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.

Health Care

Liquor Licensing: Too Hot for PLCB to Handle

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 12, 2020

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 Handle

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoods

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2020

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 livelihoods

Health Care

Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Should Always be Crisis Ready

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 6, 2020

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 Ready

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk

  • Kevin Mooney
  • May 5, 2020

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 risk

Health Care

Breaking Down Barriers Following COVID-19

  • Tirzah Duren
  • May 1, 2020

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-19

Health Care

Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?

  • Tirzah Duren
  • April 21, 2020

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?

Health Care

Policy Recommendations to Fight COVID-19 in Pennsylvania

  • March 24, 2020

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 Pennsylvania

Health Care

Recommendations to Ease Mounting Healthcare Burden

  • March 16, 2020

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 Burden

Regulation

Tale of Two Workers

  • Tirzah Duren
  • March 12, 2020

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 Workers

Education

Slots for Scholars?

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • March 5, 2020

Use of gambling revenue to fund colleges is both economically and morally questionable.

Commentary

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Regulation

Wolf’s Wage Mandates Undermine Workers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 7, 2020

Governor Wolf's new overtime pay rules and his sixth minimum wage proposal is a one-two punch that could send our economy reeling.

Commentary

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Regulation

Dairy Farms Can’t Support Prevailing Wage Mandates

  • Tirzah Duren
  • January 17, 2020

Pennsylvania’s picturesque countryside is home to roughly 6,200 dairy farms. While the road trip through Pennsylvania is idyllic—the business climate for these farmers is far from ideal.

Commentary

Read More: Dairy Farms Can’t Support Prevailing Wage Mandates

Education

Pension Pacman Must Be Stopped

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • December 31, 2019

Next fiscal year Pennsylvania school districts will pay $4.9 billion into PSERS, the state teachers’ pension fund.1 Less than one quarter of that amount will fund new benefits earned by…

Media

Read More: Pension Pacman Must Be Stopped

Government Accountability

How to Make an Easy Six Million

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • December 10, 2019

A week ago the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office announced charges against Wing Tat Chiu and Ivy Hiu-Ying Li, a married couple whom they accuse of earning $6 million in illegal…

Media

Read More: How to Make an Easy Six Million

Regulation

Economic Freedom and Flourishing in Pennsylvania

  • Tirzah Duren
  • November 25, 2019

We live in a free country, but when it comes to our economy, Pennsylvanians aren’t free. Unpredictable regulation makes owning a business a huge risk in Pennsylvania, and when it…

Media

Read More: Economic Freedom and Flourishing in Pennsylvania

Criminal Justice Reform

Pa. Senate Passes Legislation Removing Employment Barriers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 23, 2019

Individuals like Ericka Miller and Amanda Spillane are one step closer to having a fair opportunity to pursue success and live their American dream. On Thursday, the state Senate…

Media

Read More: Pa. Senate Passes Legislation Removing Employment Barriers

Government Accountability

Sunlight is Always Welcome

  • November 20, 2019

Pennsylvania’s two state-wide public pension systems are deeply underfunded. They only have about sixty cents in assets available for each dollar of promised payouts, which means they are at…

Media

Read More: Sunlight is Always Welcome