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.
Government Accountability
PA Teacher Unions Endorse Reduced Pension Benefits, Deferring Contributions
An amendment to the pension deferral bill in the Pennsylvania House would reduce the retirement benefits for new state and school employees, but would continue Gov. Rendell’s proposed…
Media
Read More: PA Teacher Unions Endorse Reduced Pension Benefits, Deferring ContributionsRegulation
Rendell’s $52 Billion Pension “Reform”
Gov. Rendell and the Democrat-controlled House are trying to redefine pension "reform" by further deferring the scheduled taxpayers' contributions to the state's largest government pension plans - the Public School…
Commentary
Read More: Rendell’s $52 Billion Pension “Reform”Government Accountability
Why Every Teacher Should Stop Paying PSEA Dues
A couple of stories about Pennsylvania’s pension crisis reveal some crazy talk (HT Grassroots PA). First, in an article covering some proposed reforms, Gov. Rendell claims gambling will…
Media
Read More: Why Every Teacher Should Stop Paying PSEA DuesRegulation
Are Pennsylvania Taxes “Money Well Spent?”
Gov. Rendell proposes balancing the state budget with a combination of new and higher taxes, another federal bailout, and additional state borrowing. When confronted by opposition to additional taxes on…
Commentary
Read More: Are Pennsylvania Taxes “Money Well Spent?”Regulation
Babies Buying Beer?
Those who profit from Pennsylvania’s current liquor distribution monopoly have an ongoing campaign to stop liquor store privatization. One ad shows a man at a gas pump looking at cases…
Media
Read More: Babies Buying Beer?Regulation
Green Jobs and the Broken Window Fallacy
On behalf of the Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, we would like to thank Chairman Saylor and the members of the…
Testimony
Read More: Green Jobs and the Broken Window FallacyPublic Union Democracy
Are Government Workers Underpaid?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a new report showing state and local government workers earn far more than their private sector counterparts. The Wall Street Journal…
Media
Read More: Are Government Workers Underpaid?Regulation
Ethics of Tobacco Advisory Committee Goes Up in Smoke
Several groups have requested investigation of, or filed ethics complaints against, members of the FDA’s new Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). Identified in March 2010, the TPSAC’s…
Media
Read More: Ethics of Tobacco Advisory Committee Goes Up in SmokeRegulation
Tobacco Tax Fact Check (Part Two)
This is the second half of a two part blog, fact checking tmyths about tobacco taxes. This blog focuses on what the some call a good tax model –…
Media
Read More: Tobacco Tax Fact Check (Part Two)Regulation
Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget Woes
Here is a letter I sent in to the Scranton Times Tribune (a slightly edited version was printed today) on the proposed natural gas severance tax and the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget WoesRegulation
The $52 Billion Pension Deferral Plan
Legislation that would implement Gov. Rendell’s deferral of payment on state pension obligations is under debate in Pennsylvania House. HB 2497 would limit the annual increased in the…
Media
Read More: The $52 Billion Pension Deferral PlanRegulation
Video: Fiscal Lessons for Pennsylvania
In a new video, Maurice McTigue, Vice President at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and a former member of the New Zealand Parliament, speaks about how…
Media
Read More: Video: Fiscal Lessons for PennsylvaniaRegulation
Big Idea: Privatizing City Services
Sandy Springs, GA, is one of the most efficient cities in the country, as reported in the Tribune Review. Incorporated in 2005, it was the first fully privatized…
Media
Read More: Big Idea: Privatizing City ServicesRegulation
Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay Taxes
Gov. Rendell and his allies and shills that call on higher taxes for businesses like to claim that 70% of Pennsylvania corporations don’t pay…
Media
Read More: Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay TaxesRegulation
More Evidence on Privatizing Liquor
Don Boudreaux and Julia Williams have an op-ed arguing for privatization of Virginia’s state liquor stores, noting little difference between control and license state in alcohol-related deaths, binge drinking,…
Media
Read More: More Evidence on Privatizing LiquorRegulation
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Tobacco Taxes
Gov. Rendell proposed a tax of 30% on the retail price of cigars and smokeless tobacco products, in hopes of collecting $42 million in the upcoming fiscal year.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Tobacco TaxesRegulation
Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate
The Wall Street Journal recently published an interview with Gov. Rendell that highlighted Rendell’s analysis of policy issues – the stimulus, Wall Street/bailouts, and Immigration – at least in…
Media
Read More: Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy DebateRegulation
Tobacco Tax Fact Check
The misinformation that comes out of the Policy and Budget Center (PBC) amazes me. Here is the first post of a two-part fact-checking on taxing smokeless tobacco products…
Media
Read More: Tobacco Tax Fact CheckRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a Flop
Pennsylvania’s film tax credit program has exhausted its limits for the year, to much moaning from the film industry lobbyists. Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit is a FlopRegulation
PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House approved legislation – HB 2399 – to allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to borrow and additional $50 to $100 million for additional “economic development…
Media
Read More: PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate WelfareGovernment 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 Presentation