Blog

Government Accountability

12 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Bail Out SEPTA

• Nathan Benefield
• April 11, 2025

As Commonwealth Foundation outlined in our “Mass Transit Bailout” fact sheet, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and other mass transit agencies should not rely…

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Shapiro’s Betrayal

• Common Sense Weekly
• April 9, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.We have a new X handle! Follow @MyCommonwealth…

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Shapiro’s Self-Promotion Madness (Updated)

• April 7, 2025

“Barbie Guy” is the Winner In a landslide victory, “Barbie Guy” takes home the championship. And though the video might have won, it still serves as a stark reminder…

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Education

Without the Department of Education, Will Pennsylvania Students Survive?

• Emily D'Vertola
• April 3, 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20th to reduce the U.S. Department of Education to its essential functions, taking its first steps by…

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No Reason to Worry

• Common Sense Weekly
• April 2, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.We have a new X handle! Follow @MyCommonwealth…

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Hackers, Freedom, Cyber Charters, and More

• Common Sense Weekly
• March 26, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Help us reach more Pennsylvanians on social media!…

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Public Union Democracy

Hackers Ransom 500,000 Union Members’ Personal Information

• Andrew Holman
• March 21, 2025

NBC 10 Philadelphia recently reported that Pennsylvania’s largest teacher union was the victim of a dark-web cyberattack. The attack targeted the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and impacted…

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Is Shapiro Ignoring Students in Need?

• Common Sense Weekly
• March 19, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Be sure to follow us on…

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Energy

Will Leaving PJM Affect Your Energy Bill?

• André Béliveau
• March 18, 2025

The “P” in PJM Interconnection stands for Pennsylvania. That could change, but should it? Lawmakers—especially Gov. Josh Shapiro—are flirting with the idea of leaving PJM, but their policies are more…

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Education

Cyber Charters are Crucial for Pennsylvania’s Most Vulnerable Students

• Emily D'Vertola
• March 13, 2025

Charter and cyber charter schools are the only tuition-free options for Pennsylvania families seeking educational alternatives to their assigned district public school. About 60,000 students attend a Pennsylvania cyber…

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Taxpayer-Funded TikToks?

• Common Sense Weekly
• March 12, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Be sure to follow us on social media to…

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State Budget

Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Vanity

• March 10, 2025

Gov. Josh Shapiro wants you to think he is a superhero. The governor released a new video, casting himself as a video-game fighter battling for Pennsylvanians against greed and…

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Exposing Shapiro’s Inflated Budget

• Common Sense Weekly
• March 6, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Be sure to follow us on social media to…

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Energy

The Inconvenient Truth About Pennsylvania Natural Gas

• André Béliveau
• March 5, 2025

When it comes to reducing carbon emissions, Pennsylvania natural gas doesn’t get the credit it deserves. To some, natural gas is just another “evil” cog of the fossil fuel industry.

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Education

These Pennsylvania Scholarships Help Kids Escape Failing Schools. But They Are Not Enough.

• Emily D'Vertola
• February 27, 2025

Pennsylvania once was a national leader in school choice programs. The commonwealth’s two tax-credit scholarships—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity…

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Is Shapiro Different?

• Common Sense Weekly
• February 26, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Josh Shapiro isn’t a “different Democrat” Gov. Josh…

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Megan Martin loves her new job. Learn why.

• February 25, 2025

Megan Martin is the Commonwealth Foundation’s chief operating officer and general counsel. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Megan served as the vice president and general counsel of the Pennsylvania Chamber…

Organization Updates

Energy

Three Mile Island Is “Ahead of Schedule.” Here’s Why This Is Good News.

• André Béliveau
• February 20, 2025

Three Mile Island—the previously shuttered nuclear reactor and soon to be the Crane Clean Energy Center—is “ahead of schedule,” according to spokespeople. Why Is This Great News? This is…

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Broken Promises

• Common Sense Weekly
• February 19, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Shapiro’s Broken Promises are Breaking Pennsylvania Everyone knows…

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What’s Shapiro Hiding?

• Common Sense Weekly
• February 13, 2025

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro’s Super Bowl Appearance Highlights…

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State Budget

Three Things Missing from Shapiro’s Budget

• February 12, 2025

Most commentary about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address focuses on what’s in his 2025–26 proposal. But what did the governor leave out? School Choice Shapiro, once again, omitted any reference…

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