Education
Here’s some friendly advice to the new Pennsylvania general assembly
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania lawmakers swore their oath of office in Harrisburg, and a new legislative session is upon us. As two former…
Read More: Here’s some friendly advice to the new Pennsylvania general assemblyThe 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
Corbett Wins, Subpoenas Twitter for Names of His Critics
As part of the Grand Jury investigation, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has filed a subpoena against Twitter to reveal the names of two anonymous Twitter accounts (HT…
Media
Read More: Corbett Wins, Subpoenas Twitter for Names of His CriticsGovernment Accountability
Conklin Would Serve as LG and State Rep
If the results hold, and they remain extremely close, Scott Conklin would be the Democrat nominee for Lieutenant Governor and for reelection to his PA House seat. Conklin recently promised…
Media
Read More: Conklin Would Serve as LG and State RepGovernment Accountability
Election Day Live Chat
Join Commonwealth Foundation staff and PA Independent reporters, as well as invited bloggers, to discuss the Pennsylvania primary election results and happenings throughout the day. Post your questions and…
Media
Read More: Election Day Live ChatGovernment Accountability
Rendell’s No-Bid State Forest Lease
Last week, Gov. Rendell announced 32,896 acres of state forest land had been leased to Anadarko Petroleum for drilling for $120 million. The no-bid deal was for land previously…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s No-Bid State Forest LeaseGovernment Accountability
How Rendell Gets Shills
In each of their “budget updates” (see: this one or this one) the Department of Public Welfare ends with this line “For information on…
Media
Read More: How Rendell Gets ShillsGovernment Accountability
Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural Gas
Misinformation spewed continually at Common Cause’s press conference on natural gas campaign contributions (see CF News Release) held today at the Capital. Here are…
Media
Read More: Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural GasGovernment Accountability
CF In the Blogs
Here’s who’s blogging about the Commonwealth Foundation in the past week: Page 13 News, Capitol Ideas, GrassrootsPA, and Capitol Punmanship all make…
Media
Read More: CF In the BlogsGovernment Accountability
First and Second Amendments Lose; LiveFreePA Postponed
Statement by Commonwealth Foundation and President Matthew J. Brouillette: “In the 11th hour, under intense pressure from those who…
Press Release
Read More: First and Second Amendments Lose; LiveFreePA PostponedGovernment Accountability
Does Legislative Size Matter?
Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I…
Testimony
Read More: Does Legislative Size Matter?Government Accountability
21 Reasons Free-Market Think Tanks are Effective
Is it certainly self-serving of me to say this, but here is an excellent article by a former think tank CEO giving 21 reasons think tanks are more effective…
Media
Read More: 21 Reasons Free-Market Think Tanks are EffectiveGovernment Accountability
The Event Anti-Freedom Politicians Don’t Want You to Attend
I invited gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel to share his views with CF supporters in a couple weeks…and to help us celebrate our Second Amendment rights. Now, he — along with others who…
Media
Read More: The Event Anti-Freedom Politicians Don’t Want You to AttendGovernment Accountability
Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released results of a recently commissioned statewide poll measuring Pennsylvanians’ opinion of three landmark reforms. The survey of 700 registered voters was conducted by…
Press Release
Read More: Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending LimitsGovernment Accountability
What Would a PA Constitutional Convention Include?
At the PA Leadership Conference, my former colleague, and now Executive Director of the Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, Joe Sterns touted the need for a state Constitutional Convention. In…
Media
Read More: What Would a PA Constitutional Convention Include?Government Accountability
PA Leadership Conference Wrap-Up
Here are some news stories and blogs from the PA Leadership Conference: William Cinfici’s blog: focusing on Dick Morris’s speech and the panels on polling and government corruption. John…
Media
Read More: PA Leadership Conference Wrap-UpGovernment Accountability
Live from PA Leadership Conference (#PALC)
For those of you unable to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference this year, most of the sessions will be carried live on PCN TV. You can also listen…
Media
Read More: Live from PA Leadership Conference (#PALC)Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Tax Day Tea Parties
We’ve been getting a lot of calls from folks who want to attend a tax day tea party. Tea Party Patriots has a good list of the events taking…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Tax Day Tea PartiesEducation
Ten Tips to Balance the Budget
Contrary to Gov. Rendell's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and cuts that can balance the budget without taking more from the pockets of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Here are ten…
Commentary
Read More: Ten Tips to Balance the BudgetGovernment Accountability
Rendell: Everyone Supports Higher Taxes
At his press conference announcing that the lawyers at the Federal Highway Administration were all less intelligent that his staff, based on their decision to reject I-80 tolls, Gov. Rendell…
Media
Read More: Rendell: Everyone Supports Higher TaxesEducation
Gov. Rendell Learned His Lesson
Last year, Gov. Rendell went on a bus tour across Pennsylvania, at taxpayer expense, to lobby for more education spending. Rendell was…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Learned His LessonGovernment Accountability
Four of Six PA Governor Candidates Favor State Constitutional Convention
At a forum for Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates last week, Tom Corbett, Jack Wagner, Joe Hoeffel, and Dan Onorato all express some support for a state constitutional convention, at least…
Media
Read More: Four of Six PA Governor Candidates Favor State Constitutional ConventionGovernment Accountability
In Defense of Political Anonymity
Former FEC Chief Bradley Smith has a good article in the winter issue of City Journal on the problems with campaign finance disclosure. Imagine if the George W.
Media
Read More: In Defense of Political Anonymity