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.
Regulation
CF Analysis of Municipal Pension Bill
Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Richard C. Dreyfuss – an actuary and former HR executive for Hershey Foods who is one of PA’s leading experts on state and municipal pensions presented…
Press Release
Read More: CF Analysis of Municipal Pension BillRegulation
Electric Choice Working in Texas and Michigan
Natural gas is at a 7 year low and consumers who have electric choice are cashing in. In Texas, consumers can shop for rates 25-40% lower than what they…
Media
Read More: Electric Choice Working in Texas and MichiganRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Failed Economic Development Spending
State and local governments are locked in a constant competition to attract and retain businesses. Unfortunately, instead of addressing a poor business climate and flawed economic policies, they have increasingly…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Failed Economic Development SpendingRegulation
Economic Development Subsidies Fail
Today’s Wall Street Journal writes on the failure of taxpayer-funded “economic development” grants – i.e. corporate welfare – in the state of Michigan. The article relies heavily on…
Media
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A Missed Opportunity for Pension Reform – Continuing Generational Theft
Analysis of HB 1828 – the so-called Pennsylvania municipal pension reform bill (which includes a Philadelphia sales tax increase) facing the PA General Assembly – by Commonwealth Foundation senior…
Media
Read More: A Missed Opportunity for Pension Reform – Continuing Generational TheftRegulation
Counting All Pennsylvania State Employees
A state lawmaker sent along a Patriot New article, in which Gov. Rendell cites the relatively low number of Pennsylvania state employees compared to other states, to find out…
Media
Read More: Counting All Pennsylvania State EmployeesRegulation
HB 80 Will Increase Energy Costs
Clean energy proponents are attempting to reignite the fire under HB 80, which would increase the amount of electricity utilities the state must produce from alternative energy sources. In a…
Media
Read More: HB 80 Will Increase Energy CostsRegulation
Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for Pennsylvania
Chris Freind writes on how the proposed increase of Philadelphia’s sales tax from 7% to 8% (6% state rate, local rate to double from 1 to 2%) will harm…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for PennsylvaniaRegulation
Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a Nutshell
Yesterday the Senate approved HB 1828, a long and complicated bill full of so-called pension reforms and potential local tax increases. Here’s a basic summary of the provisions following…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a NutshellRegulation
Keep on Truckin’
With Harrisburg gridlocked by the state budget impasse and Washington battling over national health care, an issue vital to Pennsylvania lurks below the radar. The debate is over…
Commentary
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Lack of Subsidy Spooks Movie Director
The remorse is almost audible in when people talk about the loss of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie Devil to Canada, ostensibly because of the budget impasse. What…
Media
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The Pennsylvania Pension Bailout
Pennsylvania legislators are drawing nearer to implementing a bailout bill for Philadelphia and a state takeover for insolvent municipal pension funds in cities like Pittsburgh. While pension reforms are…
Media
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Problem of PA Prison Population and Price
Last week Bill Cosby declared that it only costs taxpayers $4,000 a year to educate a child, but $33,000 a year to incarcerate someone (this statement is inaccurate, unless…
Media
Read More: Problem of PA Prison Population and PriceRegulation
What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?
Gov. Rendell has noted on many occasions that without large state “economic development” grant programs, Pennsylvania’s economy would tank. He has argued that the Senate budget, which would eliminate many…
Media
Read More: What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?Regulation
We’re Twice as Smart of the People of Shelbyville
Harley-Davidson continues to tour business friendly states to re-locate its York plant that employs over 2,000 workers – among the four options considered are Shelbyville, Indiana and Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Media
Read More: We’re Twice as Smart of the People of ShelbyvilleHealth Care
Report: National Healthcare Would Harm PA
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation released a report today showing that President Obama’s proposed takeover of health care by the federal government would have dramatically negative effects on Pennsylvanians.
Press Release
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Philadelphia Pension “Reform” is Generational Theft
CF testifies to PA Senate on HB 1828 HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified today before the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee that changes in the…
Press Release
Read More: Philadelphia Pension “Reform” is Generational TheftRegulation
Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for Pennsylvania
Americans for Tax Reform has a new report on the Cost of Government, finding that Aug. 12 – day 224 of 2009 – is how long it takes Americans…
Media
Read More: Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of Problems
The Philadelphia Inquirer exposes another nonprofit with ties to a state lawmaker – this time House Democrat Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans – whose use of tax dollars seems sketchy…
Media
Read More: Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of ProblemsRegulation
Philadelphia Needs Neither Higher Taxes nor Generational Theft
The Pennsylvania House yesterday passed a bill that would allow Philadelphia to raise its sales tax another percentage point and to defer it pension payments for city employees further…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Needs Neither Higher Taxes nor Generational TheftRegulation
Lower Taxes Would Eliminate Need For Rendell’s Corporate Giveaways
At 9.99% PA’s Corporate Net Income Tax is the 2nd highest in the U.S. and our Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, a 1.89-mill levy on corporate infrastructure (given the budget)…
Media
Read More: Lower Taxes Would Eliminate Need For Rendell’s Corporate Giveaways