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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Regulation

Buying ‘Burgh Votes

  • March 25, 2006

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

Media

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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

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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

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Regulation

Insult to injury

  • March 17, 2006

State weighs COLA raise in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

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Regulation

State kept funding agency in audit dispute

  • March 14, 2006

State Rep. Mike Veon and State Sen. Gerald LaValle’s BIG slush fund gets scrutiny from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. While the Veon/LaValle scandal may be an extreme example of how…

Media

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Regulation

Cities start adding up retiree benefit costs

  • March 13, 2006

An article from the Pittsburgh Business Times on the coming government retiree benefits crisis. Governments at all levels are only beginning to understand how big of a financial crisis…

Media

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