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
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 officialsRegulation
Tax credits and stupid Hollywood movies
M. Knight Shyamalan came to Harrisburg yesterday to promote the state’s film tax credit. He basically said, “more money for me is good for you.” The Tax Foundation…
Media
Read More: Tax credits and stupid Hollywood moviesRegulation
Smoking bans and individual rights
Given the title, and the link from GrassrootsPA, I expected Eric Heyl’s column on the smoking ban to be a good read. Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Media
Read More: Smoking bans and individual rightsRegulation
Corporate Welfare In, Fiscal Restraint Out
Commonwealth Foundation calls House budget irresponsible and misguided HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation charged that proposals by the Pennsylvania House Democrats to increase Governor Rendell’s proposed budget by…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Welfare In, Fiscal Restraint OutRegulation
Tenant unlikely for $250 million airport
A LBFC study on the Hazleton area airport proposal finds that prospect of attracting a major client is remote (FedEx and DHL said “heck no”, while UPS said “very…
Media
Read More: Tenant unlikely for $250 million airportRegulation
Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be Raided
The House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment that increases the Governor’s proposed budget by $148 million (which, according to Evans’ news release, isn’t much money). This raises the…
Media
Read More: Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be RaidedRegulation
Did slots hurt lottery collections?
A new report by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee find that slots gambling has hurt lottery revenue. Not only has lottery revenue and participation seen almost no growth…
Media
Read More: Did slots hurt lottery collections?Regulation
Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?
John Micek thinks the Senate Dems plan to pass a smoking ban that includes everything the conference committee bill did, plus exemptions so Scranton and Pittsburgh could pass their own…
Media
Read More: Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?Regulation
The Nanny State Mentality
Anyone who has observed politics for long would see that too many politicians believe nothing positive would happen unless they pass a law requiring it. They think that the American…
Commentary
Read More: The Nanny State MentalityRegulation
Corporate Welfare: Bad for Business
A Capital Commerce blog post – on the subject on whether Obama is a Marxist (concluding that he is not, but he is a…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare: Bad for BusinessRegulation
Rendell administation to address pension crisis
Budget Secretary Michael Masch (a parting shot before he leaves state government at the end of the month?) unveiled a proposal to reduce the pension shock in FY…
Media
Read More: Rendell administation to address pension crisisRegulation
Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
The conference committee on banning private businesses’ right to allow smoking in their establishments has finally reported a bill. GrassrootsPA has the news roundup. I have written on this…
Media
Read More: Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a FoolRegulation
We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Sen. Inhofe in today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the consequences of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act: The Lieberman-Warner bill (America’s Climate Security Act) represents the largest tax increase…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the PoorRegulation
Privatizing the State Liquor Stores
State Senator Rob Wonderling talks about divestiture of the state liquor stores (MP3 file). More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and…
Media
Read More: Privatizing the State Liquor StoresRegulation
PA’s Corporate Welfare Line
Patriot-News Editorial on how Harrisburg is handing out taxpayer money to big businesses (this time, Amazon) that should not be getting special treatment at all. This corporate welfare comes…
Media
Read More: PA’s Corporate Welfare LineRegulation
Surprise! Stadium Predictions Flawed
David Boaz comments on reports that the taxpayer-subsidized baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals isn’t paying dividends. But then, we already knew that, and Boaz cites a slew of…
Media
Read More: Surprise! Stadium Predictions FlawedRegulation
Take Us Out to the Ball Game
Reason TV has a new video on whether sports stadiums are really worth it. Nick Gillespie notes that stadium subsidies are just another example of the Edifice…
Media
Read More: Take Us Out to the Ball GameRegulation
No Extra Money in the Fund
"There is no extra money in the fund" for a pension Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). That’s the analysis from the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), not the Commonwealth Foundation…
Commentary
Read More: No Extra Money in the Fund