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Regulation
Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Politicians celebrate taxpayer funds pouring into Pennsylvania to “bridge the digital divide.” Last month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) praised the approval of…
Read More: Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.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.
Regulation
Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?
Another case study on corporate welfare for the film industry was featured in the Morning Call. Lackwanna County officials are wondering what happened to the $500,000 of taxpayer money…
Media
Read More: Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?Regulation
Study: Smoking Bans increase drunk driving
A new study in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Public Economics finds that “smoking bans increase drunken-driving fatalities”; reported on the Marginal Revolution blog. This effect is…
Media
Read More: Study: Smoking Bans increase drunk drivingRegulation
Rendell’s Stimulus
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced his wealth redistribution scheme, which he calls “economic stimulus”. His plan includes Cash welfare payments: Rendell is proposing spending $130 million (borrowing it from the…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s StimulusRegulation
Specter and the NFL
The response to news that Arlen Specter wants to hold hearing with the NFL over “spy-gate” has been met with universal disdain – see, for instance, Don Boudreaux’s…
Media
Read More: Specter and the NFLRegulation
$47 million for Soccer?
Lowman Henry writes on the Lincoln Blog that $47 million for a soccer stadium doesn’t seem like a good use of tax dollars, and responds to some email comments…
Media
Read More: $47 million for Soccer?Regulation
Professional licensing and the Italian Stallion
In light of recent news about state licensing boards going after eBay sellers and our discussion of professional licensing boards in Government on a Diet, here are some…
Media
Read More: Professional licensing and the Italian StallionRegulation
State Liquor Stores Show Age
Delco Times editorial on the need to privatize the state liquor stores. Dismissing the myth of state-run stores protecting against underage drinking (through anecdotal evidence, though a report…
Media
Read More: State Liquor Stores Show AgeRegulation
Pennsylvania takes on online auctions
Philadelphia Inquirer story on the state’s pursuit of eBay sellers with no auctioneer’s license. As we pointed out on this issue before, eBay’s seller rating do a better…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania takes on online auctionsRegulation
Monopoly Money: The control of wine and spirits in Pennsylvania
The Post-Gazette had an article on state run liquor stores (first in a four part series) over the weekend. Part 2 is here. The reader feedback for…
Media
Read More: Monopoly Money: The control of wine and spirits in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Plan would bar linking bonuses to pensions
Rep. Sean Ramaley proposes ending the pension bump from bonuses. Currently a bonus (or other compensation, such as “unvouchered expenses”) increases the salary used to calculate pensions for state…
Media
Read More: Plan would bar linking bonuses to pensionsRegulation
Public Pension Reform Introduced
Commonwealth Foundation applauds legislation to enroll new public employees in more predictable, affordable “Defined-Contribution” pension plan HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lampeter), Sen. Pat Browne…
Press Release
Read More: Public Pension Reform IntroducedCriminal Justice Reform
Private Prisons Increase Capacity, Save Money, Improve Service
Good Afternoon, my name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and educational organization based in Harrisburg. I would like to…
Testimony
Read More: Private Prisons Increase Capacity, Save Money, Improve ServiceRegulation
Smoking Bans
The effort to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, and private businesses is a product of bad science and worse economics.
Fact Sheet
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Gov. Ed Rendells Ransom
PA Governor holds state workers and public services hostage for higher taxes and fees, despite $650M tax surplus. HARRISBURG, PA – Nearly 25,000 state workers were furloughed and many public…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Ed Rendells RansomRegulation
Public Benefits from Private Liquor
Commonwealth Foundation joins Reason in call for LCB privatization HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined with privatization experts from the Reason Foundation to discuss the potential divesture of the…
Press Release
Read More: Public Benefits from Private LiquorEducation
Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy
Good morning. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and policy institute in Harrisburg. I want to thank the…
Testimony
Read More: Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal PolicyEducation
Spending Restraint Needed
Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. I would like to thank Chairman Armstrong and the members of the…
Testimony
Read More: Spending Restraint NeededRegulation
What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?
Each morning my local county newspaper shows up late. Speaking with the delivery man and calling the office hasn’t changed things. So, rather than canceling the 20,089 daily circulation paper…
Commentary
Read More: What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?Health Care
The Pension and Healthcare Non-Crisis
Despite the well-documented unfunded liabilities in Pennsylvania’s largest public employee pension plans (PSERS and SERS), the response from Harrisburg to the coming fiscal crisis ranges from denial to paralysis. Following…
Commentary
Read More: The Pension and Healthcare Non-CrisisRegulation
Ed Rendell brings hope to seniors
John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News quotes Gov. Rendell on why slot machines are so important to Pennsylvania. “These are people who lead very gray lives,” he said.
Media
Read More: Ed Rendell brings hope to seniorsRegulation
Why make state beholden to California?
Sam Smith (House Majority Leader) Op-Ed in the Patriot News on the battle over using federal EPA or California standards for vehicle emissions. Also check out the memo…
Media
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