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Education
Fully funded public education must include cyber charters
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review When a parent says that a public school isn’t what it used to be, the implication is usually bad. But for Brenda Jesky,…
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Education
Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite Him
Read More: Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite Him![pa education funding](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/iStock-1000887536-900x836.jpg)
Education
Education Needs More Choices—Not More Money
Read More: Education Needs More Choices—Not More MoneyHealth Care
No Easy Pass This Year on Cost Overruns
Legislators are questioning the administration's chronic overspending habit, but they aren't getting many answers.
Commentary
Read More: No Easy Pass This Year on Cost Overruns
Entrepreneurs — Enemies or Visionaries?
Are entrepreneurs peddling in obscene greed or are they visionaries who benefit our society? And how does entrepreneurship connect to politics and policy? Commonwealth Foundation…
Commentary
Read More: Entrepreneurs — Enemies or Visionaries?Education
State System Error: Proposed Scholarship Program is a Bailout
Governor Wolf's scholarship plan is a disguised bailout for the financially distressed State System colleges.
Commentary
Read More: State System Error: Proposed Scholarship Program is a BailoutEducation
Government Unions Threaten to Eclipse School Choice
Governor Tom Wolf and other elected officials are pulling in millions of dollars from government unions that oppose school choice and exert considerable influence at the expense of education reform. …
Commentary
Read More: Government Unions Threaten to Eclipse School ChoiceEducation
Can Our Kids Afford to Wait While Harrisburg Schools Improve?
Last fall, several House education committee members cited ongoing improvements in Harrisburg City School District as the reason to oppose scholarships for Harrisburg kids. But are things really getting better?…
Commentary
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The Taxpayer Protection Act
Pennsylvania state spending has more than tripled in the last 50 years, far outpacing the economy and families’ ability to pay for it. It's time to stop the spending and…
Commentary
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection ActHealth Care
Gov. Wolf Should Unleash Pennsylvanians’ Ingenuity to Improve Medicaid
It’s time for Pennsylvania to pursue proven ways of improving the quality of Medicaid services, while reducing the burden on taxpayers.
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Wolf Should Unleash Pennsylvanians’ Ingenuity to Improve MedicaidPublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Fuel Political Activism, Records Show
Considering government unions draw heavily from their dues to fund political activism, public school teachers who prefer not to fund this political activism of their state and national unions should…
Commentary
Read More: Union Dues Fuel Political Activism, Records Show
Appropriating Inappropriately – Gov. Wolf’s 2020 Budget
It's difficult to see how your state government spends your money, but you can hear about it in our latest…
Commentary
Read More: Appropriating Inappropriately – Gov. Wolf’s 2020 BudgetEnergy
5 Ways Carbon Taxes Harm PA
When Governor Wolf announced his decision to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through executive order this past October, he also sent the message that PA is closed for business. For businesses operating…
Commentary
Read More: 5 Ways Carbon Taxes Harm PAHealth Care
Where Have All the Human Service Dollars Gone?
Nearly half of Pennsylvania's budget goes to human services or welfare. Governor Wolf wants to increase human service spending by $1.4 billion next year. But how well are these programs…
Commentary
Read More: Where Have All the Human Service Dollars Gone?Regulation
Wolf’s Wage Mandates Undermine Workers
Governor Wolf's new overtime pay rules and his sixth minimum wage proposal is a one-two punch that could send our economy reeling.
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Wage Mandates Undermine WorkersState Budget
5 Takeaways from Governor Wolf’s 2020 Budget Address
Governor Wolf unveiled his sixth budget proposal today. Here are five key takeaways.
Commentary
Read More: 5 Takeaways from Governor Wolf’s 2020 Budget Address
School Choice: A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Lenny McAllister of Commonwealth Foundation explains why school choice matters so much to families of all backgrounds and how it can bring about a true…
Commentary
Read More: School Choice: A Bridge Over Troubled WatersEducation
Every Child Is Unique — That’s Why School Choice is Common Sense
No single school can meet the needs of every child who happens to live within a certain radius. No one thinks the government should assign people to a grocery store,…
Commentary
Read More: Every Child Is Unique — That’s Why School Choice is Common SenseTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Loses 54 People Every Day
How long before Pennsylvania becomes one big ghost town? New Census data shows that Pennsylvania lost a net of 19,588 residents to other states in 2019—that’s a loss of 54 people…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Loses 54 People Every DayEducation
Tax Credit Scholarships Give Families Options
National School Choice Week is a great time to celebrate the diverse educational options that are available to kids throughout Pa. But it’s also a time to focus on increasing…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Credit Scholarships Give Families OptionsEducation
Democrat Lawmaker Speaks Out for School Choice
National School Choice Week can—and should—be a bipartisan celebration. Tennessee State Rep. John DeBerry is a Democrat who has been honored for his school choice advocacy. Here are his remarks from…
Commentary
Read More: Democrat Lawmaker Speaks Out for School ChoiceRegulation
IFO Report: Pa. Wastes $60 Million Per Year on Underperforming Programs
Fairness is such a simple concept. We’re born with it—when treated unfairly, we seek to right the wrong and restore a level playing field. But for some reason, Pennsylvania politics…
Commentary
Read More: IFO Report: Pa. Wastes $60 Million Per Year on Underperforming ProgramsEducation
It’s National School Choice Week!
What is a "good" school? There isn’t just one definition of a “good” school because every child is unique. That’s why choice is so important. This week we’re going to…
Commentary
Read More: It’s National School Choice Week!Regulation
Dairy Farms Can’t Support Prevailing Wage Mandates
Pennsylvania’s picturesque countryside is home to roughly 6,200 dairy farms. While the road trip through Pennsylvania is idyllic—the business climate for these farmers is far from ideal.
Commentary
Read More: Dairy Farms Can’t Support Prevailing Wage Mandates