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

Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2020

Lawmakers can respect the Pennsylvania constitution’s balanced budget amendment and act to prevent tax increases that will drive more families and businesses out of the state, further shrinking the revenue…

Memo

Read More: Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021

Government Accountability

Slicing Pennsylvania’s Finances, Part 3

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • May 20, 2020

The state government uses special entities to borrow in excess of the constitutional debt limit and make loans and guarantees that would otherwise be illegal.

Report

Read More: Slicing Pennsylvania’s Finances, Part 3

Government Accountability

Pa. Shutdown Revolt Met with Threats from Governor

  • Charles Mitchell
  • May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — After this weekend's news that at least eight counties in Pennsylvania would no longer participate in the governor's reopening directives, Gov. Wolf has…

Press Release

Read More: Pa. Shutdown Revolt Met with Threats from Governor

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoods

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2020

Wolf should take state lawmakers’ advice and bring transparency and fairness to Pennsylvania’s reopening — along with a sense of urgency. In doing so, he can continue flattening the curve…

Commentary

Read More: Op-ed: Protect lives by preserving livelihoods

Government Accountability

Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk

  • Kevin Mooney
  • May 5, 2020

Industry leaders who are directly affected by the governor’s orders do not dispute that Wolf has authority to take action aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19. But it’s that…

Commentary

Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvania construction shutdown puts the elderly at risk

Government Accountability

Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Tirzah Duren
  • April 24, 2020

Governor Wolf continues to take positive steps toward a safe and gradual opening of the Pennsylvania economy because lawmakers continue to advance good policy that protects lives and livelihoods.

Memo

Read More: Persistent Leadership will Safely Reopen Pa.

Government Accountability

Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

  • April 20, 2020

April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency

Government Accountability

Wolf’s Budget Borrows Billions and Attacks Schools of Choice

  • Charles Mitchell
  • February 4, 2020

February 4, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Gov. Wolf outlined a massive spending and borrowing plan in his annual budget address. The $36.1 billion proposed General Fund Budget represents a…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s Budget Borrows Billions and Attacks Schools of Choice

Government Accountability

Lawmakers Send Message to Wolf on Eve of Budget Address

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2020

February 3, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, on the eve of Gov. Wolf’s sixth state budget address, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a much-needed fiscal reform called the…

Press Release

Read More: Lawmakers Send Message to Wolf on Eve of Budget Address

Government Accountability

CF Responds to Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai’s Retirement

  • Charles Mitchell
  • January 23, 2020

January 23, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai announced he will not seek reelection at the end of his term. Turzai, an outspoken…

Press Release

Read More: CF Responds to Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai’s Retirement

Government Accountability

How to Make an Easy Six Million

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • December 10, 2019

A week ago the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office announced charges against Wing Tat Chiu and Ivy Hiu-Ying Li, a married couple whom they accuse of earning $6 million in illegal…

Media

Read More: How to Make an Easy Six Million

Education

We’re thankful!

  • November 28, 2019

And the winner of “Biggest Home State Win” is … the Commonwealth Foundation! You can imagine the excitement of CF staff when we recently found out we’d won a prestigious…

Media

Read More: We’re thankful!

Government Accountability

Sunlight is Always Welcome

  • November 20, 2019

Pennsylvania’s two state-wide public pension systems are deeply underfunded. They only have about sixty cents in assets available for each dollar of promised payouts, which means they are at…

Media

Read More: Sunlight is Always Welcome

Education

Union Donations to Gov. Wolf Drown Out School Choice

  • Kevin Mooney
  • October 23, 2019

Charter schools remain in the crosshairs of the teachers’ unions and their government allies.  That much is made evident in the proposals, resolutions and other public statements the National Education…

Media

Read More: Union Donations to Gov. Wolf Drown Out School Choice

Government Accountability

The Cost of Secretly-Negotiated Government Union Contracts

  • October 14, 2019

Are Pennsylvanians a bottomless pit of cash? Government union leaders and Governor Wolf seem to think so. The two “re-negotiate” new labor contracts behind closed doors, and each time…

Media

Read More: The Cost of Secretly-Negotiated Government Union Contracts

Government Accountability

Worker Freedom in the States

  • Jessica Barnett
  • August 30, 2019

Unprecedented labor issue activity has followed the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME ruling. Read our summary here.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Worker Freedom in the States

Government Accountability

The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 28, 2019

In the Janus aftermath, pro-union forces make legislative headway counteracting the court decision, while workers push back in the courts. This report details the trends, and grades each state according to…

Report

Read More: The Janus Impact and Grading of State Public Sector Labor Laws