The state government is ultimately held accountable to the people through the electoral process—but that should not be the only line of defense against government overreach or waste. Taxpayers deserve a transparent government that works for them. Reforms are needed to reduce corruption and limit the scope of government to its constitutional authority. Additionally, reforms that ensure a transparent budgeting process, a fair electoral process, and a streamlined regulatory process should be pursued to increase the government’s integrity.

Government Accountability

Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 29, 2010

Earlier this year, we blogged on HB 2246, which would have allowed trial lawyers in auto cases to suggest the amount of compensation their plaintiffs should receive for their…

Media

Read More: Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda

Government Accountability

Making PA Budgets Honest

  • September 29, 2010

American governments are built around the power of legislatures to challenge administrations through public debate. From this debate come better policy decisions. However, if one side has a monopoly on…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

State to CF: Transparency Denied

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 24, 2010

A couple months ago, we requested the salary information of state employees for our new openPAgov database (if you missed the launch, we currently have Pennsylvania school district…

Media

Read More: State to CF: Transparency Denied

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Has Been Collecting Info on Citizens for Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2010

There has been a hullabaloo over the discovery that the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security (under the Emergency Management Agency), has been paying a private company to put together details about protests…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Has Been Collecting Info on Citizens for Years

Government Accountability

A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania Taxpayers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 2, 2010

The Tribune Review revisits the Rendell Administration’s leasing tens of thousands of acres of state forest lands via no-bid contracts. State records the Tribune-Review obtained show that, in…

Media

Read More: A Slap in the Face to Pennsylvania Taxpayers

Government Accountability

Corrupt Courts Refuse Transparency

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 13, 2010

The Scranton Times reports that the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR) is appealing a court ruling extending an exemption to open records to the judiciary branch. (HT…

Media

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Government Accountability

More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…

Media

Read More: More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

Education

Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released

  • August 3, 2010

Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s bonus. (If you missed “Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry,” click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though…

Media

Read More: Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released

Government Accountability

Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t Compute

  • August 2, 2010

The PA Revenue Department’s main computer system was installed in 1975. The outdated system’s technological language, COBOL, is not even taught in universities anymore, narrowing the number of applicants…

Media

Read More: Non-Competitive Contracts Don’t Compute

Government Accountability

Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2010

In the wake of convictions, indictments, and investigations of Pennsylvania lawmakers and staff, several legislators have called for a new Public Integrity Commission. The Commission would replace the current…

Media

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Government Accountability

I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

It is clear our government will not reform itself.  Article I, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution recognizes the right of the citizens to "alter, reform or abolish their government…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

PA House GOP Unveils Policy Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2010

Earlier this month, the PA House GOP put out a Policy Agenda for Pennsylvania. Not everything gets Commonwealth Foundation Approval – e.g., the “jobs package”, praise for…

Media

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Government Accountability

BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2010

PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett launches a tirade against the Commonwealth Foundation’s exposé of PennFuture’s lobbying. For starters, she repeatedly labels it a “smear campaign” (and even includes…

Media

Read More: BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure

  • July 13, 2010

From 1998-2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent no money on lobbying the federal government (although independent agencies – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Higher Education Assistance Agency –…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure

Government Accountability

Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 9, 2010

In a somewhat welcome surprise, both candidates for governor (Onorato and Corbett) criticized Rendell’s RCAP projects in the budget amounting to some $300 million dollars. The political legacy projects are the…

Media

Read More: Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP

Education

Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry

  • July 9, 2010

Last school year, taxpayers gave Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman $65,000 (in addition to her salary of $325,000, which could be close to $500,000 next year). But…

Media

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Government Accountability

PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers

  • July 9, 2010

According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced…

Commentary

Read More: PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Leads in Spending Taxpayer Money to Lobby Congress

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 8, 2010

A new analysis from Open Secrets finds that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (i.e., our state government) led all states in spending taxpayer money on federal lobbying in the first…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Leads in Spending Taxpayer Money to Lobby Congress

Government Accountability

PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

  • July 8, 2010

Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…

Press Release

Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

Government Accountability

CF Blog Roundup

  • July 7, 2010

Here’s some recent blog posts citing CF research and analysis: The Conservative Reform Network Blog highlighted some CF stats about the PA budget, deficit, and big government spending and…

Media

Read More: CF Blog Roundup