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
Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps
With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is more accurately…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Electricity Restructuring and Rate CapsRegulation
Rendell, Harley Davidson, and Lando
In Empire Strikes Back, Lando Calrissian tells his old friend Han Solo that “I’ve just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever” before leading…
Media
Read More: Rendell, Harley Davidson, and LandoRegulation
States Face $558 Billion in Unfunded Retiree Health Care Liabilities
Reason’s Out of Control blog notes a new report detailing that states cumulatively face $558 billion in unfunded retiree health care benefits. Pennsylvania doesn’t seem to be in…
Media
Read More: States Face $558 Billion in Unfunded Retiree Health Care LiabilitiesRegulation
Gaming Board Cashing Out
It is common knowledge that the Gaming Control Board, and its employees, receive generous paychecks, fatter than they deserve relative to the prevailing market for comparable work and skills.
Media
Read More: Gaming Board Cashing OutRegulation
Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?
Among the proposal of Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner to help balance the state budget without a tax increase. But Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss suggests this is…
Media
Read More: Will Early Retirement Incentives Save PA Money, or Cost More?Regulation
Pennsylvania’s Gambling Addiction
Five years ago this month, Gov. Rendell signed into law the signature policy achievement of his tenure -- legalized slot machine gambling. Act 71 of 2004 allows for 61,000 slot…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Gambling AddictionEducation
Could Pension Crisis Shut Down High School Sports?
Patriot-News sports reporter Rod Frisco took a look at how the looming pension crisis might impact public school athletics. Derry Township School District Superintendent Linda Brewer noted that “every…
Media
Read More: Could Pension Crisis Shut Down High School Sports?Government Accountability
10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax Hikes
Contrary to the Governor’s rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and spending cuts that can balance the budget without firing our police, evicting our elderly, or dumbing down our…
Media
Read More: 10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax HikesRegulation
Budget Facts 2009: Cigarette Taxes
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Cigarette TaxesRegulation
Has Gambling Reduced Property Taxes?
In a press conference last week, Gov. Rendell patted himself on the back for all the property tax relief he has provided via gambling. But John Delano of KDKA-TV in…
Media
Read More: Has Gambling Reduced Property Taxes?Regulation
Thumbs Down on Film Tax Credit
The Patriot News has a scathing editorial against Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit. Here is the deathblow: A closer look at the “motion picture industry” employment statistics(cited in…
Media
Read More: Thumbs Down on Film Tax CreditRegulation
Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor Rendell
At the cabinet meeting yesterday (which the Commonwealth Foundation was escorted out of by security, being told it was a “closed meeting”, while media and staff for the PA…
Media
Read More: Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor RendellRegulation
Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood Consultants
One of our PolicyBlog readers sent us a note that the researchers contracted to do the study of the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit (click here for our comments on…
Media
Read More: Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood ConsultantsRegulation
Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy
A coalition of business groups released their proposals aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s economic climate. Among the top of their list were state spending limits, lower business taxes, health care reform,…
Media
Read More: Growing Pennsylvania’s EconomyRegulation
Why Corporate Welfare Fails
Tad Dehaven has a worthwhile read on the Cato Institute's blog about why state corporate welfare subsidies make good politics, but bad economics: Instead of competing with…
Media
Read More: Why Corporate Welfare FailsRegulation
Big Ideas for Pennsylvania
The Patriot News has a series of “Big Ideas for Pennsylvania”, including a couple we have championed – privatizing the state-owned liquor stores and reforming the state…
Media
Read More: Big Ideas for PennsylvaniaRegulation
New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores Economics
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issued a report on the state’s film tax credit, concluding that the $75 million program generates over $500 million in economic activity…
Media
Read More: New Study of Film Tax Credit Ignores EconomicsRegulation
Another Bad Pension Proposal
The Post-Gazette has a story of another reform to municipal pension plans. The plan would be to put all new municipal employees into a statewide, defined benefit pension system.
Media
Read More: Another Bad Pension ProposalRegulation
Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?
Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…
Media
Read More: Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?Regulation
Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal Restraint
Testimony of Mathew J. Brouillette President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation, to the PA House Appropriations Committee Thank you for the invitation to share the Commonwealth Foundation’s analysis and perspective on…
Testimony
Read More: Now is the Time to Practice Fiscal RestraintRegulation
The Horrors of Private Sponsorship?
NBC Philadelphia reported that due to proposed budget cuts, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission may be forced to turn to private sponsorship in order to maintain such historic…
Media
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