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.

Education

Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs

  • June 13, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs

Education

Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts

  • June 13, 2007

Academic and financial costs of taxpayer-funded preschool questioned, alternatives proposed at news conference HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation joined with a coalition of organizations to call on lawmakers…

Press Release

Read More: Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts

Taxes & Economy

Is State Government Ready for a Spending Diet?

  • June 6, 2007

Taxpayer Protection bills sent to Senate floor HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the State Senate Finance Committee voted to send the Taxpayer Protection Act (SB 707) and the Taxpayer Protection Amendment…

Press Release

Read More: Is State Government Ready for a Spending Diet?

Taxes & Economy

Protecting the Taxpayers

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 31, 2007

Thank you Senator Corman, Senator Folmer, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act (SB 7) and Taxpayer Protection…

Commentary

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State Budget

A Diet Plan for an Obese State Government

  • May 30, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation launches campaign to “Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet” HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a media campaign to educate Pennsylvanians about the…

Press Release

Read More: A Diet Plan for an Obese State Government

Education

Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3

  • May 24, 2007

One of the most notorious abuses of taxpayers' money is the exercise of Walking-Around-Money (WAMs). These funds are set aside for use at each legislator's discretion to dish out to…

Commentary

Read More: Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3

Taxes & Economy

Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 16, 2007

In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell argued that hiking Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by 39% would not lead to lost jobs and opportunities for low-wage workers. Unfortunately, Mr. Rendell has already been…

Commentary

Read More: Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike

State Budget

We Need a People’s Budget

  • May 9, 2007

Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Turzai and the members of this committee for the invitation to be with you this morning. We are here today because Governor…

Testimony

Read More: We Need a People’s Budget

Taxes & Economy

Act 1 Property-to-Income Tax Shift

  • May 8, 2007

On May 15, 2007, voters across the Commonwealth will be asked to vote on a property-to-income tax shift to pay for public education expenditures. The Property Tax Relief Act of…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Act 1 Property-to-Income Tax Shift

Government Accountability

Taxpayers Need Protection

  • May 3, 2007

Delivered on Thursday, April 26, 2007 Good morning Chairman Corman, Senator Regola, and Senator Folmer. It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be able to come before you…

Testimony

Read More: Taxpayers Need Protection

Taxes & Economy

Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2007

April 27, 2007 won’t appear as a holiday on anyone’s calendar. Few workers will get the day off. But it will be the first day Pennsylvania’s workers stop working to…

Commentary

Read More: Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!

Regulation

Public Benefits from Private Liquor

  • April 19, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation joins Reason in call for LCB privatization HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined with privatization experts from the Reason Foundation to discuss the potential divesture of the…

Press Release

Read More: Public Benefits from Private Liquor

Taxes & Economy

Taxpayer Protections

  • April 17, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation applauds efforts to control spending and taxes HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation applauded today’s introduction of a package of proposals designed to reduce the tax burden on…

Press Release

Read More: Taxpayer Protections

Taxes & Economy

Prospering In Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2007

Are Pennsylvania’s workers worse off than they were three decades ago? A report prepared by the labor union-backed Keystone Research Center claims they are. Their data indicate that average real…

Commentary

Read More: Prospering In Pennsylvania

Education

Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2007

Good morning. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and policy institute in Harrisburg. I want to thank the…

Testimony

Read More: Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy

Taxes & Economy

New Paradigm Equals New Opportunities

  • March 22, 2007

The global environment for transportation financing is entering a new paradigm. Like many states, Pennsylvania finds itself at the convergence of two intersecting trends that demand fiscal attention: First, growing…

Commentary

Read More: New Paradigm Equals New Opportunities

Education

Spending Restraint Needed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2007

Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. I would like to thank Chairman Armstrong and the members of the…

Testimony

Read More: Spending Restraint Needed

Taxes & Economy

Financing and Managing Transportation in PA

  • March 6, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation report recommends Public-Private Partnerships Harrisburg, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released a new report, The Emerging Paradigm: Financing and Managing Pennsylvania’s Transportation Infrastructure and Mass Transit, which…

Press Release

Read More: Financing and Managing Transportation in PA

Taxes & Economy

The Emerging Paradigm: Financing and Managing Pennsylvanias Transportation Infrastructure and Mass Transit

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 6, 2007

In November 2006, Governor Ed Rendell’s Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission identified a $1.7 billion annual shortfall in funding for the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure and mass transit services. The…

Report

Read More: The Emerging Paradigm: Financing and Managing Pennsylvanias Transportation Infrastructure and Mass Transit

Taxes & Economy

Higher Taxes Wont Cure Cancer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell has, on occasion, joked that some state lawmakers would oppose any tax increase, “even if we could cure cancer tomorrow.” Unfortunately, Governor Rendell adopts the opposite view…

Commentary

Read More: Higher Taxes Wont Cure Cancer

Regulation

What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?

  • February 6, 2007

Each morning my local county newspaper shows up late. Speaking with the delivery man and calling the office hasn’t changed things. So, rather than canceling the 20,089 daily circulation paper…

Commentary

Read More: What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?