Regulation
Cutting Red Tape in Pennsylvania
This report presents findings from Mercatus Center’s State RegData database, analyzing regulations in the Pennsylvania Code as of 2022. The report provides an overview of state regulations, how Pennsylvania’s regulatory…
Read More: Cutting Red Tape in 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
States Don’t Need a Bailout
Steven Malanga of the Manhattan Institute has an excellent editorial in the Wall Street Journal covering all the major topics of why states overspend – creating or…
Media
Read More: States Don’t Need a BailoutRegulation
Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree Benefits
The Allegheny Institute has released a report on the mounting costs of OPEB or the public sector retiree benefits for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County employees. Previously…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Faces Billions in Unfunded Retiree BenefitsRegulation
How far will smoking bans go?
A new ReasonTV video, Just Can’t Quit, looks at government’s addiction to smoking bans. California became the first state to ban smoking in bars a decade…
Media
Read More: How far will smoking bans go?Regulation
Massive Budget Hole Awaits New Legislature
Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall grows to $560 million HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today warned the newly minted General Assembly that it must immediately heed the voters’ call for “change”…
Press Release
Read More: Massive Budget Hole Awaits New LegislatureRegulation
The Fight for Free Speech in Philadelphia
This week Americans exercised their right to vote, but three tour guides in Philadelphia are fighting to keep their right to free speech. In July three tour guides sued…
Media
Read More: The Fight for Free Speech in PhiladelphiaRegulation
Taxpayers to give additional $3M to Lancaster convention center
Retiring Sen. Gib Armstrong – mostly in the news these days for noting how large Pennsylvania’s growing budget shortfall is – has promised to deliver $3 million in…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers to give additional $3M to Lancaster convention centerRegulation
Personal Accounts for Social Security: Still the Best Deal
Michael Tanner has a post on Cato-at-liberty noting that personal accounts for Social Security would still be good, even considering recent stock market losses. That is, stock market gains…
Media
Read More: Personal Accounts for Social Security: Still the Best DealRegulation
Government Spending Doesn’t Create Jobs
The Heritage Foundation blog exposes one of the great myths of Washington (and Harrisburg) – that more government spending on transportation infrastructure (or economic development, or corporate welfare,…
Media
Read More: Government Spending Doesn’t Create JobsRegulation
Did Pennsylvania taxpayers “pay” to make a porno?
Insider Online raises an interesting question (the continuation of a dialogue between Americans for Tax Reform and the Tax Foundation): Are targeted tax breaks the…
Media
Read More: Did Pennsylvania taxpayers “pay” to make a porno?Regulation
Did over-regulation cause the financial crisis?
A new AEI publication addresses the myth that deregulation cause the financial crisis, but also notes that additional regulations by central planners did contribute to the crisis:…
Media
Read More: Did over-regulation cause the financial crisis?Regulation
Should PA taxpayers be subsidizing Hollywood?
Lowman Henry weighs in on the $5.7 million tax credit awarded by Pennsylvania taxpayers to the raunchy comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Henry thinks…
Media
Read More: Should PA taxpayers be subsidizing Hollywood?Regulation
No Smoking Sign Mandate
Little noticed in the debate over Pennsylvania’s new smoking ban was that it also included a smoking sign mandate. The Commonwealth Foundation got our notice (along with a…
Media
Read More: No Smoking Sign MandateRegulation
Which is more destructive – high taxes or occupational licensing
“Joe the Plumber” has made lots of headlines – since he put the screws to Barack Obama about how Obama’s tax increases might affect him – but this…
Media
Read More: Which is more destructive – high taxes or occupational licensingRegulation
Zack and Miri Take a Fortune
The City of Philadelphia has refused to allow posters for Zack and Miri Make a Porno on bus stops because they are deemed too seedy. (Hat Tip to…
Media
Read More: Zack and Miri Take a FortuneRegulation
Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and Parking
There are several stories on privatization in the news lately on a number of fronts. First up is in the real value of toll roads – which should be read…
Media
Read More: Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and ParkingRegulation
Convention Center no economic savior
Post-Gazette looks at the failure of the $373 million Pittsburgh convention center to create an economic boom – or even to outdraw the old convention center (HT: Grassroots…
Media
Read More: Convention Center no economic saviorRegulation
Financial “crisis” a failure of government
While some pundits and media, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, point to the proposed bailout as demonstration of the failure of the free market, in fact it is a…
Media
Read More: Financial “crisis” a failure of governmentRegulation
Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government
After numerous complaints about the lack of action on reform bills (including from yours truly) the House State Government committee today voted to send two “bonus ban” bills…
Media
Read More: Bonus Ban(s) pass House State GovernmentRegulation
Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill
Representative Brad Roae sends us this regarding his discharge resolution for SB 986, the “Bonus Ban” “On Monday I turned in a Discharge Resolution to pull the bill…
Media
Read More: Discharge resolution on bonus ban billRegulation
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…
Media
Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?Regulation
Thank You for (Not) Smoking
Pennsylvania’s smoking ban goes into effect today and has created a cloud of controversy statewide, with a less than enthusiastic response from the smoking public. The Department of Health has…
Media
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