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Energy
Assessing Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Requirements
Summary The “Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development” (GRID) Requirements apply to data centers over 25 megawatts (MW). The standards give municipalities no new authority over noise, water withdrawal, traffic, or setbacks;…
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Public Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor LawsEnergy
Testimony of Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy Officer Commonwealth Foundation Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing on Energy in Pennsylvania
Read More: Testimony of Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy Officer Commonwealth Foundation Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing on Energy in Pennsylvania
Education
Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing Systems
Read More: Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing SystemsEducation
Cyber School Funding in Pennsylvania
Cyber schools currently spend significantly less per student than school districts and only represent about 1% of spending on public education. Discrepancies in cyber school funding are the result of…
Memo
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The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax Reform
This policy brief utilizes PA-STAMP to estimate the impact of Gov. Corbett’s proposed tax reform package. Accordingly, by 2017-18, these reforms (compared with current policy) would result in: 1,259 additional…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Economic Impact of Gov. Corbett’s Proposed Tax ReformRegulation
Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future
Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers. This publication addresses the common myths and benefits…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public Pensions: Past, Present, and FutureRegulation
PLCB Boondoggles
Getting government out of the booze business would eliminate conflicts of interest, stop government from freezing out Pennsylvania wineries, reduce opportunities for cronyism, eliminate taxpayer-funded boondoggles and allow the PLCB…
Fact Sheet
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Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and Facts
Pennsylvania’s two main government worker pension systems, the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these funds owe more than…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis: Myths and FactsState Budget
Budget Facts 2013: Spending Increases By Department
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2013: Spending Increases By DepartmentHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Myths and Facts
For our fiscal health, and the health of families, we desperately need the flexibility to allow state officials to design a solution that fits the needs of Pennsylvanians-not an…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Myths and FactsRegulation
Summary of House Bill 790 as Passed by State House
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 790 on March 21, 2013. This legislation would allow private retailers to sell wine and spirits and end the state government monopoly over…
Memo
Read More: Summary of House Bill 790 as Passed by State HouseRegulation
Pennsylvania State Budget 2013
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $28.4 billion in general fund spending and $67.6 billion in spending from all funds represents our highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
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Liquor Privatization: Social Impacts
The PLCB has a conflict of interest-on the one hand controlling and monitoring alcohol, and on the other, advertising and marketing the sale of alcohol. Government control has not made…
Memo
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Principles of Liquor Privatization
While the Governor's proposal will likely change throughout the legislative process, privatization efforts should not be diluted into "modernization," which preserves the inefficient and wasteful Prohibition-era liquor system. Here are…
Fact Sheet
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Public Opinion of Liquor Privatization
A strong majority of Pennsylvanians favor ending the government sale of wine and spirits according to a comprehensive poll conducted by nationally-renown pollster Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).
Fact Sheet
Read More: Public Opinion of Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Liquor Privatization Myths & Facts
More than 60 percent of Pennsylvania residents support getting government out of the booze business. This is broad-based, bipartisan support that finds even the majority of union households want Liquor…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Liquor Privatization Myths & FactsTaxes & Economy
Bleeding Green
A new study from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University finds that Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards will costs Pennsylvanians millions in higher energy costs.
Poll
Read More: Bleeding GreenPublic Union Democracy
Unsinkable: The True Story of Pennsylvania’s Sinking Pension System
The politics of pensions encourage lawmakers to "grant lavish benefts in good yearsand [decide] not to pay in bad years - precisely what created the current crisis."…
Poll
Read More: Unsinkable: The True Story of Pennsylvania’s Sinking Pension SystemHealth Care
Affordable Care Act: Costs to Pennsylvanians
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—often dubbed "Obamacare"—will cost Americans $1.2 trillion from 2012 to 2022 according to the Congressional Budget Office. These projections do not account for the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Affordable Care Act: Costs to PennsylvaniansPublic Union Democracy
Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery Cliff
From the greatest generation to the latest generation, our senior citizens have sacrificed to make Pennsylvania safe and prosperous. Our seniors deserve world-class care and assurance that their growing needs…
Memo
Read More: Protecting Seniors and Taxpayers from the Lottery CliffPublic Union Democracy
Private Lottery Management FAQ
To protect seniors from future service cuts, the Corbett administration is seeking a private management agreement (PMA) to ensure Lottery profits will meet seniors' needs. Lottery services company Camelot submitted…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Private Lottery Management FAQTaxes & Economy
Principles for Transportation Funding
Pennsylvania's roads and bridges need repair. But before taking one more dollar from working men and women through higher prices at the gas pump, lawmakers must work to ensure every…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Principles for Transportation FundingHealth Care
Why Repeal? The Affordable Care Act’s Costs to Pennsylvanians
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—or "Obamacare"—will take more than $500 billion from American taxpayers by 2022, raise costs to state governments and increase the cost of private health…
Poll
Read More: Why Repeal? The Affordable Care Act’s Costs to PennsylvaniansTaxes & Economy
Truth, Lies & Answers on Natural Gas Drilling
Hydraulic fracturing has been closely studied since its development in the 1940s. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the former head of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have…
Poll
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