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.

Public Union Democracy

New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2011

New polling conducted by Douglas E. Schoen, LLC for the Manhattan Institute nationally and in 10 targeted states shows widespread bipartisan support to reduce state government spending rather than…

Media

Read More: New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to Work

Regulation

Wasteful Wine Wizards Cork Kiosk Caper!

  • September 20, 2011

Put a cork in it!  That’s apparently what the Sultans of Syrah said suddenly today as they will pull the putrid pinot plug on the wasteful wine kiosk catastrophe.

Media

Read More: Wasteful Wine Wizards Cork Kiosk Caper!

Regulation

Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 20, 2011

Facing immense fiscal and political pressures, many local governments are looking for ways to fund services without raising taxes. But officials need not curb their enthusiasm for fiscal responsibility if…

Commentary

Read More: Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax Hikes

Regulation

13 Reasons Why Government-Sold Booze Fails

  • September 20, 2011

America was built upon a free-market system where citizens were free to make purchasing decisions in a competitive market without excessive government oversight or taxation. Sadly, that's not true for…

Poll

Read More: 13 Reasons Why Government-Sold Booze Fails

Regulation

Cabernet Kings Couldn’t Count!

  • September 15, 2011

All together now, Pennsylvania:  Ninety-nine bottle of booze in a box, 99 bottles of booze, blow in a tube, look like a rube, still 99 bottles of booze in a…

Media

Read More: Cabernet Kings Couldn’t Count!

Regulation

Licensing Regulations Drives Out Entrepreneurs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 13, 2011

A Morning Call article brings to light the anti-entrepreneurship policy of occupational licensing. The article focuses on fines imposed on folks trying, in most cases, to earn a living:…

Media

Read More: Licensing Regulations Drives Out Entrepreneurs

Regulation

The State of Inconvenience

  • September 13, 2011

Walk into any supermarket in Ohio and you can see shoppers purchasing everything they need for dinner - including the wine to go with it.  In West Virginia, residents can…

Commentary

Read More: The State of Inconvenience

Public Union Democracy

Senseless Regulations Cause Job Loss

  • September 8, 2011

Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Independent article on the new state independent contract rules demonstrates the clear need for regulatory streamlining in the commonwealth. After Deborah Webster’s husband lost his job,…

Media

Read More: Senseless Regulations Cause Job Loss

Regulation

Rick Perry, Corporate Welfare and Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 7, 2011

Texas Governor and Presidential Candidate Rick Perry has taken some flak recently for “job creation” funds, which largely direct taxpayer funds to corporations and special projects. This is commonly…

Media

Read More: Rick Perry, Corporate Welfare and Pennsylvania

Regulation

The Failure of Government-run Liquor Stores

  • September 1, 2011

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is the exclusive wholesaler and retailer of wine and spirits in the commonwealth.  A current proposal would get the government out of the business…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Failure of Government-run Liquor Stores

Public Union Democracy

Big Labor’s Stranglehold in Pennsylvania

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 31, 2011

Here’s a depressing, if unsurprising, statistic: In a new index assessing whether states favor government union bosses or taxpayers, Pennsylvania ranks 5th worst. The Competitive Enterprise Institute ranked…

Media

Read More: Big Labor’s Stranglehold in Pennsylvania

Regulation

Wine Kiosks: One of These Things is Not Like the Others

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2011

Yesterday, Auditor General Jack Wagner released an audit of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s wine kiosk program. Following that, PLCB CEO Joe Conti talked with capitol reporters. In the…

Media

Read More: Wine Kiosks: One of These Things is Not Like the Others

Regulation

Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships

  • August 30, 2011

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit…

Commentary

Read More: Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships

Regulation

This Is What a Boom Looks Like

  • Charles Mitchell
  • August 16, 2011

About half an hour ago, I was in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. (For my fellow natives of the Philadelphia area, Canonsburg is southwest of Pittsburgh, where they say “younse” instead of “youse”…

Media

Read More: This Is What a Boom Looks Like

Regulation

Understanding the Proposed Gallonage Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 16, 2011

Rep. Mike Turzai’s proposal to get state government out of the business of selling liquor (HB 11) would replace current alcohol taxes and fees with a “gallonage tax.” This…

Media

Read More: Understanding the Proposed Gallonage Tax

Regulation

Conti Continues Canard Campaign

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2011

Roxbury News has posted a video of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board CEO Joe Conti calling for “civility” from critics of the PLCB. Mr. Conti claims that without the…

Media

Read More: Conti Continues Canard Campaign

Regulation

Conti Confused by Booze Bill Backing

  • August 11, 2011

In a furious flip-flop fiasco that might make John Kerry blush, beleaguered booze boss and former State Sen. Joe Conti contended cluelessness in how his name appeared as co-sponsor…

Media

Read More: Conti Confused by Booze Bill Backing

Regulation

PLCB Kiosk Catastrophe Contains Cover Up

  • August 11, 2011

The Commonwealth Foundation strongly condemned the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today for failing to listen to advisors and covering up interagency memos recommending against a failed wine kiosk program…

Press Release

Read More: PLCB Kiosk Catastrophe Contains Cover Up