Many Pennsylvanians face chronic unemployment, welfare dependency, and the cycle of poverty. This happens because labor incentives have been overridden by bad policies that keep millions out of the workforce and enact excessive red tape. We can reverse this trend by ending the practice of waiving work requirements on able-bodied Pennsylvanians with no dependents, removing barriers to employment for those seeking a fresh start, and creating a healthcare system without burdensome regulations.

Criminal Justice Reform

Audio: Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • October 22, 2015

In Pennsylvania, civil asset forfeiture laws allow law enforcement agents to legally seize property without convicting an individual of a crime. These laws turn justice on its head, allowing police…

Media

Read More: Audio: Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

State Budget

Harrisburg is Ignoring the Biggest Budget Buster

  • July 17, 2015

Pop quiz: What’s the largest spending increase in Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal? You might assume education, as the governor has repeatedly insisted the state must reinvest in public schools.

Commentary

Read More: Harrisburg is Ignoring the Biggest Budget Buster

Health Care

Losers Outnumber Winners Under King v Burwell Decision

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 26, 2015

Yesterday’s US Supreme Court decision to uphold taxpayer subsidies on healthcare.gov brought a collective sigh of relief to Pennsylvanians, like Barbara, who depend on subsidies to make health insurance…

Media

Read More: Losers Outnumber Winners Under King v Burwell Decision

Health Care

King v. Burwell Highlights Need for Obamacare Alternatives

  • June 25, 2015

King v. Burwell Highlights Need forObamacare Alternatives Exchange Plans Restrictive and Unaffordable Even with Subsidies Good morning, Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in King v. Burwell that…

Press Release

Read More: King v. Burwell Highlights Need for Obamacare Alternatives

Health Care

Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 11, 2015

Pennsylvania insurance companies are asking for dramatic premium hikes on exchange plans. Highmark underestimated the cost of care for individuals on the exchange and is now requesting a 23%…

Media

Read More: Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium Hikes

State Budget

Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster

  • May 27, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder | 717-671-1901 Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’sBiggest Budget Buster Study: Slowing Welfare Spending Growth Will Ease Budget Pressure May 27, 2015, HARRISBURG,…

Press Release

Read More: Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster

Health Care

Out of Control

  • May 27, 2015

Governor Wolf is facing a budget situation more serious than any of his predecessors. His proposal includes an additional $691 million in the General Fund for DHS, bringing the department’s…

Report

Read More: Out of Control

Health Care

State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

  • James Paul
  • May 14, 2015

Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…

Media

Read More: State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

Taxes & Economy

Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2015

Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…

Media

Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff

Health Care

State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2015

A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…

Media

Read More: State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

Criminal Justice Reform

The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working

  • May 8, 2015

Remember the time lawmakers from both parties came together in Harrisburg and unanimously passed important, groundbreaking reform legislation? It’s not a joke. It happened in 2012. As a result of…

Media

Read More: The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working

Health Care

Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2015

This week marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s transition from Healthy PA to full Medicaid expansion. Over 100,000 beneficiaries were transferred to the traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare plan known for limited…

Media

Read More: Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

Health Care

Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 23, 2015

A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…

Media

Read More: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme

Health Care

Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2015

Five years later, the promises of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ring hollow for too many Pennsylvanians. The law’s numerous mandates and regulations continue to drive up the cost of…

Media

Read More: Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars

Health Care

Beyond Medicaid Expansion: Helping the Poor

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 10, 2015

Yesterday’s announcement that Healthy PA will be rolled back in favor of full-scale Medicaid expansion misses the point. Instead of unraveling the few positive reforms incoporated in the original Medicaid waiver,…

Media

Read More: Beyond Medicaid Expansion: Helping the Poor

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit

  • February 6, 2015

The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit

Health Care

Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

  • James Paul
  • January 30, 2015

What is the ultimate goal of health care reform? Is it to provide all Americans with insurance cards? Or is it to enhance access to quality care at more affordable…

Media

Read More: Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 23, 2015

Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…

Media

Read More: Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

Health Care

Obamacare Failing Big Time

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 9, 2015

According to John Micek’s reading of a recent Gallup poll on health insurance, Obamacare is “working after all.” In reality, though, Gallup’s findings indicate that the health care overhaul…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Failing Big Time