Commentary

State Budget

Budget Hostages Finally Freed?

• Nathan Benefield
• January 11, 2016

While Wolf released the hostages of the past six months, he made sure he could keep using children as “pressure points” by using his line-item veto to cut $3.1 billion…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Self-Worth, not Stuff, Should be Welfare’s Goal

• Elizabeth Stelle
• December 24, 2015

In the movies, values like hope, joy, and peace ultimately triumph over materialism. Unfortunately, government has yet to grasp that stuff alone doesn’t bring lasting happiness…

Commentary

State Budget

Santa Claus Budgeting

• Nathan Benefield
• December 21, 2015

With Christmas fast approaching, children are busy creating wish lists for Santa Claus. While most kids eventually outgrow a belief in Santa — and realize it’s their family buying their…

Commentary

State Budget

Budget Hope on the Horizon?

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2015

After nearly five months of gridlock, a new state budget framework was announced this week. At this point, it’s tempting to call any progress on budget agreement a victory, but…

Commentary

Education

For Latinos, Education is Key to Success

• Brittney Parker
• November 5, 2015

For the Hispanic community, education is the key to making the American Dream a reality. Yet far too many Latinos remain victims of their ZIP code and socio-economic status when it…

Commentary

Criminal Justice Reform

Protect Property Owners from Unreasonable Forfeiture

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 4, 2015

Our justice system is supposed to presume innocence until guilt is proven, but every year, Pennsylvanians are stripped of about $14 million on allegations that their property was involved in…

Commentary

Education

For Latinos, Education is Key to the American Dream

• Brittney Parker
• October 27, 2015

For many Latino-Americans, the phrase “the American Dream” conjures images of apple pie and béisbol, of education, prosperity, and familia. Education is power and the key to making the American…

Commentary

Tom Smith: A Patriot and Friend

• Charles Mitchell
• October 17, 2015

Tom Smith’s tenacity, courage, and leadership have encouraged our entire team to keep at it on the days when we are tempted to give up. Tom put countless miles on his cowboy…

Commentary

State Budget

Three Strikes and You’re Out, Governor Wolf

• Matthew Brouillette
• October 9, 2015

Nearly 100 days since the budget deadline, Governor Wolf had proposed three separate tax increase plans—each the largest tax hike in the nation. But when Wolf stepped up to the…

Commentary

State Budget

Tax Hikes: Wolf’s White Whale

• James Paul
• October 8, 2015

Wednesday’s vote on Gov. Wolf’s tax scheme was latest in a long line of political gimmicks aimed at reeling-in Wolf’s white whale: paradigm-shifting tax increases on Pennsylvania families and small…

Commentary

Regulation

Government that Works?

• Nathan Benefield
• September 29, 2015

Last week, Governor Wolf revved up his Jeep and resumed his “Government that Works” tour in Lancaster. In an ironic twist, Wolf also promised to veto a temporary funding bill…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy

• Matthew Brouillette
• September 8, 2015

Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…

Commentary

Regulation

Borrowing ‘Dumb’ Ideas on Pension Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• August 24, 2015

Would you take out a second mortgage on your home to bet on the stock market? Such an idea deserves ridicule—if not alarm. You’d be putting your home and your…

Commentary

Make Dave’s Voice Heard in Harrisburg

• August 16, 2015

Dave Smith, a Phoenixville resident, has muscular dystrophy, which has left him wheelchair-bound and in need of 24-hour care. Don Lambrecht has been Dave’s homecare provider…

Commentary

State Budget

A Way Out of Budget Gridlock

• Matthew Brouillette
• August 10, 2015

With budget traffic at a standstill, how do we press through the roadblock to a resolution that benefits all Pennsylvanians?…

Commentary

Education

Truth Lacking on ‘Schools That Teach’ Tour

• Nathan Benefield
• August 3, 2015

Gov. Wolf’s 'Schools That Teach' public relations tour and statewide ad campaigns supporting him aren’t telling voters the truth about the budget impasse or the governor's tax proposal.

Commentary

State Budget

Harrisburg is Ignoring the Biggest Budget Buster

• July 17, 2015

Pop quiz: What’s the largest spending increase in Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal? You might assume education, as the governor has repeatedly insisted the state must reinvest in public schools.

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

A Double Shot of Liquid Courage

• July 15, 2015

It shouldn’t take a double shot of liquid courage to finally end Prohibition in Pennsylvania. With pension deficits, revenue shortfalls, PLCB ethics violations, and consistent popular support, this should be…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Wolf’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ Approach Blocks Progress

• Matthew Brouillette
• July 7, 2015

In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf urged dissenters, “If you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It's not good…

Commentary

State Budget

Family Ties or Government Bonds?

• Brittney Parker
• June 29, 2015

Family ties can bind us together across any cultural or class boundary. Maintaining and promoting them should be our first priority. But while politicians routinely give lip service to helping…

Commentary

Energy

Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress

• Gordon Tomb
• June 9, 2015

Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…

Commentary