Prosperity
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for 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
Officials differ on slots’ economic impact
Gambling in PA: Economic Development or Political Handout? Although that is not the gist of this Herald Standard story, it is the point I try to make at the…
Media
Read More: Officials differ on slots’ economic impactRegulation
The War goes on with no end in sight
The war on Wal-Mart, that is. Now Wal-Mart is under orders from Massachusetts to sell “morning-after” pills. It seems that in not stocking the notorious morning-after pill, Wal-Mart was…
Media
Read More: The War goes on with no end in sightRegulation
If only your retirement could be this good
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Brian O’Neill writes about Rep. Jeff Habay’s prison sentence for stealing from the taxpayers to run his campaign, but points out the bigger scandal: the state…
Media
Read More: If only your retirement could be this goodRegulation
Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg
This story, “Pensions: Hedging Bets In Harrisburg,” from Business Week (you’ll need to register to read it, but it’s free) reveals the shaking ground upon which Pennsylvania’s public pension…
Media
Read More: Pensions: Hedging Bets In HarrisburgRegulation
How to milk the system
Pension ruling for judge could ‘open floodgates’ to other claims, says a dissenting judge on the Commonwealth Court. By this court’s reasoning, I should be able to collect money…
Media
Read More: How to milk the systemPublic Union Democracy
Why Maryland is fighting windmills.
A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…
Media
Read More: Why Maryland is fighting windmills.Regulation
Public Pensions Running Wild
A National Center for Policy Analysis summary of facts about state and local government pensions. The bottom line is that states continue to enhance benefits far beyond private sector…
Media
Read More: Public Pensions Running WildRegulation
The pensions crunch
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on pensions in the private sector. You think its bad at IBM, Verizon, et al. Just wait til you see what’s going on in state…
Media
Read More: The pensions crunchHealth Care
Maryland’s Wal-Mart Bill: Coming to PA?
From the National Federation of Independent Businesses… Maryland lawmakers voted this week to over-ride a veto by Gov. Robert Erlich of a bill that will force Wal-Mart and other companies…
Media
Read More: Maryland’s Wal-Mart Bill: Coming to PA?Education
Referendum exemption is blackmail
From the York Dispatch… Thumbs Down to Rep. Stan Saylor’s proposal to amend property tax reform legislation to an extent that renders taxpayer approval impotent when it comes to increases…
Media
Read More: Referendum exemption is blackmailPublic Union Democracy
The best of the best, of course
The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Retirement System are the envy of the government worker world. They are the most generous systems in the entire country.
Media
Read More: The best of the best, of courseRegulation
Go to HBG to do good, but end up doing well, very well
The retirement of many long-time legislators is opening up the eyes of many to the very generous pensions. See The Citizens Voice story by Michael Race, Stepping out to…
Media
Read More: Go to HBG to do good, but end up doing well, very wellRegulation
More Corporate Welfare
Here is a good piece by the Allegheny Institute on the $50 million dollars of corporate welfare granted by state and local government to PNC for construction of…
Media
Read More: More Corporate WelfareRegulation
The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector Pensions
Whether it is pensions for state workers, teachers or legislators, the financial promises made by politicians have put taxpayers on the hook. How much? Well, don’t ask the people who…
Media
Read More: The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector PensionsRegulation
Public Pensions: The Coming Financial Crisis in PA
While Pennsylvanians were up in arms over the pay raise, the ongoing public-sector pension scandal and coming financial crisis should make taxpayers even more irate. The promise of defined benefits…
Media
Read More: Public Pensions: The Coming Financial Crisis in PARegulation
Corporate “wealthfare” is happening all around us
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial, The PNC rip-off: False renaissance, is just the latest example of taxpayers subsidizing the bottom line of major corporations. Remember the $2 Billion Gov. Rendell…
Media
Read More: Corporate “wealthfare” is happening all around usRegulation
Growing Greener II
While Pennsylvanians obviously want an environmentally safe and economically prosperous state, the $625 million debt plan known as “Growing Greener II” guarantees neither.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Growing Greener IIRegulation
Internet Taxes
A number of bills in the General Assembly represent the essential first step in extending the Commonwealth’s sales tax to out-of-state purchases—including those made over the Internet—through the national initiative…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Internet TaxesRegulation
Telecommunications
The debate over the future of high-tech communications development in Pennsylvania parallels the debate over statewide economic development policy in general: Should state government raise taxes on families and businesses…
Fact Sheet
Read More: TelecommunicationsRegulation
“OutFORCING”: Pennsylvania’s Real Job Loss Culprit
There’s been a great deal of political talk this election season about greedy “Benedict Arnold” companies sending jobs overseas. Gov. Ed Rendell even announced that the Commonwealth would look unfavorably…
Commentary
Read More: “OutFORCING”: Pennsylvania’s Real Job Loss CulpritRegulation
A Solution to the Gambling License Giveaway
It's déjà vu all over again. As Governor Rendell continues lobbying the General Assembly to expand gambling, very little attention is paid to the potential giveaway of valuable slot machine…
Commentary
Read More: A Solution to the Gambling License Giveaway