Pennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.

Regulation

Gov. Wolf Proposes Using Debt-Ridden Agency to Pay Down Debt

  • October 5, 2017

In a press conference yesterday, Gov. Wolf announced a plan to borrow from future PLCB “profits” to pay off last year’s budget deficit. Under the governor’s plan, the state’s…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Proposes Using Debt-Ridden Agency to Pay Down Debt

Regulation

An Inhospitable Tax Increase

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 4, 2017

Another day, another tax. The newest plan to fill a $2.2 billion budget hole includes a 5 percent increase to the hotel tax, along with a new tax on fireworks and third-party online…

Media

Read More: An Inhospitable Tax Increase

Regulation

Devil in the Details of PLCB Finances

  • October 3, 2017

It was another banner year for the government liquor monopoly—or so the PLCB claims. The agency recently released its finances, touting all-time high sales and a record $720.6 million…

Media

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Regulation

PLCB Strikes Again!

  • September 22, 2017

As lawmakers continue to debate balancing the state budget, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) gave Pennsylvanians yet another reason to privatize the antiquated liquor system. The agency unleashed…

Media

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Regulation

The Solution to Pa.’s Credit Downgrade

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 20, 2017

Pennsylvania’s irresponsible spending increases have taken their toll – and credit rating agencies have taken notice. Following a credit downgrade from Standard & Poor’s Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania’s…

Media

Read More: The Solution to Pa.’s Credit Downgrade

Regulation

We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 20, 2017

The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…

Media

Read More: We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers

Regulation

Higher Prices Coming to a State Store Near You

  • September 1, 2017

Years of boondoogles and blunders at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) make for a compelling list of reasons for complete privatization. Now there's another item to add to the…

Media

Read More: Higher Prices Coming to a State Store Near You

Public Union Democracy

UFCW Fined for Misreporting Terrible Anti-Privatization TV Ads

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 25, 2017

Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has persistently generated corruption scandals as it manages the state-run liquor system. Now, the loudest advocate for retaining this inefficient and unpopular…

Media

Read More: UFCW Fined for Misreporting Terrible Anti-Privatization TV Ads

Regulation

Reducing the State’s Cash Stockpile Can Help Balance the Budget

  • August 24, 2017

Lawmakers considering balancing the budget with borrowing and higher taxes could opt for a responsible alternative: drawing down funds from the shadow budget's “banking accounts.” But first, let’s take a…

Media

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Health Care

Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania Families

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2017

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it would be arbitrarily raising prices on 422 wine and liquor products. This increase is a result of the “liquor modernization” efforts—which have…

Media

Read More: Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania Families

Health Care

Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health Insurance

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 25, 2017

Obamacare repeal efforts have included transformative Medicaid reform, but retained many of the regulations responsible for collapsing individual markets. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department released shocking individual insurance rate requests…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health Insurance

Regulation

Rescuing Pennsylvania from Fiscal Shipwreck

  • July 18, 2017

The state’s shaky fiscal position is no secret. Lawmakers continue to negotiate behind closed doors to eliminate the current deficit and pay for new spending in the $32…

Media

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Regulation

Wolf Targets Job Creators for Tax Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 17, 2017

At the top of Governor Wolf’s revenue wish list sits an even higher severance tax on natural gas. Yet, this tax would fail to balance the budget and cause further economic stagnation by suppressing existing revenue streams…

Media

Read More: Wolf Targets Job Creators for Tax Hikes

Regulation

Economy Stalls While Government Grows

  • July 13, 2017

This week, lawmakers and the Wolf Administration were unable to agree on a revenue package to pay for a $32 billion budget proposal. Once again, state government is…

Media

Read More: Economy Stalls While Government Grows

Regulation

A Double Whammy for PA Job Creators

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 12, 2017

The governor continues to insist on hiking natural gas taxes to balance the budget, while bureaucrats are heaping regulatory burdens on Pennsylvania’s most dynamic industry of the past decade.

Media

Read More: A Double Whammy for PA Job Creators

Regulation

Liquor Privatization’s Dual Purpose

  • July 6, 2017

State lawmakers have yet to agree on a plan to balance last year’s budget (2016-17) or this year’s budget (2017-18), despite authorizing large spending increases both years. In…

Media

Read More: Liquor Privatization’s Dual Purpose

Regulation

Policy Memo: Ideas to Balance the 2017-18 Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 5, 2017

With a spending plan in place, lawmakers should focus their efforts on reinventing state government to balance the budget, including ending horse racing subsidies.

Memo

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Regulation

What to Know about the Senate Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 30, 2017

Late last night, the Senate unveiled its version of the spending side of a state budget. The Senate advanced the bill from the Appropriations Committee with a full floor vote…

Media

Read More: What to Know about the Senate Budget