Regulation
Cutting Red Tape in Pennsylvania
This report presents findings from Mercatus Center’s State RegData database, analyzing regulations in the Pennsylvania Code as of 2022. The report provides an overview of state regulations, how Pennsylvania’s regulatory…
Read More: Cutting Red Tape in 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.
Regulation
Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax
According to a recent op-ed by Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a 2007 cigarette tax is having an adverse effect on the Free State’s economy. While…
Media
Read More: Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette TaxRegulation
Private Historical Sites are More Popular
Unfortunately, the ability of non profit groups, private philanthropy and individual entrepreneurship have to preserve our historic sites and natural resources is largely overlooked. The perception that privately run…
Media
Read More: Private Historical Sites are More PopularRegulation
Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage Business
Earlier this month, Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter proposed increasing the city’s trash collection fee to $300 to deal with the city’s budget deficit. Instead of finding ways to be more…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage BusinessRegulation
State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%
A new survey from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics looks at the total employer costs for workers in both the private and public sector. While wages for…
Media
Read More: State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%Regulation
Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAIL
Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development. Much of what it outlines is simply political rhetoric –…
Media
Read More: Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAILRegulation
PA State Troopers Raid Philly Bars
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that dozens of Pennsylvania state troopers raided some Philly bars for selling unregistered brands of beer: Although the bar owners had bought the beer…
Media
Read More: PA State Troopers Raid Philly BarsRegulation
Will History Vanish Without State Spending?
It is an oft-disseminated lie that the government is the needed guardian of our historic sites and museums. Just as the private sector has begun to save our…
Media
Read More: Will History Vanish Without State Spending?Regulation
Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests
Gov. Rendell, of course, didn't declare war on all special interests - only those who oppose his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda. For example, while he lambasts the natural gas industry for opposing…
Commentary
Read More: Rendell’s War on (Some) Special InterestsRegulation
Gov. Rendell Calls for Changing Pension Benefits for New Hires
In an interview with the Allentown Morning Call, Gov. Rendell calls for changing the pension benefits for new state and school district employees, citing the enormous costs of…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Calls for Changing Pension Benefits for New HiresRegulation
Teacher Unions Bankrupting the State
The pension crisis has been looming large throughout the state, yet pension reform proposals in Pennsylvania have been met with protests by school employees unions. The Pottstown…
Media
Read More: Teacher Unions Bankrupting the StateRegulation
Rendell’s Pension “Fix” Merely Delays Costs
With his 2010-11 budget, Gov. Rendell got around to addressing the looming pension crisis. However, his proposed “fix” – re-amortizing the liabilities over 30 years, then phasing in the…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Pension “Fix” Merely Delays CostsRegulation
The Future of State Parks
State parks across the nation are struggling to stay open: Arizona has decided to close 13 parks, New York is considering closing 41 parks, Washington is thinking…
Media
Read More: The Future of State ParksRegulation
What the Heck is Net Neutrality?
Reason TV attempts to explain the issue of net neutrality in a new video. …
Media
Read More: What the Heck is Net Neutrality?Regulation
Property Tax Relief Not as Awesome as Rendell Says
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner put out another report that should embarrass the Rendell administration, this one one the claimed benefits of property tax relief. (Full report in…
Media
Read More: Property Tax Relief Not as Awesome as Rendell SaysRegulation
The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension Gap
The Pew Report on state pensions, finding a $1 trillion unfunded liability nationally, has already received a great deal of attention, so here are just some brief highlights for…
Media
Read More: The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension GapRegulation
Whistle-Blower Protection
Good morning. I’m Katrina Currie, a Research Fellow for the Commonwealth Foundation. I am joined by my colleague Elizabeth Bryan. The…
Testimony
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How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania Businesses
For the second year in a row, Gov. Rendell has proposed a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, assuming this will have no impact on jobs or the economy. (As…
Media
Read More: How Rendell’s Cigar Tax Will Hurt Pennsylvania BusinessesRegulation
Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever
Rick Dreyfuss has a new article for the Mackinac Center in Michigan, where lawmakers are floating the idea of Pension Obligation Bonds to help fill their pension gap. Of…
Media
Read More: Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea EverRegulation
Free Our Beer!
With the debate over Pennsylvania’s liquor laws heating up, new legislation would finally allow consumers to purchase six-packs of beer at their favorite local grocery store or distributor. Introduced by…
Media
Read More: Free Our Beer!Regulation
Tracking the Bailout Money
Propublica has a good tool tracking all the money the federal government has given out in both the TARP bailout and the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Media
Read More: Tracking the Bailout MoneyRegulation
Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States
RiShawn Biddle has a good article at American Spectator on how public school pensions and health care benefits are a huge cost burden in many states. New Jersey is…
Media
Read More: Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States