Regulation

Audio: Is There Really a Public Pension Crisis?

  • September 29, 2014

Short answer: Yes! But some—like government union leaders—deny that anything needs to be done or that there’s a crisis at all. The truth is, the consequences of inaction…

Media

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Education

Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2014

My letter to the editor in the Lehigh Valley Express Times refutes a claim that charter schools are promoting racial segregation: A recent article cites claims by…

Media

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State Budget

PA House Takes Another Step To Reduce Debt

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 24, 2014

Every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania owes just over $10,000 in state and local debt. Today, the state House made another positive step towards reducing that debt burden.

Media

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Health Care

Solving Health Care Without Obamacare Headaches

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2014

Montana’s Rib and Chop House in the Pittsburgh area is taking an innovative approach to providing health care coverage to employees, in spite of Obamacare. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports…

Media

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State Budget

Audio: Taxpayer Protection Act Responsibly Limits Spending

  • September 22, 2014

Last week, legislation moved out of the Senate Finance Committee that would set guardrails on state government spending, establish a “Rainy Day Fund,” and, potentially, even send rebate checks back…

Media

Read More: Audio: Taxpayer Protection Act Responsibly Limits Spending

Education

Teachers Sue PSEA in Landmark Case

  • Priya Brannick
  • September 19, 2014

Jane Ladley was a special education teacher in Chester County for more than 25 years until she retired this year. She may have left teaching, but she has a bone…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Safety Net Should be Reformed, not Renamed

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 18, 2014

Good news: Pennsylvania will no longer spend 40 percent of the general fund budget on public welfare. Instead, we’ll spend it on “human services.” Yesterday, the general assembly approved HB…

Media

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State Budget

Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2014

We at the Commonwealth Foundation are pleased to welcome State Treasurer Rob McCord to the fight for fiscal restraint. McCord, along with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, held a press conference…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension Systems

  • Gordon Tomb
  • September 16, 2014

Most workers are shortchanged by Pennsylvania’s public employee pension programs, according to two recent studies. The Urban Institute gives Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) an “F”…

Media

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