Commentary

Criminal Justice Reform

Don’t Fire Arrows without Arrowheads in Corrections Reform

• July 24, 2012

Reforming our state corrections system is not being soft on crime—it is being smart on crime.  To achieve transformative corrections reform, lawmakers should finish this critical legislative package and build…

Commentary

Education

Massive Strategic Victory for Kids

• Matthew Brouillette
• July 16, 2012

I've long been convinced that Thomas Jefferson was exactly right when he wrote, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never…

Commentary

State Budget

Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• July 3, 2012

This July signals the beginning and end of two feats requiring amazing determination, stamina and perseverance—the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the on-time passage of the Pennsylvania state…

Commentary

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Passes Proven Prison Reform

• June 29, 2012

Pennsylvania's inmate population and rate of recidivism have reached crisis levels in recent years.  Since 1980, Pennsylvania's inmate population increased over 500% between 1980 and 2009. …

Commentary

Education

Lawmakers & Businesses Can Rescue Students Now

• Priya Brannick
• June 14, 2012

If lawmakers were in any doubt about how dire Pennsylvania's education crisis has become, they need only look to Harrisburg mother Taisha Bartow and her 5-year-old daughter, Alayaisha.

Commentary

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania’s Blueprint for Better Public Safety

• June 12, 2012

As Pennsylvania confronts another tight budget, Governor Corbett and legislative leaders must address the skyrocketing costs of prisons. Obviously, there are dangerous people who should be locked up to protect…

Commentary

State Budget

Limit Growth of Government to Protect Taxpayers

• June 6, 2012

We must face a simple fact:  The General Assembly will act only when it has no alternative.  Therefore, the only way to restrain spending and avoid hitting the fiscal iceberg…

Commentary

Criminal Justice Reform

Commonsense Can Correct Corrections

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 22, 2012

Kyle, a convicted burglar sentenced to 1-3 years in Pennsylvania state prison, was granted parole in June 2011, but spent an extra 100 days in jail, not because he failed…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Let’s Do It For Them – VOTE!

• April 20, 2012

You've surely heard it said that you and I have a right to vote.  Well, I believe we also have a responsibility—not just to vote, but to cast an informed…

Commentary

Regulation

Government-run Golf a Taxpayer Double Bogey

• April 11, 2012

Believe it or not, local governments, i.e., taxpayers, own 49 golf courses in Pennsylvania.  One of the poorest performers is Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, owned by Dauphin County taxpayers, which…

Commentary

Pennsylvania Legislative Candidate Survey 2012

• April 9, 2012

This year, Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls to elect 203 men and women to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 25 members to the Pennsylvania Senate. To help…

Commentary

Education

Education Spending: The Rest of the Story

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 3, 2012

Since Gov. Corbett's budget proposal, those who profit from Pennsylvania's $26 billion a year public school system have been gnashing teeth over what they claim is an "underfunding" of the…

Commentary

Health Care

Change We Can’t Afford

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 28, 2012

This week, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act celebrated its two-year anniversary before the U.S. Supreme Court. The controversial health care law finds itself in front of the highest…

Commentary

Public Union Democracy

Public Schools Can Do More with Less – If We Let Them

• Matthew Brouillette
• March 19, 2012

As families across Pennsylvania try to figure out how to do more with less in this difficult economy, our local public schools must also do the same.  But unlike fiscally…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Fork in the Road on Transportation Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• March 14, 2012

Motorists frustrated with high gas prices should be on the alert—your pain at the pump could get worse, and it has nothing to do with Middle East tensions or gas…

Commentary

Regulation

Sounding the Alarm to Save Pennsylvania

• February 29, 2012

A four-alarm fire is engulfing Pennsylvania's economy.  If we don't regain control of the state debt, corrections costs, public welfare growth and government employee pensions, our state taxpayers will be…

Commentary

Rights Buttons

• February 22, 2012

Commentary

State Budget

Fireproofing Pennsylvania’s Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2012

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that without swift action Pennsylvania's fiscal house will soon burst into flames. State lawmakers have adequate warning about the threats to our…

Commentary

Energy

Memo on Marcellus Shale Impact Fee “Deal”

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 6, 2012

Memo from Matthew Brouillette to Pennsylvania General Assembly on Marcellus Shale Impact Fee "Deal."…

Commentary

Regulation

Will our Grandchildren be Budget Losers?

• Richard Dreyfuss
• February 2, 2012

As the Governor's state budget address approaches, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary "winners…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Welfare Reforms Protect Poor, Taxpayers

• Elizabeth Stelle
• January 24, 2012

Regardless of where you stand on taxpayer-funded entitlements, few Americans argue against the maintenance of temporary safety nets or modifications aimed at ending welfare fraud, waste and abuse.

Commentary