Regulation

Latest Pension Bill a Mixed Bag

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 8, 2015

Yesterday the State Senate passed a revised pension reform bill (SB 1082) including a side-by-side hybrid, with a smaller defined benefit pension and a defined contribution…

Media

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State Budget

5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers

  • December 7, 2015

5 Ways Senate’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers Walking-Around Money Gets Big Boost in $30.8 Billion Budget December 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state Senate passed a $30.8…

Press Release

Read More: 5 Ways the Seant’s ‘Wolf-Lite’ Budget Will Disappoint Taxpayers

Regulation

With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even Worse

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2015

Now that the Pennsylvania Senate has begun passing legislation, taxpayers can finally see what’s in Gov. Wolf’s “framework” for a new budget. Based on the passage of SB 1073 and…

Media

Read More: With Details, Wolf Budget “Framework” Looks Even Worse

Regulation

A PLCB Special: Red Ink

  • November 3, 2015

Supporters of the state liquor monopoly defend the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) as a cash spigot for the state, which is one of the reasons they refuse to support privatization.

Media

Read More: A PLCB Special: Red Ink

State Budget

Lawmakers Move to Protect Posterity

  • October 23, 2015

The State House recently passed two bills designed to chip away at the commonwealth’s mountain of debt—12th highest among states as recently as 2012, and only growing since. The…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis Grows

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 8, 2015

When you assume an investment return rate of 7.5 percent and your actual returns are 3.04 percent you have a problem. If you are the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System you…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Public Pension Crisis Grows

Regulation

Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • September 16, 2015

A majority of Pennsylvanians support a privatized liquor industry, but government unions use their financial clout to ensure the state government maintains a monopoly over wine and spirits. WILK’s…

Media

Read More: Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business

Government Accountability

New Contract, Still no Transparency

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 14, 2015

The newest state contract with AFSCME—the union representing more than 30,000 state workers—was signed earlier this week. The contract was agreed to in April, then ratified by…

Media

Read More: New Contract, Still no Transparency

Government Accountability

Transparency 10 Years after the Pay Raise

  • Elizabeth Stelle, James Paul
  • July 7, 2015

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the midnight pay raise. Although it was ultimately repealed, the pay raise was a dark hour in Pennsylvania political history. Over the…

Media

Read More: Transparency 10 Years after the Pay Raise