rural broadband pennsylvania

Regulation

Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 21, 2024

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

Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays

  • May 28, 2006

Excellent article from the Centre Daily Times on the coming pension crisis. “It’s a train wreck waiting to happen — it’s barreling down the tracks at us,” said Centre…

Media

Read More: Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays

Regulation

Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…

Media

Read More: Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

Regulation

Perzel takes up state pension issue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2006

House Speaker Perzel names a panel on state pension and retiree medical benefits to study the issues identified in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Pension Study. Perzel even suggests setting…

Media

Read More: Perzel takes up state pension issue

Regulation

VIP perks are history for ousted legislators

  • May 21, 2006

Morning Call on what the ousted Senate leaders will be losing as a result of their loss at the ballot box last Tuesday. Don’t worry though, they’ll still be…

Media

Read More: VIP perks are history for ousted legislators

Regulation

Auction Slots Licenses

  • April 27, 2006

The Commonwealth Foundation called for auctioning off the slots licenses in 2003 and 2004, but the gambling proponents decided to “sell” them at a 90% discount rate.

Media

Read More: Auction Slots Licenses

Regulation

Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 19, 2006

Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…

Commentary

Read More: Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market

Regulation

They could have thought of a better title

  • April 12, 2006

The Pittsbuhgh Post-Gazette titled their story, “Use casino revenue for school vouchers, group suggests.” I guess that’s better than “Dirty Gambling Money to Undermine the Separation of Church and…

Media

Read More: They could have thought of a better title

Regulation

“That’s the way the system works”

  • March 28, 2006

Alletown Morning Call editorial on the “Quiet bump for legislators’ pensions adds to outrage over 2005 pay-grab“: Of the lawmakers retiring, 17 will see their pension benefit improve because…

Media

Read More: “That’s the way the system works”

Regulation

War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Best quote: “Wal-Mart is trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.” Those heathens, trying to compete against unionized stores.

Media

Read More: War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

Regulation

Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2006

Coverage of the pay raise and pension link from Centre Daily Times, citing Rick Dreyfuss and our pension study.

Media

Read More: Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

Education

PSBA takes issue with my referendum commentary

  • March 26, 2006

Equal time was given to Tim Allwein of the PA School Boards Association to offer a rebutal to my commentary in last Sunday’s Patriot-News. Fair game. It should…

Media

Read More: PSBA takes issue with my referendum commentary

Regulation

State lawmakers look to boost their pensions

  • March 26, 2006

Alison Hawkes in the Herald-Standard on the pension COLA debate. Side-Note: We’re not sure where, when, or why we started being called a “libertarian” think tank (although I think…

Media

Read More: State lawmakers look to boost their pensions

Regulation

Raise repealed, but not retired

  • March 26, 2006

Philadelphia Inquirer highlights the benefits for retiring lawmakers, most of whom took the “unvouchered expenses” which boosted their pension payouts.

Media

Read More: Raise repealed, but not retired

Regulation

Buying ‘Burgh Votes

  • March 25, 2006

“Rendell: Plan ready to build new arena” in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

Read More: Buying ‘Burgh Votes

Regulation

Pension Editorials

  • March 24, 2006

The Valley Independent believes that the “Pension battle should be instructive,” while the Reading Eagle suggests that the “State pension plan needs to be revised.”…

Media

Read More: Pension Editorials

Regulation

Public Pensions and Risky Hedge Funds

  • March 22, 2006

The Massachusetts Secretary of State is voicing criticism in the Boston Globe over the amount of pension money going into risky hedge funds. This is noteworthy because Pennsylvania State…

Media

Read More: Public Pensions and Risky Hedge Funds