State Budget

Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 5, 2014

With an estimated $2 billion “planning deficit” announced this week, one might believe crafting a balanced budget that doesn’t raise taxes is impossible. Yet earlier this year, we…

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Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 2, 2014

Pennsylvania is the 27th freest state in America according to the Fraser Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of North America report, which is hardly news to be celebrating. States were…

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Teacher Pays for Politics She Never Supported

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 1, 2014

Just four days before the November mid-term elections, college professor Mary Trometter got a letter from her teachers union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Well, to be precise—Trometter's husband got…

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Regulation

EPA Rule Would Increase PA Energy Bills by $1,000

  • Gordon Tomb
  • November 26, 2014

The war on coal will be a catastrophe for consumers, according to a new analysis of energy prices under new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. According to…

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Taxes & Economy

The Gift of Work

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 25, 2014

Red kettles, canned food drives, Toys for Tots—the holidays are a time when private charity shines. But have you ever wondered about the best way to help the poor? Ron…

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A Real Conflict of Interest

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2014

Governor-elect Tom Wolf has recently made headlines for urging a gift ban, prohibiting executive branch officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists, and indicating he would end “no-bid” legal…

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State Budget

Pennsylvania’s New Punxsutawney Phil

  • November 20, 2014

On February 2 of each year, all eyes are on Punxsutawney Phil. The famous groundhog is responsible for predicting the duration of winter-like weather. If Phil sees his shadow, we’re…

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Public Union Democracy

Why we Need Paycheck Protection Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2014

Today, Commonwealth Foundation released a new summary of election-related spending by Pennsylvania’s government unions. In 2014, the seven largest government unions in the state gave $7.3 million directly to…

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Health Care

New Wave of Obamacare Price Hikes Arrives

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 17, 2014

Regina Weinhardt handles benefits for her family’s plumbing business in Delaware County. In business since 1962, providing health care to their employees has always been a priority, “My father started…

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