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.
Regulation
Occupational Licensing Reform Passes Unanimously, Goes to Wolf
June 25, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. General Assembly unanimously passed SB 637 (Sens. DiSanto and Schwank), a bill that will remove professional licensing employment barriers for roughly 3 million…
Press Release
Read More: Occupational Licensing Reform Passes Unanimously, Goes to WolfCriminal Justice Reform
Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms
Pennsylvania General lawmakers moved two key criminal justice reform bills aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s onerous probation system and limiting the excessive burdens of a criminal record.
Memo
Read More: Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice ReformsCriminal Justice Reform
Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records
With a unanimous committee vote, the state House has opened the door to prosperity for 3 million Pennsylvanians. This week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed legislation helping incarcerated citizens…
Media
Read More: Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal RecordsGovernment Accountability
Top 10 PLCB Boondoggles
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has survived debacle after debacle. The closures around COVID-19 are just the most recent example of the PLCB's incompetence. Here are the top 10 PLCB…
Commentary
Read More: Top 10 PLCB BoondogglesRegulation
PLCB is Bad for Business
The PLCB harms Pa. businesses in an industry that has been decimated by COVID-19.
Fact Sheet
Read More: PLCB is Bad for BusinessRegulation
PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has shown the state liquor control board's inability to provide Pennsylvanian's the service the deserve.
Fact Sheet
Read More: PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19Regulation
Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a highly unprofitable monopoly with extraordinary powers that have recently been used to increase prices and harm businesses.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Economic Aspects of Liquor PrivatizationGovernment Accountability
Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021
Lawmakers can respect the Pennsylvania constitution’s balanced budget amendment and act to prevent tax increases that will drive more families and businesses out of the state, further shrinking the revenue…
Memo
Read More: Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021Regulation
A Pa Supreme Court Victory for Licensing Relief
After years of litigation, Sally Ladd is finally free to build her rental business without expensive and time-consuming licensing regulations.
Commentary
Read More: A Pa Supreme Court Victory for Licensing ReliefHealth Care
Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to Handle
For restaurant owners in Pennsylvania, the new release Too Hot To Handle is more than pure entertainment, the winnings are almost enough for them to purchase an elusive liquor license. …
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to HandleGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoods
Wolf should take state lawmakers’ advice and bring transparency and fairness to Pennsylvania’s reopening — along with a sense of urgency. In doing so, he can continue flattening the curve…
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoodsHealth Care
Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Should Always be Crisis Ready
COVID-19 has done its part to highlight the weaknesses of Pennsylvania’s healthcare sector. Primarily, what has been revealed is a lack of flexibility, and regulations that make it difficult to…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Should Always be Crisis ReadyGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk
Industry leaders who are directly affected by the governor’s orders do not dispute that Wolf has authority to take action aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19. But it’s that…
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at riskHealth Care
Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19
COVID-19 has kept many Pennsylvanians from frequenting the neighborhood coffee shops, nail salons, or retailers they once took for granted. But that’s not the real tragedy—even after stay at home…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19Health Care
Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?
For Pennsylvanians, mixing up their favorite cocktail and following the adventures of an off-the-wall zoo owner named Joe Exotic might be easier said than done. State-run liquor stores shut down…
Commentary
Read More: Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?Regulation
Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crackdown Exposes Failing Government Liquor Monopoly
The state liquor monopoly, not the coronavirus, caused the present alcohol shortage. Now is the time to push for changes.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crackdown Exposes Failing Government Liquor MonopolyEducation
Pa. Lawmakers can Help Families and Businesses Overcome COVID-19
March 25, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Commonwealth Foundation released a package of key policy solutions to help reduce the harm caused by COVID-19 and the response to it.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers can Help Families and Businesses Overcome COVID-19Health Care
Policy Recommendations to Fight COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
As Pennsylvania faces its greatest crisis in decades, it is imperative that legislators take the lead and enact key heath care, education, and budget reforms to help Pennsylvania families and small…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Policy Recommendations to Fight COVID-19 in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Recommendations to Ease Mounting Healthcare Burden
March 16, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Legislature should prioritize flexible medical care as it returns to session this week aiming to mitigate the spread of the novel…
Press Release
Read More: Recommendations to Ease Mounting Healthcare BurdenRegulation
Tale of Two Workers
The rhetoric surrounding public service and actual compensation for public service are two different stories. Average total compensation (salary and benefits) for a Pennsylvania state employee is now $104,506. That’s…
Commentary
Read More: Tale of Two WorkersEducation
Slots for Scholars?
Use of gambling revenue to fund colleges is both economically and morally questionable.
Commentary
Read More: Slots for Scholars?