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Education
Where Is Gov. Shapiro’s Leadership on the State Budget?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro once said, “Leaders have a responsibility to speak truth.” Yet, truth be told, the governor’s lack of leadership on this…
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With $64 Million in the Bank, Central Bucks School District Still Increases Taxes
Read More: With $64 Million in the Bank, Central Bucks School District Still Increases Taxes
Education
The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests
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Education
Cyber Students: Undeserving Targets of Teacher Unions
Read More: Cyber Students: Undeserving Targets of Teacher UnionsState Budget
Time for a Spending Diet
As Pennsylvania taxpayers breath a collective sigh of relief after completing their 2007 tax returns, another tax day is looming. But this is a day to celebrate. It’s Tax Freedom…
Commentary
Read More: Time for a Spending DietHealth Care
Give Consumers Choices in Health Care
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed a modified version of Governor Rendell’s "Cover All Pennsylvanians"—renaming it PA ABC (Access to Basic Care). Despite the clever acronym, the program…
Commentary
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Affordable Health Care Agenda
The Commonwealth Foundation has joined with over two dozen organizations to form the Health Care Freedom Coalition. Below is a Statement of Principles. We, the Health Care Freedom Coalition, believe…
Commentary
Read More: Affordable Health Care AgendaRegulation
Mutually Exclusive: Pension COLAS and Lower Taxes
In Government 101, we learn how a bill becomes law and the circuitous route that, at any stage of the political process, may derail a proposal. In fact, only 6.3%…
Commentary
Read More: Mutually Exclusive: Pension COLAS and Lower TaxesEducation
Determining the Cost of an Adequate Education
The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently commissioned a $650,000 study to determine what it “costs” to educate a child. The firm winning the commission reported that the state should increase spending…
Commentary
Read More: Determining the Cost of an Adequate EducationTaxes & Economy
Foreigners Create Jobs
With transportation funding from last year's Act 44 looking increasingly unlikely to materialize, Gov. Rendell is wisely continuing to push for a private-sector lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike as part…
Commentary
Read More: Foreigners Create JobsHealth Care
RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?
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
Read More: RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?Government Accountability
Campaign Finance Limits Destroy Democracy
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
Read More: Campaign Finance Limits Destroy DemocracyTaxes & Economy
Benefits of Reducing the Personal Income Tax
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
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The Alternative to Tolling I-80
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
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Cyber School Students Deserve Adequate Funding
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
Read More: Cyber School Students Deserve Adequate FundingEnergy
The Hype for Energy Indebtedness
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
Read More: The Hype for Energy IndebtednessHealth Care
Health Care Reform: Diagnose, Then Prescribe
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
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Choosing to Pay Interest, Rather Than Earn It
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
Read More: Choosing to Pay Interest, Rather Than Earn ItTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage COLAs: Overstated Benefits & Hidden Costs
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
Read More: Minimum Wage COLAs: Overstated Benefits & Hidden CostsWelfare
Public Welfare Needs Assistance
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
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The Public Schools Edifice Complex
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
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Taking Pennsylvania for a Ride
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
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The Truth About Cyber Schools
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
Read More: The Truth About Cyber SchoolsEnergy
Energy Depletion
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
Read More: Energy DepletionTaxes & Economy
Property Seizures Threaten PA Small Business
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
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