Media

Regulation

Privatization Could End “Pay-to-Play”

• Priya Brannick
• March 15, 2013

“A culture of greed, corruption and political influence that is beyond imagination,” is how State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan described the latest Pennsylvania Turnpike scandal, which has led to…

Media

Grand jury report suggests more may be charged in Turnpike Commission’s ‘pay to play’ scheme

• March 15, 2013

Media Hit

Health Care

Sequester-Sized Savings

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 15, 2013

We’ve already busted the myth that federal money for the expansion of Medicaid is somehow “free.” As Nathan Benefield explains, government only distributes what if first taxes out of…

Media

Public Union Democracy

PLCB Liquor Store Union Boss Bullies Business Leaders

• March 14, 2013

Media

Taxes & Economy

FrackNation Exposes Gasland Lies

• Gordon Tomb
• March 14, 2013

“FrackNation” is not only about the development of natural gas, but also about journalism, says Phelim McAleer, co-director of the 70-minute documentary. Shown this week to about 70…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Goliath, Drunk on Power—and On the Move!

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 13, 2013

What does a Middle Eastern battlefield from biblical times have to do with where you buy your booze? Actually, quite a lot. At the Commonwealth Foundation, we call the government…

Media

Education

Do Cyber Schools Spend Too Much?

• Priya Brannick
• March 13, 2013

With the House Education Committee set to consider new legislation on reducing cyber school funding, the discussion has turned again to how much cyber schools “actually” cost and…

Media

Regulation

Mow the Lawn…TODAY!

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 12, 2013

When it comes to privatizing the Pennsylvania’s government-run monopoly of wine and spirits, many politicians say they are in favor of it—including House Liquor Committee Chairman John Taylor (R-Philadelphia). But…

Media

Lottery losers

• March 12, 2013

Media Hit

The $100,000 Club: 4,831 state employees made six figures in 2012

• March 11, 2013

Media Hit

Regulation

Desperate Times, Desperate Claims

• Nathan Benefield
• March 8, 2013

UFCW President Wendell Young is so desperate to retain Pennsylvania’s 80-year old government liquor monopoly that he’ll say anything.  Most recently, he claimed “privateers” were hacking an online poll…

Media

Why liquor privatization still faces a long road

• March 8, 2013

Media Hit

Corbett’s liquor privatization bill moves closer to vote

• March 7, 2013

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Carbon Tax Devastating for Manufacturers

• Gordon Tomb
• March 7, 2013

A study reported by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association says a carbon tax would have a devastating effect on the state’s manufacturers. Manufacturing output in energy-intensive activities could drop by…

Media

LETTER: Corbett must stand by rejection of Medicaid expansion to avoid chaos

• March 6, 2013

Media Hit

Thin the Harrisburg herd: Slash the size, pay and perks of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

• March 6, 2013

Media Hit

Turzai: House could get liquor privatization bill soon

• March 6, 2013

Media Hit

Regulation

Remove Politics from Pensions

• Nathan Benefield
• March 6, 2013

A letter to the editor I sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes on some of the myths and facts of pension reform: Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh…

Media

Health Care

Facts, Not Hate, In Medicaid Debate

• Nathan Benefield
• March 6, 2013

“A few dying residents won’t matter to these people…”  So say supporters of implementing Obamacare in Pennsylvania about our friends at Americans for Prosperity.  AFP launched a new action…

Media

Regulation

Liquor Chair Wants to Hear from “Stakeholders”

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 5, 2013

Last night, Capitolwire.com reported (subscription required) that the chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, Rep. John Taylor, has proposed an amendment to the Governor’s liquor store privatization plan. …

Media

Regulation

PLCB Contradictions Continue

• March 5, 2013

Should the government have its own wine brand? Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board member Robert Marcus thinks so, telling lawmakers, “We have the legal ability to do it. We did…

Media