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
Why you can’t use cell phones on planes
Anyone who has flown before is quite familiar with the message from flight crews to turn off your cell phones. But did you ever wonder why that is required? Security…
Media
Read More: Why you can’t use cell phones on planesRegulation
Notes on the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Bailout
The Beacon (blog of the Independent Institute) has a post by Robert Higgs summing up the horrendous bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Media
Read More: Notes on the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac BailoutRegulation
PA Lottery lags overall economic growth
There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…
Media
Read More: PA Lottery lags overall economic growthRegulation
Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!
PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…
Media
Read More: Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!Regulation
Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)
Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…
Media
Read More: Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)Regulation
How much do you work for Government?
Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…
Media
Read More: How much do you work for Government?Regulation
Lease It, If You Must Toll It
Turnpike Commission’s plans for I-80 will cost Pennsylvanians billions HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov.
Press Release
Read More: Lease It, If You Must Toll ItRegulation
Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?
The Tax Foundation points to to proposed changes in law by the IRS and Democrats in Congress that would prevent tax exempt bonds from being used for private sports…
Media
Read More: Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?Regulation
The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand Smoke
Short paper from the Heartland Institute (click here for PDF) on the science of second hand smoke – including the oft-repeated claim about the number of deaths due to…
Media
Read More: The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand SmokeRegulation
Banned!
Latest Drew Carey video for Reason.tv looks at the number of things – many of them absurd – that have been banned by governments out of the nanny…
Media
Read More: Banned!Regulation
Time to end earmarks and WAMs
Good op-ed in the Patriot News by William G. Williams on the need to end Congressional earmarks and WAMs by the PA General Assembly: For years in…
Media
Read More: Time to end earmarks and WAMsRegulation
Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0
Props to state Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, and 71 state House members, who attempted to end the use of taxpayer funds for a soccer stadium. Here is our recent…
Media
Read More: Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0Regulation
Don’t know much about history?
In another example of professional licensing run amok,…
Media
Read More: Don’t know much about history?Regulation
How long will PA’s smoking ban last?
Of course, Pennsylvania’s criminalization of smoking in private establishments hasn’t even gone into effect yet, but Jeremy Richards writes in the Heartland Institutes’s Budget & Tax News that “History…
Media
Read More: How long will PA’s smoking ban last?Regulation
Senate passes transporation P3 bill
The Senate yesterday passed a bill allowing for Public Private Partnerships in transportation (bill text). The big Kahuna, the Turnpike lease, is exempted from the legislation, but it…
Media
Read More: Senate passes transporation P3 billRegulation
Soccer Stadium Plans: No Goal
Recently, Governor Rendell and Republican state lawmakers stood side-by-side to announce a multi-million dollar taxpayer grant to build a soccer stadium in Chester, under the guise of "economic development." Major…
Commentary
Read More: Soccer Stadium Plans: No GoalRegulation
State to save us from danger of unauthorized massages
The PA House voted 193-5 to create a new board to license massage therapists (HT GrassrootsPA). The board will collect licensing fees fees, certify educational requirements, test would-be…
Media
Read More: State to save us from danger of unauthorized massagesRegulation
House Republicans Highlight Debt, Rendell Spending
AP article on House Republicans (at least some of them) noting the enormous burden of debt on Pennsylvania taxpayers before voting on more borrowing for corporate welfare.
Media
Read More: House Republicans Highlight Debt, Rendell SpendingRegulation
The State’s Rosy Scenarios
We live in uncertain times. This maxim is often heard in the corridors of the state Capitol where Excel spreadsheets support the marketing of new initiatives based on long-term financial…
Commentary
Read More: The State’s Rosy ScenariosGovernment Accountability
Smoking Ban shows need for part-time legislature
Nathan Shrader makes the case that the smoking ban – along with other nonsensical legislation – shows why Pennsylvania should move to a part-time, citizen legislature.
Media
Read More: Smoking Ban shows need for part-time legislatureRegulation
Pensions ‘spike’ troubles state officials
Deb Erdley has an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on how lawmakers are starting to pay attention to the looming crisis in state pension plans. The only quibble…
Media
Read More: Pensions ‘spike’ troubles state officials