Education
Lowering the Cost of Living Key To Winning Keystone State
Originally published at Newsweek What will it take for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to win Pennsylvania—arguably the most important state in the 2024 election? The answer is simple. They must…
Read More: Lowering the Cost of Living Key To Winning Keystone StateMany 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.
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Criminal Justice Reform
One Policy Where Trump and Wolf Agree
President Trump and Gov. Tom Wolf agree: minimum sentencing laws are counterproductive. Last Wednesday, President Trump announced his support of the FIRST STEP Act. The bill gives federal judges more…
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Read More: One Policy Where Trump and Wolf AgreeHealth Care
What Do Lower Exchange Premiums Mean?
For the first time in the history of the Affordable Care Act, exchange premiums are decreasing in Pennsylvania. Insurance Commissioner Altman announced an aggregate average decrease of 2.3 percent…
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Read More: What Do Lower Exchange Premiums Mean?Criminal Justice Reform
Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await Signature
Last week we celebrated passage of a transformative welfare reform bill, which Governor Wolf vetoed late Friday afternoon. But it wasn't the only good policy that cleared both chambers…
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Read More: Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await SignatureHealth Care
Wolf Vetoes Opportunity for Healthy Adults to Escape Poverty
October 19, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Late this afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed HB 2138, a bold anti-poverty bill aimed at helping Pennsylvanians achieve independence. The legislation would have incentivized healthy,…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Vetoes Opportunity for Healthy Adults to Escape PovertyCriminal Justice Reform
A Victory for Fairness and Work
The General Assembly overwhelming passed House Bill 163 last night—an important win for people who believe in fair punishments and work as a means to independence. The legislation,…
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Pa. Legislature Sends Landmark Anti-Poverty Reform to Gov. Wolf
October 17, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania Legislature sent a landmark anti-poverty bill to Governor Wolf’s desk. HB 2138 will help healthy, childless adults enrolled in Medicaid move from…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Legislature Sends Landmark Anti-Poverty Reform to Gov. WolfCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania’s Financial Condition? Critical
Despite what you may have heard, Pennsylvania’s fiscal troubles haven’t disappeared. The recent state budget did not address the commonwealth’s short- or long-term financial challenges. It merely papered over them.
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Financial Condition? CriticalWelfare
Welfare Reform is On the Cusp
Major welfare reform is nearing the governor’s desk. Three bills, two in the Senate and one in House, contain significant improvements to our human service programs. SB 6 protects…
Media
Read More: Welfare Reform is On the CuspCriminal Justice Reform
Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ Potential
Pennsylvania’s poverty rate remains far too high. Employers can’t find workers with technical skills, and the commonwealth continues to lead the northeast in incarcerating our citizens. One organization is…
Media
Read More: Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ PotentialCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life Sentences
In this second blog in our Safe and Smart series, we tackle Pennsylvania’s practice of sentencing offenders to life without parole (LWOP). LWOP is coming under greater scrutiny from people across the…
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Read More: Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life SentencesCriminal Justice Reform
Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation
Four years ago we told you the story of Markela and Chris Sourovelis, Philadelphians who lost their home when their son committed a minor drug crime thanks to an…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust ConfiscationCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation System
CF’s newest policy brief, Safer Communities, Smarter Spending, provides a unique look at the problems in Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. The commonwealth’s incarceration rate is too high. Its supervision…
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Read More: Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation SystemCriminal Justice Reform
Safer Communities, Smarter Spending
About 95 percent of those confined to state prison will eventually re-enter society. This is why reformers must focus attention on reducing recidivism and balance "tough on crime" practices of the past…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Safer Communities, Smarter SpendingHealth Care
Protecting Home Care Workers from Gov. Wolf’s Invasive Executive Order
Legislative action must correct Gov. Wolf's executive overreach into the daily lives of home care workers and elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians.
Memo
Read More: Protecting Home Care Workers from Gov. Wolf’s Invasive Executive OrderCriminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Reform Should Reflect People’s Willingness to Change
My dad is one of the hardest working people I know. When I was younger, I used to stay up so late playing video games that I would still be…
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Read More: Criminal Justice Reform Should Reflect People’s Willingness to ChangeState Budget
Refocus on Government Assistance that Transforms Lives for Good
Six years ago, the Pennsylvania legislature ended the General Assistance program, a monthly cash benefit to disabled adults. In that same bill, Pennsylvania strengthened food stamp work requirements (later rolled…
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Read More: Refocus on Government Assistance that Transforms Lives for GoodCriminal Justice Reform
Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-Offenders
Pennsylvania has a 3-year recidivism rate of nearly 61 percent. Research shows one of the most critical components of successful re-entry is a job. But for 255…
Memo
Read More: Removing Barriers to Work for Ex-OffendersHealth Care
Trump Administration Bridges Health Insurance Gap
Help could soon be on the way for many of those harmed by Obamacare's burdensome rules and regulations. The Trump administration recently announced that they will expand short-term health…
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Read More: Trump Administration Bridges Health Insurance GapCriminal Justice Reform
Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. Wolf
In the last four years Pennsylvania has experienced rapid state spending growth. On the plus side, constant tax hike proposals have been largely rejected and policies like pension reform, school…
Memo
Read More: Spending Trends & Policy Developments Under Gov. WolfHealth Care
Small Increases Expected on Pa.’s Exchange
Pennsylvanians who purchase health insurance on the Exchange will finally get some relief from years of premium hikes. Pa. Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman announced they expect an average premium…
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Read More: Small Increases Expected on Pa.’s ExchangeCriminal Justice Reform
Another Step Towards Reducing Barriers to Work
Pennsylvania licenses over 250 occupations, creating unnecessary bureaucracy and obstacles to good paying jobs. Across the country states like Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Nebraska are eliminating licensure requirements…
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