Health Care

Obamacare is Failing, But States can Bring Hope

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 29, 2016

Obamacare is struggling for survival. Despite victories in the courts, state exchanges are in trouble, and Medicaid expansion has been more costly than expected—with no evidence of improved health outcomes.

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State Budget

Podcast: How Money Walks Out of Pennsylvania

  • August 24, 2016

Last year, nearly 42,000 Pennsylvanians left the state to pursue their dreams elsewhere—that's one person every 12 and a half minutes. Why is money walking out of Pennsylvania? That’s…

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Taxes & Economy

Welfare to Work Helped Reduce Poverty

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 22, 2016

Twenty years ago President Clinton signed a law creating Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), better known as sweeping welfare reform grounded in work requirements. In 1996, 531,000 adults and…

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Education

Understanding Your School District?s Labor Contract

  • James Paul, Jessica Barnett
  • August 17, 2016

CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between…

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Education

The Power of Educational Choice

  • James Paul
  • August 16, 2016

The story of Malachi Kuhn is a moving example of how lives are changed by educational choice. Malachi’s education savings account (ESA) helped him to literally stand…

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State Budget

More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 15, 2016

Amy Crivella was addicted to cigarettes. She tried everything—gum, patches, going cold turkey—but nothing worked. Then, she tried e-cigarettes, or vaping, and she didn’t need a cigarette for the first time…

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Education

Making the Most of Education Dollars

  • James Paul
  • August 11, 2016

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently uncovered $2.5 million improperly paid to nine public charter schools. At issue is whether buildings owned by charter schools are eligible for the state's lease…

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Government Accountability

Introducing Commonwealth Insight, a Biweekly Podcast

  • August 10, 2016

We're excited to announce the launch of Commonwealth Insight, a biweekly podcast where we'll bring you conversations with thought leaders and influencers from around our state and the country.

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State Budget

Pushback Against Devastating E-Cig Tax Continues

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 9, 2016

Backlash over the punitive 40 percent wholesale e-cigarette tax continues. Yesterday, CF Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle discussed its devastating impacts with WILK-FM's L.A. Tarone. Stelle explained how this…

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