Commonwealth Foundation
Thu, May 09, 2013
One Distributor's View of Privatization
What business owner wouldn't jump at the chance to expand their business? Some of my fellow beer distributors, apparently. The association that is supposed to be representing my business interests ...
Tue, April 30, 2013
Social Impacts of Liquor Privatization
Social Impacts of Liquor Privatization
Submitted Testimony of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Senate Law Justice Committee, April 30, 2013
Mon, April 29, 2013
Medicaid: States Fixing What Feds Won't
This piece first ran in Investor's Business Daily.
The Affordable Care Act may not yet be fully implemented, but its negative effects and exorbitant price tag are ...
Wed, April 10, 2013
PA State Budget 2013-2014
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 ...
Tue, February 26, 2013
Education: America's New Civil Right
Education can and should be America's newest civil rights issue. Today, too many schools are failing too many children. The system is broken, and access to a quality education is largely the ...
Tue, February 12, 2013
Poll: End Government Booze Sales
Contact: Jay Ostrich: 717-649-6547| jay@cfpolicy.com
Poll: Pennsylvanians Want End to Government Booze Sales
Union Households, Consumers, Parties, Genders and ...
Wed, February 06, 2013
Brouillette: Corbett Stands with Taxpayers
Statement of Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth
Foundation, Pennsylvania's free-market think tank, on Governor Corbett's budget proposal:
Wed, February 06, 2013
Standing With Taxpayers
Most Pennsylvanians probably weren't aware — or don't care — that Governor Corbett delivered his 2013-14 budget proposal this week. But they should! Spending $20,900 per family of ...
Wed, January 30, 2013
Liquor Proposal Delivers Convenience
Governor Corbett's Privatization Plan Would Bring PA Into the 21st Century
The Commonwealth Foundation applauds Gov. Tom Corbett for introducing a plan to end the ...
Tue, January 29, 2013
Cyber Proposal Undermines Cherished School Option
Harrisburg fourth-grader Ashley Matunis excels at math, which allows her to learn faster than her classmates. Her 7-year-old sister Anna suffers from Type I diabetes. Their mother, Sarah, found a ...
Fri, January 18, 2013
Pension Bomb to Hit PA Families
Are you ready to pay an additional $1,000 in state and local taxes alone? Prepared to see your child's teacher laid off? Thanks to bad promises politicians made to good people, a pension crisis ...
Fri, January 04, 2013
Report: Seniors Benefit from Improved Lottery
Senior citizens may experience cuts to social services and taxpayers incur tax hikes should state officials balk at a new and improved Pennsylvania Lottery contract, finds a Commonwealth Foundation ...
Thu, January 03, 2013
Averting the 'Lottery Cliff'
From the greatest generation to the latest generation, Pennsylvania's seniors have worked a lifetime to build this great commonwealth through hard work and sacrifice, but are now being told the only ...
Wed, December 12, 2012
Handouts Hurting the Poor
The holidays are a great time to be grateful for the gifts we've received. And, as we remember well, fallen Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney claimed that some Americans have received ...
Wed, November 21, 2012
PLCB Should Not Pass Go
Growing up in Pennsylvania, we enjoyed playing games over the holidays and none more than Monopoly. The possibilities were endless, the rules clear and the objective simple — heck, it even had ...
Fri, September 28, 2012
PA Must Pull Parent Trigger to Save Education
Martin Luther King Jr. believed that, "unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." If correct, then no stronger love or enduring truth can personify his dream than ...
Tue, September 18, 2012
Affordable Care Act: PA's Costs
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 ...
Sun, September 02, 2012
Labor Day is for Taxpayers, Not Unions
As the sun sets on a sizzling summer, celebrations with family and friends will
mark another Labor Day. But few citizens will recall or cheer the nationwide
railroad union strike ...
Sun, September 02, 2012
Principles for Public Pension Reform
Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension plans for government
employees—the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) for state employees and the Public School Employees' ...
Tue, August 21, 2012
Fix Welfare to Protect Poor, Save Taxpayers
by Elizabeth Stelle and Jay Ostrich
Despite prevalent evidence showing the current welfare system does irreparable harm by trapping families and children in a ...
Tue, July 24, 2012
Don't Fire Arrows at Corrections Reform
Pennsylvania is on the verge of landmark legislation to replace decades of ineffective and expensive corrections policies with reforms that make our communities safer and save taxpayers money. ...
Tue, July 03, 2012
Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in PA Budget
This July signals the beginning and end of two feats requiring amazing determination, stamina and perseverance — the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the on-time passage of the ...
Tue, June 26, 2012
Kids More Likly to Experience Violence in Failing Schools
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547
Children attending Pennsylvania's worst academically performing public schools are more than 5-times as ...
Fri, June 15, 2012
Lawmakers, Businesses Can Rescue Students Now
by Otto Banks and Priya M. Abraham
If lawmakers were in any doubt about how dire Pennsylvania's education crisis has become, they need only look to Harrisburg ...
Wed, June 06, 2012
Limit Growth of Government to Protect Taxpayers
by Sen. Mike Folmer, Rep. Tim Krieger and Rep. Scott Perry
Pennsylvania families are being steam-shipped straight into an iceberg by a government that is spending ...
Tue, June 05, 2012
Welfare Providers Getting Rich off Poor
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Research Finds Welfare Providers Getting Rich off Poor
Tue, May 22, 2012
Common Sense Can Correct Corrections
Kyle, a convicted burglar sentenced to 1-3 years in Pennsylvania state prison, was granted parole in June 2011, but spent an extra 100 days in jail, not because he failed to serve time for his ...
Tue, May 08, 2012
CF Applauds Taxpayer Protection Act in Senate Budget
HARRISBURG, PA (05.08.12) The Commonwealth Foundation applauded Pennsylvania
Senate leadership today for using the Taxpayer Protection Act index –
inflation plus population growth ...
Wed, April 11, 2012
Government-Run Golf a Taxpayer Double Bogey
As the current economic stagnation sees cities and counties struggling to maintain basic services, what are some local governments still pouring money into? Golf courses, of course–with ...
Wed, April 11, 2012
State Spending Limits Policy Points
State Spending Limits for Pennsylvania
State Spending is Growing Faster than Taxpayers' Ability to Pay
• Total Pennsylvania state ...
Wed, April 04, 2012
Education Spending: The Rest of the Story
Since Gov. Corbett's budget proposal, those who profit from Pennsylvania's $26 billion a year public school system have been gnashing teeth over what they claim is an "underfunding" of the public ...
Thu, March 29, 2012
Change We Can't Afford
This week, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act celebrated its two-year anniversary before the U.S. Supreme Court. The controversial health care law finds itself in front of the highest ...
Mon, March 19, 2012
Public Schools Can Do More With Less
By Thomas J. Gentzel and Matthew J. Brouillette
As families across Pennsylvania try to figure out how to do more with less in this difficult economy, our local ...
Thu, March 15, 2012
PA State and School Pension Costs
Taxpayer Pension Contributions
• Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension plans for government employees–the State Employees' Retirement System ...
Fri, March 09, 2012
PA Corrections Spending
Pennsylvania's FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 ...
Mon, March 05, 2012
Government Unions Hurting Pennsylvanians
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Report Finds Government Unions Hurting Pennsylvanians
Wed, February 29, 2012
PA K-12 Education Spending
Pennsylvania's FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 ...
Wed, February 22, 2012
CF: PA Welfare Spending
The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years. ...
Thu, February 16, 2012
PA Welfare System Unsustainable
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 |
jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Report finds Pennsylvania welfare system unsustainable, hurting poor
Tue, February 14, 2012
PA's Prevailing Wage Law
Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961 to protect construction workers from out-of-state competition, mandating that contractors pay the wages that "prevail" in each region on all ...
Mon, February 13, 2012
Fireproofing Pennsylvania's Economy
What if someone showed you the future and you saw your house was going to catch fire? Wouldn't you do everything you could to fireproof it today?
It doesn't take a ...
Thu, February 02, 2012
Will our Grandchildren be Budget Losers?
As the Governor's state budget address approaches, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate ...
Tue, January 24, 2012
Welfare Reforms Protect Poor, Taxpayers
Regardless of where you stand on taxpayer-funded entitlements, few Americans argue against the maintenance of temporary safety nets or modifications aimed at ending welfare fraud, waste and ...
Thu, January 12, 2012
A Decade Left Behind
My first career started a few decades ago in the classroom as a high school history teacher. While much has changed since then — including the use of technology and smaller class sizes — ...
Thu, December 22, 2011
Why Gov. Corbett Didn't Get His Christmas Wish List
For Christmas this year, Gov. Tom Corbett hoped the legislature would gift wrap three things he could tie a bow on: An education reform package that included school vouchers, state liquor store ...
Wed, December 14, 2011
PLCB Must End Costly Mission Conflict
In high school, I threw the javelin in track and field, badly wanting to be recruited by a college athletics program. My dad would joke that he never had to worry about high school boys and unwanted ...
Mon, December 12, 2011
PLCB Called On to Stop Advertising
The Commonwealth Foundation called for an immediate halt today by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board of taxpayer-funded advertising that promotes the sale of wine and spirits by the government-run ...
Tue, December 06, 2011
What Will You See in 17 Minutes?
Seventeen minutes is a small sliver of time for most people. In those few moments, most people could take a shower, prepare a meal, or watch half a sitcom. But for 82,000 kids in Pennsylvania, 17 ...
Thu, November 17, 2011
Gas Drilling for PA's Future
Editor's Note: This commentary first appeared in the Allentown Morning Call.
Across Pennsylvania, natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has benefited not ...
Thu, November 10, 2011
A New Teacher Evaluation System for PA
After numerous meetings and conversations with constituents, teachers, school administrators and education policy experts, I have come to the conclusion that we must have a comprehensive way to ...
Thu, October 27, 2011
Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom
By Cara Dochat and Priya Abraham
Imagine a lobbying firm with immense power over your government. This organization influences how much the government pays ...
Thu, October 20, 2011
Willie and Penny Can't Read
We'll call them Willie, Penny, Ben and Frankie, four public school students from Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, respectively. If they don't drop out of school and become clients ...
Tue, October 18, 2011
Failing Schools Racked by Violence
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Analysis Finds Failing Public Schools Racked by Violence
The ...
Tue, October 11, 2011
Cyber Schools Succeed
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Report Finds Cyber and Hybrid Schools Save Pennsylvanians
Wed, October 05, 2011
Principles Must Lead Shale Fee Proposal
Before sound could travel from Gov. Corbett's lips to Pennsylvanians' ears, special interest groups and tax-and-spend politicians unwisely laid waste his plan to protect job growth and stave off ...
Mon, October 03, 2011
Corbett Gas Fee Embraces Key Principles
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
CF: Gov. Corbett's Natural Gas Fee Proposal Embraces Key Principles
CF ...
Tue, September 27, 2011
Public Universities Have Indigestion
Pennsylvania's public universities have indigestion.
If you ask them, they'll say they're hurting because budget — slashing Gov. Tom Corbett just forced ...
Wed, September 21, 2011
Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax Hikes
Facing immense fiscal and political pressures, many local governments are looking for ways to fund services without raising taxes. But officials need not curb their enthusiasm for fiscal ...
Thu, September 15, 2011
State of Inconvenience
By James Miller and Katrina Currie
Walk into any supermarket in Ohio and you can see shoppers purchasing everything they need for dinner - including the wine to go ...
Fri, September 02, 2011
CF Study: Booze Border Bleeds Losses in Taxes
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
CF Study: Booze Border Bleed Loses Billions in Taxes, Sales
Tue, August 30, 2011
Preserving Penn's Woods Public-Private Partnerships
Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched ...
Thu, August 25, 2011
Green Light for More Education Tax Credits
Would you ever give a green light or a hard-earned nickel to a business model that showed it was going to hire more staff to service fewer customers by doubling the cost of production while keeping ...
Mon, August 01, 2011
Liquor Board Cited for Waste, Mismanagement
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
AG Audit Finds Rampant PLCB Waste and Mismanagement
CF renews call to ...
Thu, July 28, 2011
Frack Attack
By Paul Chesser and Mark Newgent
Introduction
The development and growth of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry is a major ...
Thu, July 14, 2011
CF Toasts Turzai Liquor Freedom Bill
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Commonwealth Foundation Toasts Turzai Liquor Freedom Bill
Sees opportunity to return freedom to ...
Thu, July 14, 2011
Transparency Becomes Reality in PA
The last few months saw immense partisan animosity and demeaning comments during numerous spats under the Capitol Dome. But amid the fiscal fist fights over school choice, a natural gas tax, ...
Fri, July 08, 2011
CF Applauds Liquor Store Proposal
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
CF Applauds Initial Liquor Liberty Law Proposal
Sees PA Liquor ...
Thu, July 07, 2011
Corbett First Inning Scorecard
July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania–Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season. Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's ...
Tue, July 05, 2011
CF Blasts Big Brother Booze Brag
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
CF Blasts Big Brother Booze Brag
Calls for Liquor Independence ...
Thu, June 23, 2011
Give Voters a Say on School Taxes
Five years ago, state lawmakers passed Act 1 to provide property tax relief and give voters a voice on school tax increases. But since slot machine gambling was introduced in Pennsylvania, school ...
Tue, June 14, 2011
PA's Failing, Violent Schools
More than 106,000 children are enrolled in the 144 public schools comprising Pennsylvania's lowest performing 5 percent on student proficiency. These schools reported more than 5,400 violent ...
Thu, June 09, 2011
Real Victims of a Severance Tax
Jim VanBlarcom, a busy Bradford County dairy farmer, set a work day aside to come to Harrisburg and tell his story to Gov. Tom Corbett's Marcellus Shale panel. Royalty money from leasing farmland ...
Mon, June 06, 2011
PA Budget Facts: Pensions
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2011
Pennsylvania State Pension Liabilities
Taxpayer Pension Contributions
• Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension ...
Fri, June 03, 2011
PA State Union Contracts
On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August. These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, for whom total cost to taxpayers ...
Thu, June 02, 2011
PA Education: A State of Emergency
At the start of our nation, founding father John Adams was as concerned with the positive development of our offspring as he was with that of the republic. Seeing the relationship as symbiotic, he ...
Tue, May 24, 2011
Former AFL-CIO Lobbyists Joins CF
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Former AFL-CIO Lobbyist Joins CF as Senior Fellow
Fri, May 20, 2011
Welfare Medicaid Spending Skyrockets
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2011
Pennsylvania Welfare Spending Medicaid
GROWTH OF WELFARE SPENDING
• Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed FY 2011-12 budget would ...
Tue, May 17, 2011
Saving Our School Boards
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Commonwealth Foundation are policy opponents in the debate over giving students taxpayer-funded vouchers. But we strongly agree on the need to give ...
Thu, May 12, 2011
A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned
AImagine for a minute that you, like many Pennsylvanians, had your hours and pay cut back at work. You've been building up credit card debt month after month, and had to renegotiate your mortgage ...
Thu, May 05, 2011
PA Budget Facts: Natural Gas Taxes
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2011
Natural Gas Taxes and Fees
Pennsylvania's Natural Gas Boom
• The Marcellus Shale is a large and difficult-to-drill ...
Mon, May 02, 2011
New School Choice Site
HARRISBURG, PA The Commonwealth Foundation launched today the Stand Strong Senator project in response to the wave of aggressive and special interest lobbying led by the Pennsylvania State Education ...
Thu, April 28, 2011
PA Budget Facts
The Commonwealth Foundation has two new fact sheets on the Pennsylvania State Budget.
Pennsylvania Educational Spending
• K-12 ...
Thu, April 28, 2011
A Pitt Student's Take on Corbett Budget
Gov. Tom Corbett released a budget proposal last month that would reduce state funding to four state-related universities by about half. Under this proposal, the University of Pittsburgh would ...
Tue, April 12, 2011
Public Schools Funnel Millions to Lobbyists
HARRISBURG, PA (4.12.11)—The Commonwealth Foundation announced today
preliminary results from extensive Open Records Requests that found more than $59 million dollars of taxpayer money ...
Thu, April 07, 2011
PA Budget Facts
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2011
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two fact sheets on the Pennsylvania State Budget.
Wed, April 06, 2011
Scholars Aren't Made from Dollars
Pop Quiz: If throwing more money at a problem solves it, why hasn't doubling taxpayer spending on education over 15 years, to $26 billion per year, given us better schools and results?
Fri, March 25, 2011
The Bubble Bursts at Penn State
Michael B. Poliakoff Charles F. Mitchell
This commentary first appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot News.
The story is told that ...
Fri, March 18, 2011
Film Tax Credit: Two Thumbs Down
Katrina Currie Nicholas Fett
Behind the lens of Gov. Tom Corbett's budget, the focus is largely on putting taxpayers first and fostering economic growth. But at a ...
Wed, March 16, 2011
Streamlining State Government
Reforming the Regulatory Structure of Pennsylvania
Executive Summary
Across the nation, states are facing formidable fiscal challenges. In an effort to ...
Tue, March 08, 2011
CF Grades Corbett Budget Address
Plan slows runaway government train, short of A+ improvement
HARRISBURG, PA (3.08.11)–The Commonwealth Foundation graded Gov. Tom Corbett's budget address a ...
Thu, March 03, 2011
Spending Transparency Coming to PA?
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light," said Plato more than 2,300 years ago. He'd certainly find tragic that ...
Fri, February 18, 2011
Exposing School Choice Myths
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
Exposing the Myths of School Choice
New CF resources and testimony on ...
Wed, February 16, 2011
Public School Board Members for School Choice
HARRISBURG, PA (02.15.2011) - As children continue to be trapped in failing
schools, despite massive increases in taxpayer funding, public school board
members-past and present-are ...
Wed, February 09, 2011
School Daze Ends With Choice
If Pennsylvania's public schools are broken, why don't we just fix them? Easier said than done, of course, but it's not from a lack of trying. For decades, taxpayers, parents and politicians have ...
Tue, February 08, 2011
Commonwealth Foundation on S.B. # 1
Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families ...
Wed, January 26, 2011
Parents Need Choices
Nathan Benefield Andrew LeFevre
Before Jonathan came to City Center Academy in Philadelphia, he was a "trouble student." He hated school and was a ...
Thu, January 20, 2011
Fixing Rendell's Mess
Katrina Currie and Nathan A. Benefield
Penn's Woods are darker and deeper in red ink than ever before thanks to the tax-borrow-and-spend agenda of the Rendell ...
Wed, January 19, 2011
80 Ideas for a Prosperous PA
Contact: Jay Ostrich 717.671.1901; cell: 717.649.6547 | jdo@commonwealthfoundation.org
80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
CF unveils roadmap to drive ...
Tue, January 11, 2011
CF: Five Ways to Cut $5 Billion
HARRISBURG, PA (1.11.11) –The Commonwealth Foundation released today its report 5 Ways to Cut $5 Billion, providing a fiscal roadmap of policy reforms for Gov.-elect Tom Corbett and members of ...
Tue, December 21, 2010
Private Liquor Stores: A Reason for Cheers
As many Pennsylvanians are heading to their local state liquor store to pick up holiday cheer, there are three things they won't be celebrating: Higher costs, less selection and lower quality service ...
Wed, December 08, 2010
Lawsuit Lottery Must End
In 2004, a Hazelton-area community pool closed after a man jumped into the water, slightly cutting his heel, and then filed a lawsuit claiming $100,000 in damages. While the settlement was ...
Thu, November 18, 2010
Does Professional Licensing Protect Consumers?
After his friend was killed by a drunk driver, Illinois resident Jonathon Schoenakase began to offer bar patrons a free ride home. Although he never charged for this service, Schoenakase did accept ...
Tue, November 16, 2010
Pension 'Reform' Goes to Governor Rendell
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Pension "Reform" Goes to Gov. Rendell
HARRISBURG, PA (11.15.10) – The ...
Wed, November 10, 2010
Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Favor School Choice
Commonwealth Foundation sponsoring forum on education vouchers, state budget and spending cuts in wake of poll results
HARRISBURG, PA (11.09.10) – ...
Mon, November 08, 2010
Corbett's Challenge
As Tom Corbett prepares for his move into the Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion, he must be realizing the magnitude of what he is about to undertake: the governorship of a state that is facing both a ...
Fri, November 05, 2010
Union Pension Bailout Generational Theft
Pennsylvania's largest public pension plans–Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) and State Employees Retirement System (SERS)–are severely underfunded. But instead of ...
Thu, November 04, 2010
PA Voters Hit Brakes on Spending
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway Government
Electorate ...
Thu, October 28, 2010
Health Care Reform: An Update
Before enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Congress had to pass the bill before we'd find out what's in it. Sadly, it's worse ...
Thu, October 28, 2010
Never Enough Green for Renewable Energy
This Commentary first appeared in the Washington Times on October 25.
The word on the Web-o-sphere is that a lame-duck Congress could enact a wind- and ...
Wed, October 20, 2010
Harrisburg's Woes: Coming to a City Near You
Gov. Rendell's recent state bailout of the city of Harrisburg has brought attention to the capital city's fiscal mismanagement. With millions in debt payments and an enormous pension obligation, ...
Wed, October 13, 2010
PA Senate May Add Billions to Pension Costs
This week, the Pennsylvania Senate is scheduled to vote on House Bill 2497–which will cost our kids and grandkids billions in future costs and lost opportunities. This is not reform at ...
Wed, October 13, 2010
Will Leased Parking Garages be a Tax Shelter?
Pittsburgh is contemplating a lease of its publicly owned parking to the high bidder for a sum of $452 million. The lease of nearly 18,000 spaces in garages or lots and on-street metered spots owned ...
Fri, October 08, 2010
Former House Speaker Joins Commonwealth Foundation
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Susan Semeleer 717.671.1901 | sjs@commonwealthfoundation.org
Former PA House Speaker Bob O'Donnell Joins ...
Thu, October 07, 2010
PA Needs True Pension Reform
The state pension time bomb is taking front stage again in the waning days of the 2009-2010 legislative session. The Senate is revisiting HB 2497–the $27 billion pension deferral plan passed by ...
Tue, October 05, 2010
CF Releases New Video
Know the Drill: The Truth About Natural Gas Severance Tax
Last week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the highest natural gas tax in the nation. The ...
Tue, October 05, 2010
Charter Schools Give Children a Choice, Chance
Contact: Susan Semeleer 717.671.1901 | sjs@commonwealthfoundation.org
Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a Chance
HARRISBURG, PA (10.05.10) – The ...
Thu, September 30, 2010
PA House Democrats Unveil Nation's Highest Severence Tax
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Susan Semeleer 717.671.1901 | sjs@commonwealthfoundation.org
HARRISBURG, PA (09.28.10) – A proposal by Pennsylvania House Democrats ...
Mon, September 27, 2010
New CF Video: Know the Drill, the Truth About Natural Gas
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation unveiled a new video series titled Know the Drill: The Truth About Natural Gas. The first video in the series, Know the Drill: Community Impact looks at the impact ...
Fri, September 24, 2010
Three Myths About Free Market Conservatives
Working for a free-market think tank, one hears all the attacks against conservatives and endures being given many labels. Three of the most common attacks launched by both those who misunderstand ...
Wed, September 22, 2010
CF Launches Spending Web Site
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Susan Semeleer 717.671.1901 | sjs@commonwealthfoundation.org
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal ...
Thu, September 16, 2010
Natural Gas: Myths v Facts
The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. It has the potential to create ...
Tue, August 31, 2010
Traditional Energy Fuels PA Economy
Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is vital to ...
Fri, August 27, 2010
Gov. Rendell's Gamesmanship
While table games have been in Pennsylvania casinos for more than a month, I don't know if Gov. Rendell has tried his luck. But it would be a safe wager that he's a fantastic poker player. Why? For ...
Tue, August 17, 2010
Time to Exit Rendell's Road to Higher Taxes
Governor Rendell has proposed a series of tax increases to fill a $415 million
transportation funding deficit created when the federal government rejected his plan to toll I-80 for a third time. ...
Wed, August 11, 2010
A School Choice Governor?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett recently made headlines by announcing his support for full-fledged school choice in Pennsylvania. Democrat Dan Onorato has also expressed support for ...
Wed, July 28, 2010
Can Corbett Keep his 'No Tax' Pledge?
Attorney General Tom Corbett has taken significant criticism for his pledge to not raise taxes if elected governor. That was to be expected from his Democrat rival, Allegheny County executive Dan ...
Fri, July 23, 2010
PA Independent: Week in Review
Philadelphia Shipyard on the Brink
Despite receiving $429 million from taxpayers in 1998
JULY 21, 2010 | by JIM PANYARD
A ...
Thu, July 22, 2010
I R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform
Michael J. Nerozzi Nathan A. Benefield
Following indictments and convictions of lawmakers and staff, a recent grand jury report recommended a series of ...
Tue, July 13, 2010
The Real Problem with the Specter Library
As part of the state budget deal, Gov. Rendell secured $600 million in new borrowing for pork-barrel projects, including $10 million for the "Arlen Specter Library" at Philadelphia ...
Fri, July 09, 2010
PennFuture: Harrisburg's Lobbying Launderers
How do you spend vast amounts of time and energy, but no money, getting your volunteers to advocate for legislation you favor? The environmental group PennFuture, a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania's ...
Thu, July 08, 2010
Penn Future's Secret Lobbying
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
PennFuture's Secret Lobbying
Fri, June 25, 2010
Where Did $11 Billion Go?
Where Did the Invisible $11 Billion Go?
Education, welfare, health care and corrections
JUNE 23, 2010 | by JIM PANYARD
In ...
Wed, June 23, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Targets Spending Cuts
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Time for A Taxpayer's Budget
CF identifies $4 billion in spending cuts
Wed, June 23, 2010
Marcellus Shale: A real Stimulus
The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study found ...
Thu, June 17, 2010
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Governor Rendell proposed a $66 billion total state operating budget for 2010-11 that increases taxes. What will these new taxes go to pay? Here is the second in a series looking at Your Tax ...
Wed, June 16, 2010
Are PA Taxes 'Money Well Spent'?
Gov. Rendell proposes balancing the state budget with a combination of new and higher taxes, another federal bailout, and additional state borrowing. When confronted by opposition to additional ...
Tue, June 15, 2010
Rendell Pension 'Reform': Generational Theft
Gov. Rendell and the Democrat-controlled House are trying to redefine pension "reform" by further deferring the scheduled taxpayers' contributions to the state's largest government pension ...
Tue, June 08, 2010
Natural Gas Economic Impacts
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania
CF Policy Brief ...
Wed, June 02, 2010
PA Budget Facts 2010
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two fact sheets on the Pennsylvania State Budget, and offered testimony on ways to reduce ...
Wed, May 12, 2010
Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs
With Pennsylvania's unemployment rate at a 25-year high, Gov. Rendell is pushing "green jobs" at every turn. He has doled out nearly $1 billion to renewable energy projects and wants ...
Tue, May 11, 2010
Special Interests Denounce 'Special Interests'
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Special Interests Denounce "Special Interests"
HARRISBURG, ...
Thu, April 29, 2010
Small Business vs. Big Government
What is the third largest country in the world based on its production of output? It is America's small businesses. Collectively, they produce half of our private Gross Domestic Product (the total ...
Tue, April 27, 2010
Rendell's 'Press Release Economics'
It is a scene familiar in America. A mayor, joined by legislators, holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new facility or attraction in the community. Smiling ear to ear, he eagerly shakes the hands ...
Tue, April 13, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Offers Prize for Grassroots Champion
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Campaign for Taxpayer's Budget
$500 ...
Thu, April 08, 2010
Rendell's Higher Taxes Equal Fewer Jobs
Pennsylvania's latest budget shortfall is the result of a pattern in which state legislators abandon fiscal prudence in "good years" and face spending cuts or tax hikes in down times. ...
Tue, March 30, 2010
Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?
Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction. But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off. Speaker Nancy ...
Fri, March 19, 2010
The Case for a Part-Time Legislature
Ask Pennsylvanians what comes to mind when they hear the words "state government," and the responses will regularly include corruption, late budgets, cronyism, wasteful spending, and ...
Fri, March 12, 2010
CF: The Case for a Citizen Legislature
CF Releases The Case for a Citizen Legislature
The Commonwealth Foundation today released The Case for a Citizen Legislature, a policy brief by Elizabeth Bryan and ...
Thu, March 11, 2010
CF Flunks Corbett Economic Plan
Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development.
Much of what it outlines is ...
Wed, February 24, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Budget Facts
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two new analyses of the Pennsylvania State Budget.
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Wed, February 17, 2010
The True Cost of Unemployment Compensation
Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt. Beginning in March 2009,the Keystone State borrowed over $2 billion from the federal government to keep it solvent. Unfortunately, ...
Thu, February 11, 2010
No Solutions in Rendell's Budget
No Solutions in Rendell's Budget
* ARTICLE
* COMMENTS (2)
*
* E-MAIL
* PRINT
* ...
Mon, February 08, 2010
Time for a Taxpayer Budget
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Joe Sterns 717.671.1901 | jds@commonwealthfoundation.org
It's Time for a Taxpayer's Budget
CF ...
Thu, February 04, 2010
Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Joe Sterns 717.671.1901 | jds@commonwealthfoundation.org
Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation
University's internal ...
Thu, February 04, 2010
Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania
By Katrina Anderson and Nathan Benefield
Once upon a time, "Keystone State" represented more than just a nickname, as Pennsylvania was central to ...
Wed, January 27, 2010
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will ...
Mon, January 25, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Launches PA Independent
Contact: Jim Panyard 717.364.5224 | Jim@PAindependent.com
Pennsylvania Independent Launches
Web site to watchdog state government with investigtive reporting ...
Thu, January 21, 2010
Time for Term Limits Again
At its genesis 2,500 years ago, democracy incorporated term limits as a safeguard against corruption and complacency.
Aristotle believed that frequent rotation in ...
Thu, January 21, 2010
Hey Ed : What's in the Bill?
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Nathan Benefield 717.671.1901 | nab@commonwealthfoundation.org
CF Challenges Gov. Rendell to Explain What's In the Bill
Harrisburg, ...
Fri, January 15, 2010
A Third Stimulus Won't be the Charm
Some members of Congress are pushing a third economic "stimulus" in as many years (pundits often forget the Bush stimulus of 2008). Supporters of yet another round of deficit spending make ...
Wed, January 13, 2010
Investigate 'Mann-Made' Global Warming
Contact: Joe Sterns 717.671.1901 | jds@commonwealthfoundation.org
Commonwealth Foundation calls for independent investigation of
Penn State professor ...
Sat, January 09, 2010
Time for More Transparency in Government
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Tue, January 05, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Guide to Electric Choice
Citizen's Guide to Electric Choice Competition
Background
Why are we now getting electricity choice and competition?
Tue, December 29, 2009
A Road to Savings: Abolish the PA Turnpike Commission
During my campaign for governor more than 32 years ago, I made a pledge to restore integrity and efficiency to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Wed, December 16, 2009
Five Threats to Pennsylvania's Prosperity
Pennsylvania has long been one of the most economically stagnant states in the nation. For the period 1991-2008, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in job growth, 46th in personal income growth, and 47th ...
Thu, December 03, 2009
Spending Transparency Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Wed, December 02, 2009
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
By Elizabeth Bryan and Nathan Benefield
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies ...
Tue, November 24, 2009
Every Generation Needs a Revolution
By Matt Brouillette, Tim Potts, Barry Kauffman Olivia Thorne
Pennsylvania's government is a prime exhibition of Lord Acton's well-known admonition that "power ...
Tue, November 24, 2009
Bamboozled: Why Government-Run Liquore Stores are Socially and Economically Impractical
The privatization of Pennsylvania's liquor stores is an idea that has been floating around the halls of Harrisburg for decades. The sale of stores alone would generate over $1.7 billion dollars in ...
Mon, September 21, 2009
Senate GOP Can Still Protect Taxpayers
Earlier this year, state Senate Republicans drew a line in the sand, stating they would not support a budget that: 1) spends more than last fiscal year; 2) includes broad-based tax increases; or 3) ...
Fri, September 04, 2009
Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for Disaster
Once again, state lawmakers, bureaucrats and special interest groups are looking for another way to grab more money from Pennsylvanians. The latest rendition is tolling Interstate 80 across the ...
Tue, September 01, 2009
Rendell's Mixed Energy Agenda
Governor Rendell frequently talks about the need to combat rising energy costs. Yet he continues to support policies that will increase Pennsylvanians' electric bills and endanger thousands of jobs ...
Thu, August 27, 2009
Keep On Truckin'
With Harrisburg gridlocked by the state budget impasse and Washington battling over national health care, an issue vital to Pennsylvania lurks below the radar. The debate is over the future of the ...
Tue, August 25, 2009
ObamaCare is Bad Medicine for PA
America faces divergent prescriptions for health care reform–one calling for more government control, the other for patient empowerment. Unfortunately President Obama, Governor Rendell, and ...
Wed, August 19, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation:
ObamaCare is Bad Medicine for PA
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
08.19.09
Report: ObamaCare Is Bad Medicine for PA
National health care would harm state's economy and add $4,400 in costs for every ...
Tue, August 11, 2009
Policy Points
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation
August 11, 2009
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two new Policy Points highlighting Pennsylvania's state and local tax burden and state and local government debt, in light of ...
Thu, August 06, 2009
Low Standards De-Value Diplomas
The U.S. dollar isn't the only piece of paper plagued by inflation. While the Federal Reserve drives down the value of the greenback, low academic standards in Pennsylvania are decreasing the value ...
Tue, August 04, 2009
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation:
Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps
With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is ...
Tue, July 21, 2009
The Faulty Premise of the Budget Impasse
By Matthew J. Brouillette Nathan A. Benefield
Governor Rendell wants the taxpayers to spend more on public schools. So do Republicans in the General ...
Wed, July 15, 2009
PA's Gambling Addiction
Five years ago this month, Gov. Rendell signed into law the signature policy achievement of his tenure -- legalized slot machine gambling. Act 71 of 2004 allows for 61,000 slot machines in 14 casinos ...
Tue, July 14, 2009
Time to End Direct Higher Education Subsidies
House Democrats' gimmick fosters important policy dialogue
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the Pennsylvania House Democrats' proposed elimination of higher education funding in the state budget, forcing lawmakers to re-examine the ...
Tue, July 07, 2009
Reject Rendell's Zugzwang
Observers of the state budget process under Gov. Rendell and a divided General Assembly know that it is akin to a high-stakes chess match, replete with public relations offensives and ...
Mon, July 06, 2009
Budget Fact s 2009
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released three new Pennsylvania Budget Facts highlighting Gov. Rendell's proposals to fill a $3.2 billion revenue shortfall in the state's General Fund budget. The ...
Wed, July 01, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Launches 'Yes , We Can!' and 'We Agree'
CF Launches "Yes, We Can!" and "We Agree!"
Does your state legislator agree with Pres. Obama, who said, "In an economy like this, the last ...
Wed, July 01, 2009
The Road Less Travelled in PA
Matthew J. Brouillette Jake Haulk
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of occasional commentaries on how Pennsylvania can turn around its economic fortune. In their first ...
Wed, June 24, 2009
The 'Mis-education' of Ed Rendell
Gov. Rendell wants to increase taxes to continue the double-the-rate-of-inflation spending that has defined his tenure. In order to sell his state budget plan to an increasingly skeptical public, he ...
Thu, June 18, 2009
Rendell to Suspend Laws of Economics for Three Years
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.18.09
Rendell to Suspend Laws of Economics for Three Years
Governor calls CF's job loss projections "ludicrous"
Mon, June 15, 2009
PIT Increase Would Cost Thousands of PA Jobs
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.15.09
New CF analysis projects 48,000 jobs lost from 1% increase in state income tax
HARRISBURG, ...
Fri, June 12, 2009
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
June 2009
Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania faces a $3 ...
Wed, June 10, 2009
In What World is an 11.7% Increase Called a Decrease?
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.10.09
Rendell misinformation bus tour continues with Brouillette on its tail
Harrisburg, PA ...
Tue, June 09, 2009
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
June 2009
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state's General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed ...
Fri, June 05, 2009
CF Statement on Film Tax Credit Study
Flawed report gives lawmakers more reasons to eliminate program
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.05.09
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the following statement today in ...
Thu, June 04, 2009
Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate
By Nathan A. Benefield and Elizabeth Bryan
With the approach of June 30 and the end of the state's fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania's budget. With ...
Thu, June 04, 2009
House Should Act Immediately on Spending Transparency Bill Passed by Senate
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
06.03.09
House Should Act Immediately on Spending Transparency Bill Passed by the Senate
Harrisburg, ...
Thu, May 28, 2009
Will More Government Spending Stimulate the Economy?
Over the past eight years, federal, state, and local government spending increased from 30% of U.S. GDP to 35%. Economists warn that when government spending exceeds 25% of GDP, it hampers economic ...
Thu, May 28, 2009
Government Intervention Prolongs Recessions
Recessions are a tough time for all–many lose their jobs, family incomes shrink, and budgets are squeezed. But recessions are natural and, in the long-run, foster a stronger economy. It is ...
Fri, May 15, 2009
Get the Quarter Back
There is an old joke, with many variations, that goes something like this: a foreigner came to visit a friend in America, and they went to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers football game. After the game, ...
Wed, May 13, 2009
Taxing an Infant Industry to Death
Home to the first oil well in the United States, Pennsylvania has returned to the drilling scene in recent years, looking to tap into an estimated 50 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas in ...
Tue, May 12, 2009
Reviving Pennsylvania
By Jake Haulk Matthew J. Brouillette
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of occasional commentaries on how Pennsylvania can turn around its economic fortunes. Today, troubling ...
Thu, May 07, 2009
The Path to Prosperity
In any economic crisis, politicians scramble to "do something" to show voters they're "on the job." Ironically, the greatest threat to our recovery is not government's inaction, but rather its ...
Wed, May 06, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
05.06.09
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget
Spending plan represents step toward fiscal responsibility, CF encourages ...
Mon, May 04, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009
Update on Pennsylvania's Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation
05.04.09
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the ...
Mon, April 27, 2009
What Unions Should Receive From Their Card Check Crusade
The nation's most powerful labor unions have been lobbying heavily for a law, misleadingly named the Employee Free Choice Act, that would take away workers' basic rights to a secret-ballot vote on ...
Fri, April 24, 2009
Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphia's Black Workers
Since construction began on the Philadelphia Convention Center, the city's black construction workers have protested, with good reason, the lack of opportunity for minority workers on public ...
Thu, April 23, 2009
Can PA Cut Spending and Still Provide Essential Programs Services?
Those who feed at the trough of taxpayer funding typically argue that the state budget can't possibly be reduced–or even see its growth limited to inflation and population growth–without ...
Mon, April 20, 2009
The Un-Silent Majority
Nearly 10,000 Pennsylvanians rallied on Tax Day, April 15th, against wasteful government spending, high and rising taxes, and burgeoning government debt and deficits. The nonpartisan, ...
Tue, April 14, 2009
Tax Freedom Day 2009
Nathan A. Benefield Michael Acker
Circle April 14th on your calendar this year as Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania. While tomorrow is the deadline for filing income tax forms, ...
Thu, April 09, 2009
IS PA a Friendly Place for Job Creators?
Gov. Rendell frequently claims that his policies–namely increased government spending on "economic development", and the higher taxes and debt that accompany that–make ...
Tue, April 07, 2009
Electricity Deregulation: A Successful Transition
Most Pennsylvania residents will soon see significant increases in their electricity bills. Many state lawmakers are concerned about the political backlash they will receive as a result. But it is ...
Mon, April 06, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Examines PA Pension and Retiree Medical Liabilities
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
04.06.09
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released A Tale of Three Cities: Pennsylvania's Retiree and Medical ...
Fri, April 03, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2009
Update on Pennsylvania's Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation
04.03.09
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the ...
Tue, March 31, 2009
Philadelphia's 'Pension Reform' is Generational Theft
Faced with significant budget deficits and the burden of ever-increasing pension contributions, Philadelphia is attempting to finesse itself out of a financial dilemma.
Amidst the ...
Mon, March 30, 2009
The Coming Union Bailout
America's history is filled with stories about entrepreneurs who persevered through repeated failure before eventually succeeding. These pre-21st century men and women didn't get help from the ...
Thu, March 26, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation: Should State Government Borrow More Money?
While Gov. Rendell is fond of claiming Pennsylvania has a low state debt burden relative to other states, this ranking excludes a vast majority of taxpayer-owed debt. In fact, state debt is ...
Thu, March 19, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Announces Video Contest
March 19th, 2009
Win Up to $2,500 by Entering the
Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest
Need some extra cash? There's plenty of time left to enter the Please, No More Taxes! video ...
Wed, March 18, 2009
State Can't Spend Its Way to Student Success
For years, the educational establishment has claimed that not enough is being spent on public schools — that if more money is pumped into the system, student achievement will improve. ...
Tue, March 17, 2009
Free Markets: An Unknown Ideal
President Obama, Governor Rendell, and many in the media have been echoing a similar refrain recently: "Conservatives had their chance. We tried free markets, and they failed." When ...
Fri, March 13, 2009
Scotland School Students Need More Educational Choices
By Christopher Dodds and Matthew J. Brouillette
To plug a $2.3 billion deficit caused by overspending, Gov. Rendell has proposed closing the Scotland School for Veterans' Children. ...
Wed, March 11, 2009
Are Pennsylvanians Under Taxed?
Pennsylvania's tax burden is high, and growing, relative to the rest of the nation.
• Pennsylvania residents pay, on average, $13,000 per person each year in ...
Mon, February 23, 2009
Pennsylvania's Spending Problem
Imagine our economy is a pond. In the name of "economic stimulation," Gov. Ed Rendell goes to one side of the pond, dips in a bucket, pulls it out and starts to walk to the other side.
Fri, February 13, 2009
School District Consolidation is a Red Herring
Nathan A. Benefield Fred D. Baldwin
02.13.09
In the movie Men in Black, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) carries a small device that flashes, allowing him to make people forget meeting him ...
Fri, February 13, 2009
How Will America Pay for this Stimulus Plan?
In the debate over the federal "stimulus" plan, few are asking–and no proponent is answering–the important questions: Who will finance the debt? What are the opportunity costs for this ...
Thu, February 12, 2009
CF Report Finds $5 Billion in Government Waste
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
02.12.09
CF Report Finds $5 billion in Gov't Waste
State gov't overspending is impeding prosperity and burdening taxpayers
Fri, February 06, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Please, No More Taxes! Campaign
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
02.05.09
Commonwealth Foundation Launches
Please, No More Taxes! Campaign
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth ...
Wed, February 04, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Statement on Rendell Budget Address
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
2.04.09
HARRISBURG, PA – Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the ...
Tue, February 03, 2009
Obama Transparency Standard Challenges School Boards
Pennsylvania school boards have been presented an opportunity to measure up to the standard set by our new President. In his inaugural address, Barack Obama promised that public business would be ...
Tue, February 03, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Updates on PA's revenue shortfall
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the January revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.08 billion short for the fiscal year to date.
Tue, January 27, 2009
Six Years of Rendell's 'Stimulus' is Enough
Gov. Ed Rendell is, as head of the National Governor's Association as well as the chief of a state facing a major revenue shortfall, leading the push for a federal "stimulus" package that ...
Fri, January 23, 2009
Update from the Commonwealth Foundation
Government Transparency Resources
UPDATE from the Commonwealth Foundation
01.23.09
Government Transparency Resources
Our latest CF NOW video highlights current efforts to create more government ...
Mon, January 19, 2009
Boscov's Bailout is Bad for Business
With bailout mania sweeping the nation, it is hardly a surprise to see the struggling Boscov's department store with its hand out. But the current proposal to give Boscov's $35 million in taxpayer ...
Wed, January 14, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation Launches PennsylvaniaVotes.org
Innovative web site helps citizens keep tabs on state government
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
1.14.09
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today announced the launch of
Wed, January 07, 2009
The PSEA: A Worm in the Apple
Every taxpayer in the Commonwealth should be aware of the influence and agenda of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). Despite its name, the organization's top priority is not ...
Tue, January 06, 2009
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch I
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch I
January 2009
Updates on Pennsylvania's Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation
01.06.09
The Pennsylvania Department of ...
Mon, December 15, 2008
Rendell's Wicked Game
People are but mere pawns for Gov. Ed Rendell's use as political leverage in an inexorable pursuit of his policy agenda.
Thousands of state employees were unnecessarily furloughed by the ...
Thu, December 04, 2008
Budget Lessons for Pennsylvania
When it comes to being in poor fiscal health, Pennsylvania–which faces a revenue shortfall forecasted to reach $1-2 billion–is not alone.
Thirteen states are staring at ...
Tue, December 02, 2008
Spend Like It's 2007
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
12.02.08
Commonwealth's revenue shortfall grows to $658 million
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth ...
Tue, December 02, 2008
What's Wrong With PA Higher Education?
In the midst of rising tuition, dwindling tax revenue, and a recession, the presidents of 13 state-owned colleges are collectively receiving $147,427 in raises, which would equal tuition for 27 ...
Mon, November 24, 2008
Government Can't Cure Our Economic Woes
Pennsylvania is facing a deep shortfall in revenue which, through October, stands at $565 million. Putting this in perspective, the shortfall in 2002-03–which led to increases in the state ...
Fri, November 14, 2008
Which Obama Will Be President?
Will an Obama presidency bring a lurch to the political Left in America? This is of great concern for those of us who believe that our prosperity and security do not come from new or expanded ...
Wed, November 12, 2008
Harrisburg's Most Powerful Special Interest
New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
11.12.08
Harrisburg's Most Powerful Special Interest
New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education
Wed, November 12, 2008
Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
11.11.08
Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance
Uninsured citizens fare better than government insured ...
Mon, November 10, 2008
Worker Freedom Ensures Economic Prosperity
Along with the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania is struggling to rebound from the recent economic turmoil. Unfortunately, being a compulsory union state puts the Commonwealth at a marked ...
Thu, November 06, 2008
Massive Budget Hole Awaits New Legislature
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
11.06.08
Massive Budget Hole Awaits New Legislature
Commonwealth's revenue shortfall grows to $560 million
Mon, November 03, 2008
Real Hope and Change Comes from Ideas, Not Politics
In 1993, I officially launched my campaign for President of the United States. Granted, I was only 17 years old, hadn't graduated high school yet, and wasn't a member of the Kennedy family. ...
Tue, October 28, 2008
PA's $400 Million Question
How will you vote on Tuesday, November 4th?
No, I'm not talking about the race for the White House. Nor am I talking about the
Congressional or state House ...
Mon, October 27, 2008
Water and Sewer Ballot Question
POLICY POINTS from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.27.08
Water and Sewer Ballot Question
When Pennsylvania voters head to the polls on November 4, 2008, they will also ...
Thu, October 23, 2008
Failure to Lease Turnpike will Cost Taxpayers
"What did you do when you had the power?"
Those words define the legacy of my former boss, the late Gov. Bob Casey. It was a question he would often ask me and other members of ...
Wed, October 22, 2008
Time for School Board Tansparency
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.21.08
Time for School Board Transparency
Commonwealth Foundation launches "sunshine" project on
school district ...
Fri, October 10, 2008
Stay (Just a Little Bit Longer)
Recently, state Senators Gibson Armstrong (R, Lancaster) and Vince Fumo (D, Philadelphia) sounded the alarm that Pennsylvania will be facing a massive budget deficit by the end of the fiscal year. ...
Mon, October 06, 2008
Marx Was Right (Groucho, That is)
Washington's response to the current financial trouble has affirmed Groucho Marx's definition of "Politics": "The art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it ...
Wed, October 01, 2008
What will the General Assembly Do?
Turnpike lease opportunity expires
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
09.30.08
What Will the General Assembly Do?
Turnpike lease opportunity is going away
HARRISBURG, PA–The $12.8 ...
Wed, October 01, 2008
Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later
$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.01.08
Reduce Spending Now, or Increase Taxes Later
$281 million budget shortfall puts taxpayers at risk
HARRISBURG, ...
Tue, September 23, 2008
Delay on Turnpike Lease is Bad Policy
Commonwealth Foundation urges action on lease legislation
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
09.23.08
Delay on Turnpike Lease Is Bad Policy
Commonwealth Foundation Urges Action on Lease Legislation
HARRISBURG, PA ...
Fri, September 19, 2008
Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
09.18.08
Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?
Budget revenue shortfalls on track to produce ...
Fri, September 12, 2008
Tolling of I-80 Denied
Commonwealth Foundation applauds decision
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
09.11.08
Tolling of I-80 Denied
Federal government rejects Turnpike proposal to toll I-80 drivers
HARRISBURG, PA ...
