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.

Health Care

Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2015

This week marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s transition from Healthy PA to full Medicaid expansion. Over 100,000 beneficiaries were transferred to the traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare plan known for limited…

Media

Read More: Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence

State Budget

Economic Freedom Trumps Identity Politics

  • Brittney Parker
  • April 29, 2015

Imagine a little girl and her young mother sitting on a porch on 19th Street in Harrisburg. The child smiles happily, but the mother looks tired—she’s working second shift and…

Media

Read More: Economic Freedom Trumps Identity Politics

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 27, 2015

Last Saturday Pennsylvanians passed an important milestone: Tax Freedom Day. This is the day Pennsylvanians earn enough dollars to pay off their federal, state and local tax bills for 2015. …

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government

State Budget

IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2015

The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a new analysis of Gov. Wolf’s tax proposals yesterday. What is their most interesting conclusion? Taxpayers in every income bracket will see a net…

Media

Read More: IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift

Regulation

Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions

  • April 23, 2015

Pennsylvania’s $50 billion public pension problem isn’t going to solve itself. Reform is a must, which is why Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has rightly called for structural…

Media

Read More: Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions

State Budget

Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate

  • James Paul
  • April 21, 2015

In the face of Governor Wolf’s proposed $4.5 billion tax increase, a group of Senate lawmakers are offering an alternate vision for Pennsylvania—one of limited government and…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate

State Budget

State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act

  • April 21, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act Legislation Protects Pennsylvanians from Out-of-Control State Spending Good afternoon,…

Press Release

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State Budget

The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 21, 2015

If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…

Commentary

Read More: The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget

Taxes & Economy

The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2015

The radical environmentalist group and corporate welfare lobbyist PennFuture has updated an absurd study about the “subsidies” Pennsylvania taxpayers pay for fossil fuels. While we oppose subsidies for any industry, most…

Media

Read More: The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th

  • April 10, 2015

Is placing 39 out of 50 in any competition acceptable? Most people would say no, which is why a new index published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th

Regulation

Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension System

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • April 9, 2015

While Gov. Wolf seems to think borrowing money will solve the pension crisis, the commonsense approach to getting out of our $53 billion pension hole is to “stop digging”–i.e., stop…

Media

Read More: Audio: Reforming Pennsylvania’s Pension System

Education

Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?

  • Gordon Tomb
  • April 2, 2015

As odd as it might sound, some rural schools could actually be harmed by Gov. Wolf’s efforts to increase education funding by imposing a severance tax on natural gas.

Media

Read More: Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?

Government Accountability

Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining Process

  • April 1, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf has an opportunity to deliver a fresh start to Pennsylvania’s collective bargaining process. Over the next few months, the governor and his administration will be negotiating…

Media

Read More: Shine a Light on the Collective Bargaining Process

Public Union Democracy

Prevailing Wage Reform in Pennsylvania

  • April 1, 2015

Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law was enacted in 1961, mandating that state and local governments pay construction contractors wages that “prevail” in each region on projects costing $25,000 or more. This…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Prevailing Wage Reform in Pennsylvania

State Budget

Wolf’s Unfair Tax Shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 24, 2015

School districts that receive the most in state funding today would also be the biggest winners under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for property tax rebates. Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax shift fails…

Media

Read More: Wolf’s Unfair Tax Shift

State Budget

Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 24, 2015

As part of his 2015-16 budget proposal, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed using some revenue from increased state taxes for school property tax relief beginning in 2016-17. This policy brief examines…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift

State Budget

Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly Budget

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • March 23, 2015

Last week, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on PCN’s Call-In Program with Steve Herzenberg, the Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center, to discuss Gov. Wolf’s costly…

Media

Read More: Video: Debating Gov. Wolf?s Costly Budget

Energy

Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • March 20, 2015

A severance tax must be considered in light of the state’s total tax structure. Pennsylvania taxes the natural gas industry in many ways that don’t exist in other drilling states.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Natural Gas Severance Tax

State Budget

A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank

  • March 20, 2015

During the gubernatorial campaign, Tom Wolf promised not to raise taxes on middle class Pennsylvanians. Despite this promise, the governor proposed a budget including the largest tax increase in…

Media

Read More: A Broken Promise Could Break the Bank

Government Accountability

Collective Bargaining Transparency

  • March 17, 2015

Government union contract negotiations can have far reaching implications because they set compensation for tens of thousands of public employees, costing taxpayers billions each year. Despite the enormous impact, the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Collective Bargaining Transparency