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

How to milk the system

  • January 25, 2006

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

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Public Union Democracy

Why Maryland is fighting windmills.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2006

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

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Regulation

Public Pensions Running Wild

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 17, 2006

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

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Regulation

The pensions crunch

  • January 13, 2006

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

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Health Care

Maryland’s Wal-Mart Bill: Coming to PA?

  • January 13, 2006

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

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Education

Referendum exemption is blackmail

  • January 10, 2006

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

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Public Union Democracy

The best of the best, of course

  • January 8, 2006

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

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Regulation

Go to HBG to do good, but end up doing well, very well

  • January 8, 2006

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 well

Regulation

More Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 4, 2006

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

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Regulation

The Looming Financial Crisis — Public Sector Pensions

  • January 4, 2006

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

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Regulation

Public Pensions: The Coming Financial Crisis in PA

  • January 2, 2006

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

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Regulation

Corporate “wealthfare” is happening all around us

  • December 21, 2005

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

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Regulation

Growing Greener II

  • May 13, 2005

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

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Regulation

Internet Taxes

  • February 10, 2005

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

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Regulation

Telecommunications

  • October 14, 2004

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

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Regulation

“OutFORCING”: Pennsylvania’s Real Job Loss Culprit

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 12, 2004

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

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Regulation

A Solution to the Gambling License Giveaway

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 22, 2004

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

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Regulation

Pennsylvanias $2 Billion Corporate Giveaway

  • May 7, 2003

Executive Summary Current proposals under consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would grant limited gambling licenses to horse racetracks across the Commonwealth in an attempt to bolster the struggling industry.

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 21, 2002

By their very nature, businesspeople are willing to take significant risks to compete in the marketplace. Indeed, every day the profit motive compels people to invest their life savings in…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Businesses Can Now Spend Less Time In The Courtroom