Commentary

Op-Ed: State Lawmakers Must Act Now to Mitigate Crisis

• Nathan Benefield
• April 9, 2020

In this time of uncertainty, lawmakers must not be passive. Instead, they should advance their own solutions to the problems developing in their districts and among their constituents. …

Commentary

Education During Coronavirus

• April 9, 2020

Education is not what it was two months ago. From parents to politicians, everyone is grappling with how to keep kids lives and schooling just a bit normal. Our education…

Commentary

Health Care

Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Not Crisis Proof

• Tirzah Duren
• April 7, 2020

COVID-19 has highlighted some of the cracks in our current budget system. Sticking to these budget basics will help Pennsylvania withstand the current crisis, as well as reform the budget…

Commentary

Health Care

Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It

• Nathan Benefield
• April 6, 2020

Gov. Wolf’s shutdown of “non-life-essential" businesses has caused more than 1.1 million Pennsylvania workers to lose their jobs in the last three weeks alone. This unprecedented loss of income is…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

State Unemployment Fund Returns to Crisis

• Andrew Abramczyk
• April 6, 2020

The unemployment insurance fund was neither properly replenished nor reformed after running out of money in 2008. It is about to run out of money again.  …

Commentary

Health Care

Cyber Charter School Teachers Speak Out

• Kevin Mooney
• April 2, 2020

Pennsylvania parents who may not have given any consideration to cyber public charter schools previously are doing that now in the wake of the coronavirus. This has the education establishment upset…

Commentary

Health Care

Stories of Hope and Flourishing in Pennsylvania during COVID-19

• April 1, 2020

It’s all too easy to fall into the pit of bad news these days. But thankfully, people and markets are creative and charitable, especially in tough times. Here are some…

Commentary

Health Care

Pennsylvania Can Beat COVID-19. Here’s How

• Tirzah Duren
• March 31, 2020

It’s a thin tightrope to walk, but lawmakers must balance policies that keep Pennsylvanians safe with those that empower medical workers, protect the health care supply chain, and …

Commentary

Harrisburg & COVID-19

• March 28, 2020

How is state government reacting to the coronavirus? And what can the Legislature do to help alleviate the pain Pennsylvania is enduring?…

Commentary

Education

How to Enroll in Cyber School

• Lenny McAllister, Marc LeBlond
• March 27, 2020

Parents, if you’re anything like our family, you’re probably considering certain education options for your kids for the first time. As schools across the state work to develop remote…

Commentary

Education

A Time for Choosing: Systems or Kids?

• Marc LeBlond
• March 26, 2020

In this time of crisis, teachers and parents are working to ensure children can continue to learn. But new legislation cuts off funding for parents seeking cyber education for their…

Commentary

Education

Welcome to the Homeschool Club!

• Colleen Hroncich
• March 24, 2020

New homeschoolers, try to relax and enjoy this unexpected time with your kids. While there may be some things they don’t learn now that they would have learned in a…

Commentary

Education

Parent to Parent: 3 Keys to Stay Sane and Healthy During COVID-19

• Colleen Hroncich, Marc LeBlond
• March 19, 2020

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know all Pennsylvania public schools have been closed. What do parents and educators need to know?…

Commentary

Regulation

Tale of Two Workers

• Tirzah Duren
• March 12, 2020

The rhetoric surrounding public service and actual compensation for public service are two different stories. Average total compensation (salary and benefits) for a Pennsylvania state employee is now $104,506. That’s…

Commentary

Education

Fast Lies and Slow Truths

• Marc LeBlond
• March 11, 2020

All students—regardless of school type—deserve a student-based funding system. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, only 14% of the $1.2 billion Special Education appropriation is distributed based on categories of…

Commentary

Education

Slots for Scholars?

• Andrew Abramczyk
• March 5, 2020

Use of gambling revenue to fund colleges is both economically and morally questionable.

Commentary

Health Care

No Easy Pass This Year on Cost Overruns

• Andrew Abramczyk
• March 3, 2020

Legislators are questioning the administration's chronic overspending habit, but they aren't getting many answers.

Commentary

Entrepreneurs — Enemies or Visionaries?

• March 2, 2020

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

Education

State System Error: Proposed Scholarship Program is a Bailout

• Andrew Abramczyk
• February 27, 2020

Governor Wolf's scholarship plan is a disguised bailout for the financially distressed State System colleges.

Commentary

Education

Government Unions Threaten to Eclipse School Choice

• Kevin Mooney
• February 25, 2020

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

Education

Can Our Kids Afford to Wait While Harrisburg Schools Improve?

• Marc LeBlond
• February 24, 2020

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