Government Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady Activities
Harrisburg, Pa., October 9, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new webpage dedicated to exposing the myriad of shady actions that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has engaged in…
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Website Exposing Governor Shapiro’s Shady ActivitiesThe 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
Pennsylvania Governor Candidates Speak at PASociety
If you didn’t make it to the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association event at PA Society this weekend, Matt Brouillette has a good summary of what the candidates for Pennsylvania governor,…
Media
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Pennsylvania House Passes Spending Transparency
The Pennsylvania House today passed HB 1880, by a unanimous vote. The bill would create an online, searchable database of all state spending. We are told Gov. Rendell sent…
Media
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Spending Transparency & Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Fact Sheet
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The Honorable Matthew J. Brouillette?
It’s official, I am now an elected official, having won a random drawing – that’s democracy in action – for Judge of Election in my precinct. While I am unsure…
Media
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Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…
Media
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Every Generation Needs A Revolution
Pennsylvania's government is a prime exhibition of Lord Acton's well-known admonition that "power corrupts."…
Commentary
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What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?
Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…
Media
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The Useless Resolutions of a Full-Time Legislature
One of the most common critiques of full-time state legislatures is the sheer amount of seemingly useless resolutions – to pander to certain groups of voters – that take up…
Media
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The Illusion of Shrinking State Government
Back in September of 2008, Governor Rendell announced a state-wide hiring freeze in all agencies under his control to help curb declining revenues and a weakened national economy. Now,…
Media
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Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?
As many readers will be aware, Pennsylvania lawmakers, judges, and executive branch officials receive an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), using the CPI for Philadelphia as the measure for inflation. What…
Media
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Good government groups unveil “A Citizens’ Guide to a Modern Constitutional Convention”
New Report Sets Framework for Meaningful Reform HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention Commission, in conjunction with the Civic Research Alliance, today unveiled “A Citizens’ Guide to a Modern…
Press Release
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Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees
The Heritage Foundation points out an interesting fact – 51% of union members are government workers, according to the most recent data, an all-time high. And I assumed General…
Media
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Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes
Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…
Media
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Shady State Contracts and the Need for Transparency
Auditor General Jack Wagner reprimanded the Department of General Services for their failure to execute and oversee state contracts. Since 2003 a large number of contracts have not been…
Media
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Tort Reform – Keep It a State Issue
The US House health care bill not only has little significant tort reform, it in fact limits states from enacting meaningful tort reform. This statement taken directly from the…
Media
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Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?
Capitolwire (subscription) is reporting that State Representative Mario Civera (R- Delaware), who was recently elected to the Delaware County Council, is now rethinking resigning, and planning both to stay…
Media
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Break Up SEPTA
How can Pennsylvania lawmakers avoid this mess? The first step is to open mass transit in Philadelphia to competitive contracting, whereby private companies would compete to operate SEPTA's network.
Commentary
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Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step Forward
The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee advanced HB 1880, sponsored by Representative Rick Mirabito, that would create an online database of state spending, similar to legislation already enacted…
Media
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Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story today that Pennsylvania business groups – especially in natural gas, tobacco, and gambling industries – spent a lot of money lobbying during the…
Media
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Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms
Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette notes that the Pennsylvania Senate is outlining a number of new rules, largely related to legislative staff and taxpayer dollars being used to support…
Media
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Transparency and Performance in Government
The Mercatus Center has a new working paper on the importance of government transparency. Authors Jerry Brito and Drew Perrault argue that, “Transparency is a means to an end…
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