Every family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.

Regulation

Fact of the Day: PA Losing Liquor Sales to West Virginia

  • July 26, 2011

Pennsylvania is losing an estimated $3.5 million in revenue annually from state residents crossing into West Virginia to buy their alcohol. A report released earlier this year…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: PA Losing Liquor Sales to West Virginia

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Impact Continues to Grow

  • July 25, 2011

Last week, Penn State economists released the third in a series of economic analysis on Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale industry. The report estimated: Private companies spent $5.3 billion on drilling…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale Impact Continues to Grow

Regulation

Fact of the Day: Where do Underage Drinkers Get Alcohol?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2011

One of the myths perpetrated about letting private, licensed stores sell wine or liquor, rather than maintain a government monopoly, is that there will be a huge increase in underage…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: Where do Underage Drinkers Get Alcohol?

Regulation

Fact of the Day: Underage and Binge Drinking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2011

As noted yesterday, Pennsylvania ranks middle of the pack or worse in terms of alcohol-related deaths and traffic accidents, despite…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: Underage and Binge Drinking

Regulation

Fact of the Day: Liquor Safety and Government Control

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2011

Much of the discussion about ending government-run liquor stores in Pennsylvania is about safety—particularly alcohol related deaths and traffic accidents. But despite being among the states with the…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: Liquor Safety and Government Control

Regulation

Fact of the Day: Liquor Store Density

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2011

Rep. Mike Turzai’s proposal (HB 11) to allow private retailers to sell wine and spirits would approximately double the number of liquor stores (not including wine kiosks and wineries)…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: Liquor Store Density

Education

Penn State’s Smallest Tuition Hike in Years

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 18, 2011

The conventional wisdom ever since March 8, when Gov. Tom Corbett made his budget address, has been very simple:  The sky is falling!  How, exactly?  In the form of crippling…

Media

Read More: Penn State’s Smallest Tuition Hike in Years

Taxes & Economy

Corbett’s Commission Endorses Natural Gas Impact Fee

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 15, 2011

Today, the Marcellus Shale Commission is voting on long-awaited recommendations on natural gas development. The full report will be available next Friday, but the Commission has decided to recommend an…

Media

Read More: Corbett’s Commission Endorses Natural Gas Impact Fee

Taxes & Economy

Presentation on Marcellus Shale

  • July 14, 2011

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at an event organized by Pennsylvania Chautauqua on the Marcellus Shale’s development and impact on the Keystone State. Below is a copy of my presentation.

Media

Read More: Presentation on Marcellus Shale

Regulation

Brief Summary of Liquor Freedom Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2011

Today, Rep. Mike Turzai, along with a number of House Republicans, unveiled legislation to end the government monopoly on wine and liquor sales, and provide adult consumers liberty to…

Media

Read More: Brief Summary of Liquor Freedom Bill

Regulation

Commonwealth Foundation Toasts Turzai Liquor Freedom Bill

  • July 13, 2011

HARRISBURG, PA (07.13.11)-Commonwealth Foundation toasted House Majority Leader Mike Turzai today for unveiling House Bill 11, a law that would privatize the wholesale and retail sales operations of the Pennsylvania…

Press Release

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Toasts Turzai Liquor Freedom Bill

Regulation

Turnpike Tolls Totally to Transit?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2011

Amid all the budget turmoil, PA Independent notes the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission is looking to use tolls on Turnpike drivers—those going to the state as part of…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Tolls Totally to Transit?

Taxes & Economy

Saving the Amazon (in Pennsylvania)

  • July 11, 2011

When it comes to stopping the spree of tax hikes, the Pennsylvania legislature and Gov. Tom Corbett got it right this past session. In response, the world’s largest online retailer,…

Media

Read More: Saving the Amazon (in Pennsylvania)

Regulation

CF Applauds Initial Liquor Liberty Law Proposal

  • July 7, 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa.,-Commonwealth Foundation wholeheartedly praised House Majority Leader Mike Turzai for filing a proposal today seeking co-sponsors for his bill that would end the state’s liquor monopoly.  Turzai’s bill will…

Press Release

Read More: CF Applauds Initial Liquor Liberty Law Proposal

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Economic Outlook Among Nation’s Worst

  • July 7, 2011

The annual Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index ranked Pennsylvania among the least economically promising states. Since 2008, Pennsylvania’s economic outlook has dropped from 36th…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economic Outlook Among Nation’s Worst

Education

Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 6, 2011

July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season.   Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief…

Commentary

Read More: Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

Public Union Democracy

Disappointing Results from State Union Contract Deals

  • Priya Brannick
  • July 5, 2011

So far, the Corbett administration has concluded new four-year contracts with Pennsylvania’s two largest state worker unions, which represent 55,000 government workers—and the taxpayers are the losers.  The deals with…

Media

Read More: Disappointing Results from State Union Contract Deals

Regulation

PLCB Pulls Puzzling Perestroika Presser

  • July 5, 2011

In a mystifying maneuver made by the mother of all monopolies, the puzzling purveyors of Pennsylvania Perestroika, the PLCB, pulled a press release from the wire and its Web site today that…

Media

Read More: PLCB Pulls Puzzling Perestroika Presser

Regulation

CF Blasts Big Brother Booze Brag

  • July 5, 2011

Commonwealth Foundation denounced a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board press release today for its failure to disclose all the fiscal facts and for boasting about a government-run monopoly on liquor…

Press Release

Read More: CF Blasts Big Brother Booze Brag

Education

Cut Waste at This Temple, and I Will Praise It in Three Days

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 1, 2011

Temple University just announced that it is raising tuition by ten percent, blaming the new state budget.  Temple is an outstanding example of an institution that should have spent…

Media

Read More: Cut Waste at This Temple, and I Will Praise It in Three Days

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s $1.9 Billion Budget Shortfall

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 1, 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released preliminary FY 2010-11 revenue collection. Their statement says: Fiscal year 2010-11 General Fund collections totaled $27.5 billion, which is $785.5 million,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s $1.9 Billion Budget Shortfall