Commentary

Health Care

RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 24, 2008

Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? What! There’s no such passage? Perhaps someone should point that…

Commentary

Government Accountability

Campaign Finance Limits Destroy Democracy

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 23, 2008

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court recently upheld Philadelphia's law limiting the amount of money that an individual can contribute to a political candidate. While advocates of campaign contribution limits cheered the…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Benefits of Reducing the Personal Income Tax

• Matthew Brouillette
• January 10, 2008

Thank you Chairman Turzai, Rep. Quigley, and members of the House Republican Policy Committee for the invitation to share with you why the Commonwealth Foundation believes that reducing taxes…

Commentary

The Alternative to Tolling I-80

• Matthew Brouillette
• November 12, 2007

Pennsylvania lawmakers should reconsider the money it left on the table earlier this year after rejecting Gov. Rendell’s initial plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private-sector partner. Such…

Commentary

Education

Cyber School Students Deserve Adequate Funding

• Nathan Benefield
• September 19, 2007

Thank you, Chairman Roebuck and members of this committee for inviting us to speak today. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research with the…

Commentary

Energy

The Hype for Energy Indebtedness

• September 17, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell contends that his energy policy will help the Commonwealth attain “energy independence.” Don’t believe the hype. His plan imposes new taxes to cover the costs…

Commentary

Health Care

Health Care Reform: Diagnose, Then Prescribe

• Nathan Benefield
• September 10, 2007

Following the latest Census Bureau report that 47 million Americans are without health insurance, the talking heads and newspaper editorial boards are renewing their call for “something to…

Commentary

Choosing to Pay Interest, Rather Than Earn It

• Matthew Brouillette
• September 5, 2007

Is it financially better to earn interest or to pay interest? Seems like a rhetorical question. It should be. However, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly chose to make…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage COLAs: Overstated Benefits & Hidden Costs

• Nathan Benefield
• August 22, 2007

Support for minimum wage increases is based on the idea that a higher minimum wage will “help the poor” by increasing their pay and lifting them out of poverty.

Commentary

Welfare

Public Welfare Needs Assistance

• August 21, 2007

Although the 2007-2008 budget controversy is fading from the limelight, the exorbitant spending it authorizes cannot be overlooked. One of the largest portions of state spending is public welfare,…

Commentary

Education

The Public Schools Edifice Complex

• Nathan Benefield
• August 2, 2007

How much money should a school receive for a student it no longer has to educate? And, is taxpayer money being wisely spent on classroom instruction or school construction? Those…

Commentary

Taking Pennsylvania for a Ride

• Matthew Brouillette
• July 30, 2007

Nearly three years ago, the Commonwealth Foundation joined a loose coalition of groups that spanned the political and ideological spectrum. Common Cause, Democracy Rising PA, RockTheCapital.org, Young Conservatives of…

Commentary

Education

The Truth About Cyber Schools

• July 25, 2007

An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools for their children every year—enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students between 2001 and 2006. Cyber…

Commentary

Energy

Energy Depletion

• June 28, 2007

Ed Rendell has been in politics for too long. That is the only way to explain his apparent belief that Harrisburg politicians know more about which alternative energy prospects are…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Property Seizures Threaten PA Small Business

• June 27, 2007

Being a small business owner in Pennsylvania is not easy. There’s the punishing tax burden levied by state and local governments that see small firms not so much as vital…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

How to Fix Mass Transit

• Nathan Benefield
• June 26, 2007

In their final report, the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission wrote: The Commission concludes that no additional funding should be provided for highways, bridges and transit unless a series…

Commentary

State Budget

Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize Spending

• June 25, 2007

All families must learn to live within a budget. They understand that they can’t spend more than what they earn—at least not for very long. Frequently this means saying “No”…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health

• June 20, 2007

:: Fat Facts of the Week ::…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health

• June 14, 2007

:: Fat Facts of the Week :: Taxpayer-funded handouts to major corporations are just one reason why state government spending is so obese. Consider just four examples of corporate welfare:…

Commentary

Taxes & Economy

Protecting the Taxpayers

• Matthew Brouillette
• May 31, 2007

Thank you Senator Corman, Senator Folmer, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act (SB 7) and Taxpayer Protection…

Commentary

Education

Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers

• Nathan Benefield
• May 29, 2007

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission soon will be voting on a budget for the school district. Facing a projected budget deficit, the Commission is looking for ways to reduce costs,…

Commentary