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

Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’

  • June 23, 2010

Offering more evidence that CVPA’s call for Tom Corbett to return campaign contributions was a partisan stunt, Anadarko also gave Sen. Arlen Specter…

Media

Read More: Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’

State Budget

Time for A Taxpayer’s Budget

  • June 23, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA —The Commonwealth Foundation today released A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania, a report identifying $4 billion in…

Press Release

Read More: Time for A Taxpayer’s Budget

Taxes & Economy

More Reforms Before More Revenue in Transportation

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 23, 2010

Good morning and thank you Chairman Rafferty for the invitation to testify before your committee and for your consideration of our policy solutions to help address Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure funding…

Testimony

Read More: More Reforms Before More Revenue in Transportation

Education

A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania

  • June 23, 2010

A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget.  The report also offers…

Report

Read More: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania

Regulation

Knee-Jerk Reaction on Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2010

Following yesterday’s post of Rep. Mike Turzai talking about liquor store privatization, I got a couple of replies via Twitter from “Swanny88,” which makes…

Media

Read More: Knee-Jerk Reaction on Liquor Store Privatization

Taxes & Economy

Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2010

I sent the letter below to the group “Conservation Voters of PA“: I saw your press release demanding Tom Corbett return the $6,000 campaign contribution he…

Media

Read More: Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”

Regulation

Video: Privatizing PA Liquor Stores

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2010

State Rep. Mike Turzai stops by to talk about his proposal to privatize Pennsylvania’s wine and spirit sales in a new video: Click the links in this…

Media

Read More: Video: Privatizing PA Liquor Stores

Energy

The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus

  • June 22, 2010

The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study…

Commentary

Read More: The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus

Taxes & Economy

Government Spending and Economic Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2010

The Mercatus Center has a new brief policy analysis reviewing the economic literature on the role of government spending and economic growth. Their conclusion would (but should not)…

Media

Read More: Government Spending and Economic Growth

Taxes & Economy

Gasland Debunked

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 21, 2010

Tonight, HBO premiered the documentary Gasland – a film about the impacts of natural gas drilling across the United States. Director/producer and Pennsylvania native Josh Fox has been touring the…

Media

Read More: Gasland Debunked

Taxes & Economy

Baptists and Bootleggers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2010

ReasonTV has a new video up on “Bootleggers and Baptists.” This is a concept that relates to virtually everything we do here at the Commonwealth Foundation. The…

Media

Read More: Baptists and Bootleggers

Education

The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2010

Gov. Rendell's budget once again demands significant increases in public school spending.  Ostensibly, these increases are "for the children," but a close examination of education spending and policy proposals reveals…

Commentary

Read More: The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies

Regulation

$27 Billion Pension “Reform”: Still Doubling Down on Generational Theft

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • June 21, 2010

On June 16, the PA House passed pension "non-reform" by further deferring the scheduled taxpayers' contributions to the state's largest government pension plans - the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS)…

Commentary

Read More: $27 Billion Pension “Reform”: Still Doubling Down on Generational Theft

Taxes & Economy

New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still Grim

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2010

Contrary to Gov. Rendell’s seemingly rosy interpretation of Pennsylvania latest job numbers, the BLS data hardly inspires confidence. In May (seasonally adjusted data): Pennsylvania added 19,000 payroll jobs…

Media

Read More: New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still Grim

Taxes & Economy

Video: Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2010

CF Research Associate Elizabeth Stelle gives testimony on welfare fraud and abuse in Pennsylvania in this latest video, courtesy the PA House Republican Policy Committee. You…

Media

Read More: Video: Welfare Fraud

Taxes & Economy

Amish Carrots, Corporate Sticks

  • June 17, 2010

Ten days ago the New York Times reported how Amish farmers are being encouraged by environmental bureaucrats and activist groups to clean up the way they farm: For…

Media

Read More: Amish Carrots, Corporate Sticks

Government Accountability

Rendell Requests Another Federal Bailout

  • June 17, 2010

Gov. Ed Rendell is at it again, lobbying the federal government for “Stimulus 4” (following the 2008 Bush stimulus, the 2009 Obama stimulus, and the 2010 “jobs bill”) demanding another…

Media

Read More: Rendell Requests Another Federal Bailout

State Budget

More Tricks to Balance the PA Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 17, 2010

Rumors are circulating the state capitol that Pennsylvania lawmakers will take money out of the Tobacco Settlement Fund to balance this year’s state budget. This is not only a…

Media

Read More: More Tricks to Balance the PA Budget?

Taxes & Economy

Why are PA Roads so Bad?

  • June 16, 2010

Some of my friends and I like to take road trips to and through the states that border PA. One of the jokes we always make is, “You can tell…

Media

Read More: Why are PA Roads so Bad?