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

Win PennFuture Junk!

  • July 16, 2010

Over on the home page Commonwealth Foundation has responded to PennFuture’s allegations of “serious errors” in our report, “PennFuture’s Lobbying: Hypocritical, Unethical and Possibly Illegal.”…

Media

Read More: Win PennFuture Junk!

Taxes & Economy

CF Responds to PennFuture Demands

  • July 16, 2010

A July 14, 2010 letter from PennFuture’s attorney claimed the Commonwealth Foundation’s Policy Brief, “PennFuture’s Lobbying: Hypocritical, unethical, and possibly illegal,” contained three inaccuracies and demanded…

Press Release

Read More: CF Responds to PennFuture Demands

Taxes & Economy

New Drilling Study Highlights Regulation Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 16, 2010

Recently, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council released a study on Marcellus Shale drilling focusing on what Pennsylvania needs to do to ensure responsible development of this newly tapped resources. As…

Media

Read More: New Drilling Study Highlights Regulation Reform

Taxes & Economy

Anti-Drilling Groups Pressure Penn State

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 16, 2010

Opponents of natural gas drilling are attacking the integrity of a Penn State study on the economic effects the Marcellus Shale development, which was funded by the industry. Complaints center…

Media

Read More: Anti-Drilling Groups Pressure Penn State

State Budget

Are There WAMs in the PA Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2010

A reader called our office today, following a conversation with his local lawmakers, who denied there were any WAMs in the budget, and claimed there had not been in many…

Media

Read More: Are There WAMs in the PA Budget?

Taxes & Economy

EOG Resources Mans Up After Drilling Accident

  • July 15, 2010

On Tuesday, DEP released the results of an investigation into the June 3 Clearfield County gas well incident. The well, as you might recall, shot gas and flow-back water…

Media

Read More: EOG Resources Mans Up After Drilling Accident

Taxes & Economy

Penn State and PennFuture: Two Peas in a Pod

  • July 14, 2010

While PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett whines about alleged Commonwealth Foundation smears of themselves and of Climategate scientist Michael Mann, The Atlantic‘s Clive Crook — a…

Media

Read More: Penn State and PennFuture: Two Peas in a Pod

Taxes & Economy

Combined Reporting Has Consequences

  • July 14, 2010

Lancaster Online recently produced a number of articles concerning Mandatory Unitary Combined Reporting, one of many tax revenue increases offered by Governor Rendell. Combined Reporting did not make it…

Media

Read More: Combined Reporting Has Consequences

State Budget

Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget Woes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 14, 2010

Reason highlights a new Rasmussen Poll on state budget crises. A whopping 75% of voters blame current budget crises on politicians’ unwillingness to cut spending. Only 13% think…

Media

Read More: Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget Woes

Regulation

Pension Reform Is Good for Teachers

  • July 13, 2010

Recently, the New York Daily News published an article by public school teacher Emmanuel George. He has taught in both traditional public schools and in a charter school.

Media

Read More: Pension Reform Is Good for Teachers

Government Accountability

BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2010

PennFuture’s Jan Jarrett launches a tirade against the Commonwealth Foundation’s exposé of PennFuture’s lobbying. For starters, she repeatedly labels it a “smear campaign” (and even includes…

Media

Read More: BP-Funded PennFuture Attacks the Messenger

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure

  • July 13, 2010

From 1998-2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent no money on lobbying the federal government (although independent agencies – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Higher Education Assistance Agency –…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Million Dollar Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Failure

Regulation

Pet Projects Lap Up Funds

  • July 13, 2010

State Legislators awarding funds to pet projects flies in the faces of Pennsylvanians who want their state to eliminate a deficit before tapping revenue for pet projects. Capitolwire (subscription)…

Media

Read More: Pet Projects Lap Up Funds

Regulation

The Real Problem with the Specter Library

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2010

As part of the state budget deal, Gov. Rendell secured $600 million in new borrowing for pork-barrel projects, including $10 million for the "Arlen Specter Library" at Philadelphia University and…

Commentary

Read More: The Real Problem with the Specter Library

Regulation

Is. Rep. Turzai a Drug Pusher?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2010

In another over-the-top criticism of liquor store privatization, Don Wert of Pennsylvanians Concerned about Alcohol Problems attacked Rep. Mike Turzai’s proposal to license private stores to sell wine and…

Media

Read More: Is. Rep. Turzai a Drug Pusher?

Taxes & Economy

Tom Corbett is Right on Unemployment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 10, 2010

Yesterday, PA Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett made remarks about how unemployment benefits result in higher higher unemployment, recorded by Scott Detrow, and picked up on by Capitol Ideas,…

Media

Read More: Tom Corbett is Right on Unemployment

Government Accountability

Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 9, 2010

In a somewhat welcome surprise, both candidates for governor (Onorato and Corbett) criticized Rendell’s RCAP projects in the budget amounting to some $300 million dollars. The political legacy projects are the…

Media

Read More: Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP

Taxes & Economy

The Benefits of Lower Tobacco Taxes

  • July 9, 2010

Gov. Rendell hailed the budget, as he signed it into law on Tuesday. However, Rendell isn’t all smiles– the Governor lamented the fact that lawmakers failed to increase…

Media

Read More: The Benefits of Lower Tobacco Taxes

Education

Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry

  • July 9, 2010

Last school year, taxpayers gave Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman $65,000 (in addition to her salary of $325,000, which could be close to $500,000 next year). But…

Media

Read More: Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry

Government Accountability

PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers

  • July 9, 2010

According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced…

Commentary

Read More: PennFuture: Harrisburg’s Lobbying Launderers

Government Accountability

PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

  • July 8, 2010

Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report on the activities and claims of PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future), the organization founded by current Pennsylvania Secretary…

Press Release

Read More: PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying