Fairness
A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is Irresponsible
Originally published by Penn Live. We hate to say, “We told you so.” But when it comes to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) demanding another state bailout, we told…
Read More: A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is IrresponsibleEvery 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.
Related Issues
Education
Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs
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 CostsEducation
Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts
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 CountsTaxes & Economy
Is State Government Ready for a Spending Diet?
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
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
Read More: Protecting the TaxpayersState Budget
A Diet Plan for an Obese State Government
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 GovernmentEducation
Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3
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 3Taxes & Economy
Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike
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 HikeState Budget
We Need a People’s Budget
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 BudgetTaxes & Economy
Act 1 Property-to-Income Tax Shift
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 ShiftGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Need Protection
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 ProtectionTaxes & Economy
Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!
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
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 LiquorTaxes & Economy
Taxpayer Protections
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 ProtectionsTaxes & Economy
Prospering In Pennsylvania
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 PennsylvaniaEducation
Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy
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 PolicyTaxes & Economy
New Paradigm Equals New Opportunities
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 OpportunitiesEducation
Spending Restraint Needed
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 NeededTaxes & Economy
Financing and Managing Transportation in PA
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 PATaxes & Economy
The Emerging Paradigm: Financing and Managing Pennsylvanias Transportation Infrastructure and Mass Transit
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 TransitTaxes & Economy
Higher Taxes Wont Cure Cancer
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 CancerRegulation
What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?
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?