Regulation
Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Politicians celebrate taxpayer funds pouring into Pennsylvania to “bridge the digital divide.” Last month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) praised the approval of…
Read More: Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.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.
Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Budget Presentation
Below you can find my latest version of a presentation on the Pennsylvania state budget and economic policy. PA Budget and…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget PresentationGovernment Accountability
The Real “Special Interest” Problem in PA
Everyone loves to hate "special interests." They spend millions of dollars in electing and lobbying public officials in order to gain political or legislative favor. So it was no surprise…
Commentary
Read More: The Real “Special Interest” Problem in PARegulation
The Failure of Economic Development Incentives
With budget season upon us, politicians are scrambling for new revenue sources or programs to cut. “The Failures of Economic Development Incentives,” a 2004 report by Alan Peters and…
Media
Read More: The Failure of Economic Development IncentivesPublic Union Democracy
Obama’s Run-Around of Congress
Q: What do Card Check and Net Neutrality have in common? A: They are bad policy ideas Congress won’t pass, yet the White House is finding ways to work…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Run-Around of CongressRegulation
PA Pension Crisis Video
Here is a great video highlighting the looming crisis in Pennsylvania’s state pension plans (specifically PSERS). Not sure who created this, but it’s worth a watch. For…
Media
Read More: PA Pension Crisis VideoRegulation
Violations Carry a Hefty Price in the Marcellus Shale
In a recent Citizen Voice article, Scott Perry, the director of Oil and Gas Management at the DEP explains how costly environmental infractions can be for drilling companies. The…
Media
Read More: Violations Carry a Hefty Price in the Marcellus ShaleRegulation
Republicans Talk about Privatizing State Parks
Recently, there has been some speculation about whether Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers are considering leasing the state parks to private companies to operate. Competitively contracting management of our state park…
Media
Read More: Republicans Talk about Privatizing State ParksRegulation
F&M Poll Shows Voters Support Liquor Store Privatization
The latest Franklin & Marshall College poll spends, not surprising, a good deal of time on election-related questions, but has a few related to current policy proposals in Harrisburg. …
Media
Read More: F&M Poll Shows Voters Support Liquor Store PrivatizationPublic Union Democracy
Public vs. Private Employment & Pay
Pennsylvania's private sector lost 113,600 jobs while state and local governments added 40,200 positions between 2000 and 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, public-sector…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public vs. Private Employment & PayPublic Union Democracy
State & Local Fiscal Reforms
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute recently presented a paper to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis on state and local government fiscal reforms. Edward’s four main themes were:…
Media
Read More: State & Local Fiscal ReformsRegulation
Taxing Wind?
Here is one tax proposal I am stunned Gov. Rendell has yet to copy – Wyoming Governor Freudenthal has proposed a tax on wind power. Of course, it would…
Media
Read More: Taxing Wind?Regulation
Talking Liquor Store Privatization
Eric Boehm of PA Independent interviews state representative Mike Turzai on his proposal to privatize all state-owned liquor stores and auction off licenses. Here is a story with…
Media
Read More: Talking Liquor Store PrivatizationRegulation
Rendell’s “Press Release Economics”
Press-release economics has long been part of a political charade in which lawmakers use other people's money to fund their political gain. In Pennsylvania, agencies such as the Department of…
Commentary
Read More: Rendell’s “Press Release Economics”Regulation
Rendell Handouts To Harley Still Not Creating Jobs
Rendell’s handouts to Harley Davidson have been nothing short of legal plunder. Back in November 2009, $15 million in taxpayer funds were doled out…
Media
Read More: Rendell Handouts To Harley Still Not Creating JobsRegulation
Environmental Victories or Taxpayer Liabilities?
The left leaning group, PennFuture, recently celebrated a number “Environmental Victories,” though Pennsylvania taxpayers have little to celebrate from the new mandates and regulations. Here are some of the things…
Media
Read More: Environmental Victories or Taxpayer Liabilities?Regulation
Numbers Guy: Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products Overblown
The Wall Street Journal’s “Numbers Guy” takes a look at the effects of smokeless tobacco. Many supporters of a tobacco tax use the argument that it would provide public…
Media
Read More: Numbers Guy: Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products OverblownEducation
Some Educating Research on Education
I’m a little behind on my reading – hence I am going through two editions of the quarterly journal Education Next. Nonetheless, there are a number of interesting and informative…
Media
Read More: Some Educating Research on EducationRegulation
Economic Development Funding – A Legacy of Waste
Earlier this month the State House passed a bill establishing the Industry Partnerships Program. Yet another Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program will be instituted, and as…
Media
Read More: Economic Development Funding – A Legacy of WasteRegulation
Turzai Bill Would Privatize PA Liquor Stores
State Representative Mike Turzai announced legislation today to privatize Pennsylvania’s state liquor stores (i.e. wine and spirit sales). The legislation would auction off 750 retail store licenses and 100…
Media
Read More: Turzai Bill Would Privatize PA Liquor StoresGovernment Accountability
Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released results of a recently commissioned statewide poll measuring Pennsylvanians’ opinion of three landmark reforms. The survey of 700 registered voters was conducted by…
Press Release
Read More: Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending LimitsRegulation
Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity
The PA House Democrats unveiled their “jobs plan” yesterday. In short, it is more of the same failed policies of the past, i.e. those of Ridge-Rendell and…
Media
Read More: Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity