Regulation

Facts Contradict Claims of Liquor Monopoly Supporters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 16, 2013

I’ve received some email responses critical of my recent commentary on liquor privatization. These responses, unfortunately, echo many of faulty claims served up by supporters of the…

Media

Read More: Facts Contradict Claims of Liquor Monopoly Supporters

Education

Students Excel with School Choice

  • May 16, 2013

Hannah and Alyssa will tell you that the freedom to choose a school that works for them was essential to their academic success. They are just two of the…

Media

Read More: Students Excel with School Choice

Regulation

Perpetual Problems Plague PLCB

  • May 15, 2013

As Yogi Berra once quipped, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Another year and another audit of the PLCB released by the Auditor General’s Office found mismanagement at the state…

Media

Read More: Perpetual Problems Plague PLCB

Regulation

Anti-Privatization Study Dismantled

  • May 15, 2013

A study frequently cited by liquor privatization opponents is soundly debunked in an article by Trevor Butterworth, a statistics guru at Forbes.com. Butterworth dismantles the methodology of the…

Media

Read More: Anti-Privatization Study Dismantled

Regulation

Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?

  • May 15, 2013

This is the third in a series of blog posts debunking the myths surrounding Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System…

Media

Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Are Pension Obligation Bonds Risk Free?

Regulation

Privatization Great for Washington State

  • May 14, 2013

A year ago this June, the government liquor monopoly ended in Washington state.  Critics of Pennsylvania’s plan to privatize state wine and spirits stores have pointed to Washington as an…

Media

Read More: Privatization Great for Washington State

Education

Cyber Schools Save Kids from Bullying

  • May 14, 2013

Stephen Frank was a cheerful young student with an enthusiasm for learning and an interest in football. Not long into his first year of middle school at his traditional public…

Media

Read More: Cyber Schools Save Kids from Bullying

Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

  • May 14, 2013

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…

Press Release

Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

Public Union Democracy

Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2013

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…

Media

Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

Regulation

Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 10, 2013

As liquor privatization discussions are occurring in the Senate, some have suggested maintaining the PLCB’s wholesale monopoly while simply turning state retail stores over to private sellers. After all, Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You

Government Accountability

A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 9, 2013

This morning, Pennsylvania lost its oldest living governor:  George M. Leader, a York County Democrat who served from 1955 to 1959.  My colleagues and I had the great pleasure of…

Media

Read More: A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader

Regulation

Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?

  • May 9, 2013

Pennsylvania’s two main pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these plans have more…

Media

Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?

Did Legislation in 2010 Fix the Pension Crisis?

  • May 8, 2013

This post originally ran in Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. For more on pensions, see the timeline of the crisis, common myths vs. facts, and what your pension…

Media

Read More: Did Legislation in 2010 Fix the Pension Crisis?

Education

Cyber Schools Save Students

  • May 8, 2013

Recently, cyber schools have been attacked in the media and in the legislature as “too expensive” and “a drain on public education.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Media

Read More: Cyber Schools Save Students

Education

Cyber Charter Chat with Rep. Truitt

  • May 8, 2013

Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) joined us for a Google Hangout this afternoon to discuss charter and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. Rep. Truitt, a parent of cyber school students,…

Media

Read More: Cyber Charter Chat with Rep. Truitt