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JULY 22, 2010 | Commentary by MICHAEL NEROZZI, NATHAN BENEFIELD
I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform
It is clear our government will not reform itself. Article I, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution recognizes the right of the citizens to "alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper." It is past time to exercise this right, but the General Assembly and Governor have not provided the m
APRIL 20, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released results of a recently commissioned statewide measuring Pennsylvanians' opinion of three landmark reforms. The poll of 700 registered voters was conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research Company between April 7 and 12, 2010.
MARCH 11, 2010 | Policy Brief by NATHAN BENEFIELD, ELIZABETH STELLE
The Case for a Citizen Legislature
The operating cost of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has steadily increased, while Pennsylvania's economy has been stagnant. The Keystone State's burden of state and local taxes is among the heaviest in the country, while it ranks near the bottom in economic growth and freedom. This reality can be addressed by a number of reforms that woul
Recent Blog Posts
AUGUST 11, 2011
Which Government Structure Reforms will Benefit Taxpayers?
This week, the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee held a hearing on bills to reduce the size of the General Assembly (i.e., the number of legislators). While CF did not testify on this particular hearing, we have written on this and related issues in the past.
Earlier this year, I spoke to a Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on structural reforms to the legislature; that presentation is below.
Our conclusion is that, absent other reforms, simply reducing the number of legislators may not generate cost savings or improve transparency and accountability in government. Nor is there any link between legislative size and policy outcomes: taxes, spending or economic freedom.
However, other substantive reforms, including term limits and the "professionalization" (full-time vs. part-time, salary and benefits, and number of staff) do correlate with policy outcomes.
Pennsylvania Government Structural Reforms
posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 05:59 PM | 0 comment
JANUARY 13, 2011
Good Government Reforms Stall
In November, many legislative candidates campaigned on cutting costs in the legislature through specific, commonsense reforms. Ending the frequent abuse of per diems and requiring receipts for expenses topped the list, along with ending the leasing of state vehicles, and requiring health care insurance contributions from state representatives (state senators currently contribute 1 percent of their salary). While these reforms are not big-ticket items capable of balancing the budget on their own, they would help trim the costs of the most expensive legislature in the country.
Leaders held a Bipartisan Management Committee meeting, but nothing was decided in the first meeting. The difficulty of convincing elected officials to even submit receipts for travel expenses speaks to the need for broader reforms, like transitioning to a part-time legislature or establishing spending limits. These reforms are unlikely unless citizens have the ability to propose and repeal laws through Initiative & Referendum.
Let's hope the new legislature achieves and builds on these reforms as a prelude to transparency and accountability in government.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 03:29 PM | 0 comment
JULY 5, 2010
I&R Makes Way for Liquor Store Privatization in WA
Washington, one of 24 states that enjoy initiative and referendum - a reform that allows citizens to place issues on the ballot - is expecting its November election ballot to include two separate initiative bills to privatize state liquor stores.
- The first of the initiatives received almost 400,000 petition signatures. If passed it would eliminate all state-run liquor stores and allow alcohol to be purchased in bulk directly from manufacturers (e.g. Costco).
- The second initiative is expected to get the 241,000 signatures required to make it on the ballot before the election. This bill, while still privatizing alcohol sales, would allow the state to maintain authority over liquor prices, continuing its ban on volume discounts. As Michelle Minton reported, this is ideal for distributors who "fear that they'll have nothing to offer in the open market" and need government to "protect their industry."
The beautiful thing is these initiatives will be on the ballots for the Washington citizens to decide. CF supports empowering citizens through initiative & referendum, a reform Pennsylvania should gladly adopt.
Also, check out A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania to learn how state liquor store privatization could generate $350 million annually and an estimated $1.7 billion in a one-time influx of funds, and our policy brief highlighting the lack of any social impacts from liquor privatization.
posted by KATRINA CURRIE | 08:54 AM | 0 comment
