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.
Energy
Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s Economy
Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is…
Commentary
Read More: Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s EconomyRegulation
Understanding PSERS’ Gains
Pennsylvania’s pension fund for school employees, PSERS, reported significant gains in the past year — a 14% return on investment. This is higher than the national average, and nearly…
Media
Read More: Understanding PSERS’ GainsRegulation
Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to Rise
As reported at KDKA, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) will be raising fees on bottles of liquor beginning in January. The fee increase is expected to generate…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to RiseRegulation
More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”
After we noted earlier this week Philadelphia’s forcing of any blogger with blogging income to pay the city’s business privilege license ($50/year or $300 for lifetime),…
Media
Read More: More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”Regulation
Philadelphia’s Blogger Tax
In case you missed it, the city of Philadelphia is demanding local bloggers pay a $300 business privilege license, as reported by the Philadelphia City Paper, despite not making…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia’s Blogger TaxRegulation
Pennsylvania Guzzles PLCB Advertising
Snazzy Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) internet ads are making a splash, and the “largest purchaser of wine and liquor in the United States” has a slick new website at FineWineandGoodSpirits.com.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Guzzles PLCB AdvertisingRegulation
Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMs
During yesterday’s press conference, Roxbury News reported Gov. Rendell saying, “Opportunity Grants are not WAMS.” Really? Forget the numerous failures of Opportunity Grant recipients, like the $750,000 awarded to…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Pinocchio Moment on WAMsRegulation
Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?
A reader asks us if we know of any examples of corporate welfare where it has failed – not just on the Macro level, giving grants to select corporations while…
Media
Read More: Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?Regulation
Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet
A letter in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader attacks the Commonwealth Foundation for supporting moving state government and school districts employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k). The…
Media
Read More: Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans YetRegulation
SEPTA’s Extravagant Spending
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from SEPTA officials defending their lavish spending habits during a state transportation funding crisis. Senator Rafferty expressed concern, saying:…
Media
Read More: SEPTA’s Extravagant SpendingRegulation
Wine Boutiques are Latest Effort to Stall Liquor Store Privatization
Last year, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) initiated a program that established “wine boutiques.” These boutiques allow a small PLCB-controlled liquor store to sell wine in conjunction with…
Media
Read More: Wine Boutiques are Latest Effort to Stall Liquor Store PrivatizationRegulation
Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?
Virtually everyone knows that Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP) are costly – at least those who know what it is – but now the City of Philadelphia has some hard…
Media
Read More: Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?Education
Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released
Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s bonus. (If you missed “Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry,” click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though…
Media
Read More: Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria ReleasedRegulation
DEP is Successfully Regulating Gas Drilling
Environmental drilling opponents have jumped all over a new report by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association identifying almost 1,500 violations by 43 Marcellus Shale drilling companies by the PA…
Media
Read More: DEP is Successfully Regulating Gas DrillingEducation
More on Government Jobs in Recession
The Rockefeller Institute of Government recently analyzed a Bureau of Labor Statistics report on jobs at this point in the recession. The report finds that with 9.2% unemployment,…
Media
Read More: More on Government Jobs in RecessionRegulation
Tax For Soccer
It’s not soccer players or fans that will be taxed to pay for the Major League Soccer stadium in Chester, but the visitors who patronize bed and breakfasts or hotels…
Media
Read More: Tax For SoccerRegulation
Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”
Privatization Watch, which warns against privatizing government services, alerts locals that if Pittsburgh parking garages are leased to a private company the per day parking cost would increase by…
Media
Read More: Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”Regulation
Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue
Many myths continue about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. One is that the state government would lose annual revenue from liquor sales. See Wendell Young, speaking on behalf…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store RevenueRegulation
Reviewing the Financial Crisis
Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…
Media
Read More: Reviewing the Financial CrisisRegulation
State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red
Eleanor Chute of the Post-Gazette notes the approval of the pension contribution rates for Pennsylvania school employees (split between school districts and the state). She also notes that the…
Media
Read More: State Pension System Going Deeper into the RedRegulation
Your Liquor Dollars at Work
The Post Gazette highlights the continued efforts of the liquor control board to be a better business. This includes the ridiculous: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is…
Media
Read More: Your Liquor Dollars at Work