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

Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 3, 2009

Studies from the McKinsey group and National Research Council released this week claim that we can substantially reduce the country’s energy usage (15-32% by 2020) by replacing inefficient appliances…

Media

Read More: Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you

  • July 31, 2009

The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee contracted with Economics Research Associates (ERA)1 to analyze Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit (FTC).  In general, the ERA report, “Pennsylvania’s Film Production Tax Credit…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Flawed Film Tax Credit: What the ERA study won’t tell you

Health Care

Reasons ObamaCare Is Wrong for America

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has, on their new health care website, the Top 10 Reasons Obamacare Is Wrong for America, starting with the fact that individuals would lose their current…

Media

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on Sunshine

  • July 31, 2009

Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to closed-door budget negotiations between Gov. Rendell and selected legislative leaders: “A mere…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Pulls the Shade on Sunshine

Taxes & Economy

Federal Spending by the Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 31, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has a new report on federal spending. The short document includes lots of good tables and charts showing the effects of Bush-Obama spending increases.

Media

Read More: Federal Spending by the Numbers

Energy

Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps

  • July 30, 2009

With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is more accurately…

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Rendell, Harley Davidson, and Lando

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2009

In Empire Strikes Back, Lando Calrissian tells his old friend Han Solo that “I’ve just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever” before leading…

Media

Read More: Rendell, Harley Davidson, and Lando

Government Accountability

Victory for Transparency in State Government

  • July 29, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matt Brouillette issued the following statement today in response to the General Assembly’s decision to make Conference Committee meetings on the state…

Press Release

Read More: Victory for Transparency in State Government

State Budget

PA Senate Democrats Still Playing Games

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 29, 2009

Yesterday, the Senate rejected a bill to fund the University of Pittsburgh by a 30-20 vote.  (It was actually 30 ‘yes’ votes, but the bill needed 2/3 majority to pass. …

Media

Read More: PA Senate Democrats Still Playing Games

State Budget

Post-Gazette’s Nonsense on Pennsylvania Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2009

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette editorial board cribs Gov. Rendell’s talking points on the state budget, and pastes it into an editorial.  They state that lawmakers should not “balance…

Media

Read More: Post-Gazette’s Nonsense on Pennsylvania Budget

Education

Who’s For the Children?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2009

In the television comedy The Office, dim-witted boss Michael Scott remarks that he likes giving presents because they are “like this tangible thing that you can point to and say…

Commentary

Read More: Who’s For the Children?

Taxes & Economy

Do Voters Want Higher Taxes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2009

On his blog with the Times Herald, state Senator Daylin Leach makes a couple of absurd claims. First he suggests that residents are more concerned about potholes than high…

Media

Read More: Do Voters Want Higher Taxes?

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Gets Another Poor Grade for Business Climate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2009

CNBC has compiled a ranking of “America’s Best States for Business.” Pennsylvania ranks 33rd overall on their index, and gets very poor marks on categories “Cost of Business”, “Workforce”,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Gets Another Poor Grade for Business Climate

Health Care

Obama Surtax Effects in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has the breakdown of how many Pennsylvania residents and small businesses would be effected by the “surtax” to pay for nationalize health care (HT to…

Media

Read More: Obama Surtax Effects in Pennsylvania

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Proposals Compared

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2009

Here are some resources for comparing the various Pennsylvania state budget proposals. Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers PA House GOP Budget by the Numbers PA…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Proposals Compared

Health Care

Coalition of Groups Against Government-Run Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation has joined a coalition of national organizations in sendinga letter to members of Congress opposing government-run health insurance, individual or employer mandates, and government rationing of…

Media

Read More: Coalition of Groups Against Government-Run Health Care

Health Care

ObamaCare vs. Free Market Solutions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2009

The Heritage Foundation has a new analysis of the US House Democrats’ health care bill, showing that over 80 million people would lose their private insurance, and costs for…

Media

Read More: ObamaCare vs. Free Market Solutions

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania, A Sinner In The Tort Liability Index

  • July 23, 2009

The Pacific Research Institute’s study of Tort Reform among states examines 25 reforms adopted by states in an effort to control tort law suit losses and tort insurance programs. According…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania, A Sinner In The Tort Liability Index

Taxes & Economy

Why Pennsylvania Should Not Build High-Speed Rail

  • July 23, 2009

Last week, Gov. Rendell  submitted an application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a share of the $8 billion of stimulus money Congress allocated for high-speed rail. This raises…

Commentary

Read More: Why Pennsylvania Should Not Build High-Speed Rail