsylvania lottery commercials will save $140,000. But changes in the state lottery may not end with dropping…
Media
Read More: Goodbye Gus, Hello Private PartnershipsRegulation
State Liquor Stores’ Soviet-style Socialism Fails
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board once again proves it does not know how to manage a business, and its Soviet-style socialist control fails to satisfy customers. More than a month…
Media
Read More: State Liquor Stores’ Soviet-style Socialism FailsRegulation
Reforming State Borrowing for Corporate Welfare
Since 1986, state lawmakers have authorized more than $4 billion in borrowing for the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (or RACP). This is effectively debt for corporate welfare and…
Media
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Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 Preview
The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 PreviewRegulation
Will our Grandchildren be Budget Losers?
As the Governor's state budget address approaches, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary "winners…
Commentary
Read More: Will our Grandchildren be Budget Losers?Regulation
Corporate Welfare Not Needed to Get a Cracker
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing a special tax deal to attract a “cracker” plant to the state. The proposed Shell cracker—which breaks down natural gas…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare Not Needed to Get a CrackerRegulation
Time to End Borrowing for Corporate Welfare
The Pa. House is expected to vote this week on SB 1054, legislation to authorize $1.66 billion in state borrowing for the “capital budget.” The annual cost of this…
Media
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Pennsylvania Pols Pass Potent Potables Perestroika
Today, the Pennsylvania House amended HB 11 and then sent it on to the full house for consideration. The first amendment guts any privatization of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Pols Pass Potent Potables PerestroikaRegulation
WTF! Why the Failure?
In a move requiring mental gymnastics that would make even Nadia Comaneci pack it in, some Pennsylvania House members are praising an “historic” liquor privatization bill that cleared…
Media
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PLCB Called on to Stop Wine and Spirits Advertising
The Commonwealth Foundation called for an immediate halt today by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board of taxpayer-funded advertising that promotes the sale of wine and spirits by the government-run monopoly.
Press Release
Read More: PLCB Called on to Stop Wine and Spirits AdvertisingRegulation
PLCB Rape Ad Illustrates Conflict of Interest
Like a pyromaniac preaching fire prevention, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is at war with itself in a costly conflict of interest that sees the agency wasting tax dollars. On…
Media
Read More: PLCB Rape Ad Illustrates Conflict of InterestRegulation
PLCB is $30 Million in the Hole
As Jay noted earlier, Auditor General Jack Wagner and a number of defenders of the current government monopoly argue that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a great…
Media
Read More: PLCB is $30 Million in the HoleRegulation
PLCB: Buy More, Drink Less, Embrace Hypocrisy!
From the growing library of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board doublespeak comes a PLCB news release today urging responsible drinking over the holiday season. What’s wrong with that you ask? Well, nothing if you…
Media
Read More: PLCB: Buy More, Drink Less, Embrace Hypocrisy!Regulation
Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles
Economist Mark Hendrickson, a member of CF’s Council of Scholars, looks at the failure of government funded “green energy” projects in his latest column for the Center for Vision…
Media
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CF Answers Your Questions: Liquor Privatization
We had a few questions remaining from audience members following last week’s PolicyCast. In this short video, Priya Abraham and I tackle three questions on proposals to privatize state-run liquor…
Media
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The Real Housewives of the PLCB?
From the directors of such fine films as The Great Kiosk Catastrophe, The Inventory System of Doom, and Big Brother Border Bleed comes its latest house of horrors: …
Media
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Fall 2011 Legislative Priorities
Fall 2011 Legislative Priorities.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Fall 2011 Legislative PrioritiesEducation
Sen. Pat Browne Talks School & Liquor Choice
In the latest edition of The BOX Program podcast, State Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne sits down sits down with Matt Brouillette. Sen. Browne discusses school choice and liquor store…
Media
Read More: Sen. Pat Browne Talks School & Liquor ChoiceRegulation
Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?
The union boss who earns nearly $300,000 each year by forcing liquor store employees to pay dues to his union released a statement regarding the PFM group’s report…
Media
Read More: Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?Regulation
Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization Summary
Gov. Tom Corbett released a long-awaited study from The PFM Group on state liquor store privatization. Click here for the full study (nearly 300 pages), or here to get…
Media
Read More: Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization SummaryEducation
Want a 70% Approval Rating?
Let’s be real. One of the things that often gets CF into trouble is that from the outside, it seems like we never need to worry about whether the free-market…
Media
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