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

No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC Move

  • February 25, 2011

It seems the number of Penn State graduates who are upset at recent actions of their alma mater grows by the…

Media

Read More: No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC Move

Regulation

Benefits of Liquor Store Privatization for Pennsylvanians

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 25, 2011

Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg.

Testimony

Read More: Benefits of Liquor Store Privatization for Pennsylvanians

Taxes & Economy

Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of Proportion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 24, 2011

Reactions to the Corbett administration’s revoking of mandatory impact reports on state lands targeted for drilling fail to see the big picture. Comments from environmentalists imply that without an extra…

Media

Read More: Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of Proportion

Regulation

And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?

  • February 24, 2011

Given that Gov. Corbett may end Pennsylvania’s $75 million film tax credit program, the film industry is out in force to prove it’s more unique than other industries, saying it…

Media

Read More: And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?

Regulation

Video: Matt Brouillette Breaks Down PA’s Fiscal Problems

  • February 21, 2011

Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Matt Brouillette was recently interviewed by Tony May, a partner at Triad Strategies.  They discuss a broad range of topics including Pennsylvania’s current fiscal situation…

Media

Read More: Video: Matt Brouillette Breaks Down PA’s Fiscal Problems

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Prison Postponed, Pork Prolonged

  • February 18, 2011

Yesterday, Gov. Corbett cancelled a planned prison construction project in Fayette County, estimated to cost taxpayers $200 million. In January, Auditor General Wagner called for a halt on…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Prison Postponed, Pork Prolonged

Public Union Democracy

The Tide Against Public Sector Collective Bargaining

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 18, 2011

Earlier this week, I blogged on state bankruptcy and how some believe budget problems can be solved if states are willing to challenge the…

Media

Read More: The Tide Against Public Sector Collective Bargaining

Regulation

Understanding the Support for Liquor Store Privatization

  • February 17, 2011

On Valentine’s Day, the Senate Law and Justice Committee heard testimonies on liquor store privatization, including comments from CF’s Nathan Benefield and Duquesne University professor Antony Davies. During the…

Media

Read More: Understanding the Support for Liquor Store Privatization

State Budget

Is State Bankruptcy a Solution?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 16, 2011

What do New York, California and Illinois have in common? They are in fiscal disarray and may soon be asking for a bailout from Congress. Bailing out these states would…

Media

Read More: Is State Bankruptcy a Solution?

Regulation

Impacts of Liquor Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2011

Remarks by Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research, Commonwealth Foundation Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We are a nonprofit, independent public…

Testimony

Read More: Impacts of Liquor Privatization

Taxes & Economy

Hanger: Gas Fracking is Safe

  • February 11, 2011

John Hanger, who just departed with Gov. Ed Rendell as his Secretary of Environmental Protection, recently gave an exit interview to the anti-natural gas,…

Media

Read More: Hanger: Gas Fracking is Safe

Taxes & Economy

Green Energy Could Lead to More Blackouts

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 10, 2011

Recent controlled blackouts in Houston were reportedly caused by the inability of older fossil fuel power plants to operate in unusually cold temperatures. Now proponents of green energy are…

Media

Read More: Green Energy Could Lead to More Blackouts

Health Care

Five Reasons Corbett Should Stop Implementing Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 9, 2011

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has indicated the state will continue to implement federal health care mandates, such as an an insurance exchange, at least for the time being. Here are…

Media

Read More: Five Reasons Corbett Should Stop Implementing Obamacare

Taxes & Economy

A Tax by Any Name Should Still Smell Defeat

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 7, 2011

State Senator Gene Yaw is pitching a new natural gas tax. The idea is to allow local communities to include the value of natural gas in property tax assessments,…

Media

Read More: A Tax by Any Name Should Still Smell Defeat

Taxes & Economy

Obama’s Energy Agenda

  • February 4, 2011

President Obama traveled to Penn State University yesterday to discuss his energy agenda and unveil his new taxpayer funded program incentivizing states to retrofit commercial buildings for energy efficiency.

Media

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Regulation

With Government Booze, Consumers Lose

  • February 4, 2011

It’s funny how we keep hearing union mouthpiece Wendell Young proclaim how much an asset full government control over the liquor sales business is to Pennsylvania consumers, yet consumers still…

Media

Read More: With Government Booze, Consumers Lose

Health Care

More Bad News for ObamaCare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 2, 2011

After Judge Roger Vinson declared that the entire healthcare overhaul is unconstitutional, Heritage analyst Conn Carroll explained how the decision effectively stops implementation in states (including Pennsylvania) that…

Media

Read More: More Bad News for ObamaCare

Regulation

Reviewing the Evidence on Liquor Privatization

  • February 1, 2011

CF President & CEO Matt Brouillette will be debating Wendell Young, President of the UFCW 1776 (the state liquor store employee union) on liquor privatization on PCN TV tonight…

Media

Read More: Reviewing the Evidence on Liquor Privatization

Taxes & Economy

Environoia Steals Steeler Thunder

  • January 31, 2011

National sport championship games such as the World Series or Super Bowl often bring out the mayors or governors of the contenders’ cities for bets on their home teams, usually…

Media

Read More: Environoia Steals Steeler Thunder