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
Economic Impacts of the Climate Change Bill
A new study by the Science Applications International Corporation and sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capital Formation looks at the economic impacts…
Media
Read More: Economic Impacts of the Climate Change BillRegulation
Smoking Bans Redux
Brad Vasoli in the Evening Bulletin has an article on the proposed state smoking ban, featuring comments from yours truly (a non-smoker). Here is more information on smoking bans…
Media
Read More: Smoking Bans ReduxRegulation
Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2008
State government consumption and spending of taxpayer money has grown rapidly over the years. Since 1970, Pennsylvania’s operating budget increased from $4.2 billion to $59 billion in FY 2007-2008, an…
Report
Read More: Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2008Regulation
Mutually Exclusive: Pension COLAS and Lower Taxes
In Government 101, we learn how a bill becomes law and the circuitous route that, at any stage of the political process, may derail a proposal. In fact, only 6.3%…
Commentary
Read More: Mutually Exclusive: Pension COLAS and Lower TaxesRegulation
How government makes things worse
Boston Globe piece by Jeff Jacoby covers the “Law of Unintended Consequences” of government intervention. Jacoby takes on government mandates and subsidies for ethanol: But now comes word…
Media
Read More: How government makes things worseRegulation
Union wants pension backing for roads
Financial Times article on public sector unions pushing for public pension funds to invest in roads and other infrastructure. Of course, as noted, many public pension funds (the California…
Media
Read More: Union wants pension backing for roadsRegulation
How to Shrink an Economy
Penn State Altoona econ professor John McGinnis writes on how Pennsylvania’s “economic development” spending shrinks our economy – first by taxing to pay for this corporate welfare, then by…
Media
Read More: How to Shrink an EconomyRegulation
Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobs
A new study and press conference today by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) takes credit for helping to “create” 186,000 jobs in PA from 2003 through…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobsRegulation
Legislators plan hearings on privatizing liquor stores
Post-Gazette on the push for privatization of state-run liquor stores. More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and testimony from Reason Foundation…
Media
Read More: Legislators plan hearings on privatizing liquor storesRegulation
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 IntroducedRegulation
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 Service