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
As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending Continues
Senator Vince Fumo's trial began yesterday with the first day of jury selection. In the days leading up to the trial the senator was doing what he does best:…
Media
Read More: As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending ContinuesRegulation
Corporate Welfare 101
Philadelphia Inquirer story on how the Lancaster Convention Center project has spun out of control – with dramatic cost increases (from an initial $30 million to over $100 million),…
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Read More: Corporate Welfare 101Regulation
BonusGate update and questions
The Democracy Rising PA Newsletter raises some interesting points about a pronouncement by Attorney General Tom Corbett that he wouldn’t make announcements about indictments leading up to Nov.
Media
Read More: BonusGate update and questionsRegulation
Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”
Hat Tip to Tony Phryillas for this story I almost missed – Governor Rendell attacked the Allegheny Institute for pointing out that Pennsylvania’s exorbitant economic development spending…
Media
Read More: Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”Regulation
Ski for Free!
Well, we doubt you’ll get to ski for free, but you should. Seven Springs Mountain Resort–which lost $220,000 after it took over operations of the Laurael Mountain Ski Area–is poised…
Media
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Phix PHEAA
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner has released his audit of PHEAA, recommending among other things that PHEAA’s board not be dominated by legislators (news release here). Wagner does…
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Read More: Phix PHEAARegulation
Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheater
Post-Gazette story on the demand that taxpayers pay $4 million dollars for an amphitheater. (HT GrassrootsPA). The developer notes, “the entertainment complex itself will be a source of…
Media
Read More: Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheaterRegulation
Rendellconomics 101
Morning Call piece piece by Jarrett Renshaw debates the merits of Rendell’s economic policies – borrowing (to be paid by taxpayers) to give handouts to his favorite projects like…
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Read More: Rendellconomics 101Regulation
Bridge To Troubled Waters
Gov. Rendell is still touring the state dolling out taxpayers’ money for various projects across the state totaling $642 million. Much of the funding will assist infrastructure improvements for…
Media
Read More: Bridge To Troubled WatersRegulation
Gov. Rendell to play rich uncle to Valley
Nice headline for the Morning Call story about Gov. Rendell’s “Card Board Check Tour”. Unfortunately for Pennsylvanians, though, the rich uncle Rendell is pretending to be isn’t reaching into…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell to play rich uncle to ValleyRegulation
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Read More: Time to end earmarks and WAMs