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.

Taxes & Economy

PA State Budget Overview

  • March 29, 2011

Today, CF’s Nathan Benefield is speaking at the Restoring America Summit & Rally in Coraopolis, Pa.  You can find his presentation on Pennsylvania state spending, the budget and recommended…

Media

Read More: PA State Budget Overview

Criminal Justice Reform

Prisoners Cost Less in Michigan than in Pennsylvania

  • March 28, 2011

Last week, Gov. Tom Corbett announced that more than 2,000 inmates previously housed in Michigan and Virginia are returning to Pennsylvania prisons. The problem is that it’s cheaper…

Media

Read More: Prisoners Cost Less in Michigan than in Pennsylvania

Education

Students’ Ire Is Misplaced

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 28, 2011

As I write this, there are Pennsylvania college students walking past our State Capitol holding signs reading, “Save Our System.”  It’s understandable:  Since Gov. Corbett outlined his budget, these students…

Media

Read More: Students’ Ire Is Misplaced

Education

Does State Aid to Universities Keep Tuition Low?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2011

Cato’s Neal McCluskey has a new podcast discussing state funding for universities, specifically discussing how taxpayer funding has not kept tuition low, but rather that colleges have raised prices…

Media

Read More: Does State Aid to Universities Keep Tuition Low?

Education

Do School Districts have to Raise Property Taxes?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 25, 2011

Following Gov. Corbett’s budget, school district officials and the tax-and-spend lobby have cried that cuts to state education spending will force schools to increase property taxes.  Yet this ignores several…

Media

Read More: Do School Districts have to Raise Property Taxes?

Education

The Bubble Bursts at Penn State

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 24, 2011

The story is told that when someone asked John D. Rockefeller how much money is enough, he responded, "Just one dollar more."  Penn State's President, Graham Spanier, like most college…

Commentary

Read More: The Bubble Bursts at Penn State

Regulation

PLCB’s Real Agenda

  • March 23, 2011

Last month, we exposed the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s alternative to liquor store privatization scheme, which is making headlines today after the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Media

Read More: PLCB’s Real Agenda

Health Care

Still Learning “What’s in the Bill”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 22, 2011

My brother sent me the following text message while at his local pharmacy: Just realized that OTC [over-the-counter] drugs are no longer covered by HSA thanks to Obama. I…

Media

Read More: Still Learning “What’s in the Bill”

Education

Parents Mustn’t Fall for Penn State Claims

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 21, 2011

In an op-ed in Sunday’s Harrisburg Patriot-News, Penn State President Graham Spanier repeated his now-familiar claims that his institution must receive more from taxpayers than the $165 million…

Media

Read More: Parents Mustn’t Fall for Penn State Claims

Education

On Penn State and Lasagna

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 18, 2011

The news that Penn State’s trustees just froze new building projects brings lasagna to mind. The reason is that right after my wife and I returned from the hospital…

Media

Read More: On Penn State and Lasagna

Taxes & Economy

Michael Mann at the Zoo

  • March 18, 2011

I’ve got a piece up today at American Spectator which reveals the latest two taxpayer-funded projects that Penn State Climategate scientist Michael Mann has added to his…

Media

Read More: Michael Mann at the Zoo

Education

Hope for University Administrators, or Taxpayers?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 18, 2011

Tracie Mauriello of the Post-Gazette has a story today with the headline “Legislators offer hope to university administrators.”  There, she quotes several state senators who say they hope to…

Media

Read More: Hope for University Administrators, or Taxpayers?

Education

Another Way to Handle Budget Problems

  • March 17, 2011

Following up on Charles’s post last week about Penn State’s “political stunt” over Gov. Corbett’s planned cuts to the university, it might help PSU president Graham Spanier to look…

Media

Read More: Another Way to Handle Budget Problems

Education

Top Ten Reasons Pennsylvanians Deserve More from Their Universities

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 17, 2011

Yesterday in Harrisburg, the talk was all about Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposal to cut the generous subsidies Pennsylvania taxpayers provide to our universities.  Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said…

Media

Read More: Top Ten Reasons Pennsylvanians Deserve More from Their Universities

Taxes & Economy

About a Streamlining Commission

  • March 16, 2011

Yesterday, CF released its new publication, Streamlining State Government, bringing attention to the more than 340 state regulatory and advisory agencies, demonstrating the need to trim the size…

Media

Read More: About a Streamlining Commission

Public Union Democracy

Streamlining State Government

  • March 15, 2011

Pennsylvania businesses must navigate a complex web of regulations from more than 340 independent state agencies, offices, state departments, boards, commissions, and committees stemming from the executive branch. Several other…

Report

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Public Union Democracy

Streamlining State Government Testimony

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 15, 2011

Thank you Chairman Smucker and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify before you today.  I’m Nate Benefield, Director of Policy Research at the Commonwealth Foundation for…

Testimony

Read More: Streamlining State Government Testimony

Regulation

Despite Union Propaganda, Residents Support Privatization

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 15, 2011

The Morning Call and Muhlenberg College recently conducted a poll on Pennsylvania’s budget situation. Despite months of union sponsored misinformation campaigns, Pennsylvania residents remain largely supportive…

Media

Read More: Despite Union Propaganda, Residents Support Privatization

Health Care

Medicaid Reforms Needed as Welfare Spending Surpasses Education

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 11, 2011

Under Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal, Pennsylvania would spend more on welfare than education for first time. A large chunk of that welfare spending is in Medicaid, a joint state-federal program…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Reforms Needed as Welfare Spending Surpasses Education

Education

PSU: Political Stunt University?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 10, 2011

University presidents are howling in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address, in which he proposed giving their institutions less of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.  The loudest protests are coming from…

Media

Read More: PSU: Political Stunt University?