Regulation
Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State House
Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s PAyback permit rebate program is a step forward. But alone, it is insufficient to fix Pennsylvania’s above-average regulatory burden. The governor says he wants to…
Read More: Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State HousePennsylvania’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
Save Nuclear Jobs with Less Government, Not Corporate Welfare
Increased production of low-cost natural gas has reduced the price of electricity to levels below which many Pennsylvania nuclear plants can compete. With about 3,000 jobs at stake, Senator…
Media
Read More: Save Nuclear Jobs with Less Government, Not Corporate WelfareRegulation
PLCB Turns to Corporate Welfare to “Strengthen” Local Producers
Everyone loves grant money, but for Pennsylvania wine makers and brewers, recent handouts from the PLCB are especially ironic. On May 16, Governor Wolf announced that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control…
Media
Read More: PLCB Turns to Corporate Welfare to “Strengthen” Local ProducersEducation
Election Results Shouldn’t Detract Attention From Real Reforms
Pennsylvania’s primary election results are sure to command a lot of attention this week, as analysts attempt to explain what the outcomes mean for November. One thing is certain: Many new…
Media
Read More: Election Results Shouldn’t Detract Attention From Real ReformsRegulation
Seize Opportunities to Transform Pennsylvania
Maximizing our state’s potential requires a willingness to break from the status quo and find better ways to govern. Several improvements indicate Pennsylvania is moving in this direction, such…
Media
Read More: Seize Opportunities to Transform PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Welfare Reform is Sweeping the Nation
“Right now, America combines near-record-low unemployment with near-record-high welfare dependency — the result of state-level eligibility exemptions, federal loopholes and policies that put work on the back burner.” Those are…
Media
Read More: Welfare Reform is Sweeping the NationRegulation
Solving Pa.’s Corporate Welfare Problem is Key to Tax Reform
Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal projects a small reduction in corporate welfare spending. When compared to the current budget, spending would decline by more than $26 million. However,…
Media
Read More: Solving Pa.’s Corporate Welfare Problem is Key to Tax ReformRegulation
Pull the Reins on Horse Racing Subsidies
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless it's a Pennsylvania racehorse—then it's the symbol of government waste and an industry in decline. (Is that how this…
Media
Read More: Pull the Reins on Horse Racing SubsidiesRegulation
Infrastructure Investment Doesn’t Require Growing Government
Nearly everyone agrees infrastructure is vital to the success of an economy. And while most infrastructure is provided by the private sector, the government does play a role. This…
Media
Read More: Infrastructure Investment Doesn’t Require Growing GovernmentRegulation
House Committee Embraces Pro-Growth Reforms
On Tuesday the House State Government Committee voted to advance regulatory reforms that could restart Pennsylvania’s stagnant economy. Legislators advanced three bills included in a regulatory reform…
Media
Read More: House Committee Embraces Pro-Growth ReformsCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania’s Overspending Problem Still Proving Costly
To balance last year’s budget, Gov. Wolf and lawmakers agreed to dedicate a portion of Tobacco Settlement Fund payments to cover a $1.5 billion bond issuance. This decision to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Overspending Problem Still Proving CostlyRegulation
Energy Markets Need Reform, Not Subsidies
How many industries can withstand a more than threefold increase in regulatory costs in a decade? Few, if any. Yet that's the reality for nuclear power plants. An…
Media
Read More: Energy Markets Need Reform, Not SubsidiesRegulation
The PLCB’s Relentlessly Unimpressive Business Model
If you enjoyed a glass of wine or shot of liquor during Sunday’s thrilling Super Bowl, chances are your beverage of choice passed through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
Media
Read More: The PLCB’s Relentlessly Unimpressive Business ModelGovernment Accountability
Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?
Every year, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) produces a report announcing the “Judicial Hellholes” across the nation. In the 2017 edition, Pennsylvania makes their list- twice. The…
Media
Read More: Are PA Courts Biased Against Employers?Regulation
Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory Burdens
Tackling one regulation at a time, House lawmakers released a regulatory overreach report aimed at responsibly lightening the commonwealth's heavy regulatory burden. It takes 18 weeks to read the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory BurdensRegulation
Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100k
This post was updated to reflect a change in private sector compensation. For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the average cost of a state employee exceeds $100,000, according…
Media
Read More: Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100kRegulation
Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More Reform
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an article detailing the $100,000+ pension payouts for 500 retired state employees—a jarring reminder that Pennsylvania’s state retirement system…
Media
Read More: Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More ReformRegulation
Making PA Competitive Again
Lower post-recession unemployment & labor force participation rates are hopeful signs for a historically-weak economy, but without permanent policy changes, other states will continue to surpass Pennsylvania’s economic performance. At…
Media
Read More: Making PA Competitive AgainRegulation
PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to Privatize
There hasn’t been much to praise in this year’s budget battles. However, the governor’s announcement that he won’t try to borrow $1.25 billion against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)…
Media
Read More: PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to PrivatizeRegulation
Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 Budget
Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle is just about over, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers. However, lawmakers and the governor…
Media
Read More: Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 BudgetRegulation
How Should Pennsylvania Attract Amazon?
Amazon has been dominating Pennsylvania business news since announcing its interest in creating a second U.S. headquarters (HQ2). Several regions of the state are expected to contend for this new…
Media
Read More: How Should Pennsylvania Attract Amazon?Regulation
Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on It
Gov. Wolf’s plan to borrow more than $1 billion against PLCB revenue to balance the budget makes little sense. Under Wolf’s plan to “monetize” our liquor system, the state’s General…
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on It