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

Who Will Help CF Save You Money?

  • June 20, 2012

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

  • June 19, 2012

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, Golf

Regulation

Happy Hour or Last Call? What’s the Scoop on HB 11

  • June 18, 2012

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 11

Regulation

Top-5 Liquor Liberty Myths Busted!

  • June 12, 2012

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2012

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 Go

Regulation

Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2012

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?

  • June 6, 2012

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2012

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 Credits

Regulation

Top-10 Reasons to Choose Booze or Lose

  • June 4, 2012

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 Lose

Regulation

Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 31, 2012

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 Theft

Regulation

Top 5 Ways Liquor Monopoly Wastes Your Money

  • May 30, 2012

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 Money

Public Union Democracy

The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 24, 2012

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 Taxpayers

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to Compete

  • May 22, 2012

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

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 21, 2012

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

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

Regulation

Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

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 Waste

Regulation

Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 16, 2012

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?

Regulation

Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

  • May 15, 2012

Another day, another alliteration, another wasteful Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board practice uncovered by the media. This time, a hat tip to Ben Simmoneau of CBS 3 Philadelphia for his report…

Media

Read More: Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

Health Care

New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 15, 2012

A bill on the floor of the state House would circumvent consumer freedom when it comes to prescription drugs. Many employers, including the state, encourage employees to buy less costly…

Media

Read More: New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

Regulation

UnAPPetizing Waste Poured by PLCB…Again

  • May 11, 2012

  Have you heard of the millionaire iPhone app?  It’s called VIP Black and for $1,000 at the iTunes store you get a “premium lifestyle application” that guarantees “heightened…

Media

Read More: UnAPPetizing Waste Poured by PLCB…Again

Regulation

EXPOSED: PLCB Wine Shrine Uncovered

  • May 9, 2012

Nothing to see here, folks, move along and remain quiet, we are busy protecting your palettes. That’s the dismissive reaction to taxpayers from Pennsylvania Liquor Control boss Joe Conti whose defense…

Media

Read More: EXPOSED: PLCB Wine Shrine Uncovered

Government Accountability

Liquor’s Lap of Luxury a Laughingstock

  • May 7, 2012

With grand style on your dime, the ponderous Princes of Pinot are noses and palms up choosing what wine and liquor you will and will not consume in the Keystone…

Media

Read More: Liquor’s Lap of Luxury a Laughingstock