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

Audio: Wolf’s Campaign Rhetoric Meets Governing Reality

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • January 30, 2015

Governor Wolf has made some bold promises on his campaign trail, but very soon the campaign rhetoric will meet governing reality. CF’s President and CEO Matt Brouillette recently discussed…

Media

Read More: Audio: Wolf’s Campaign Rhetoric Meets Governing Reality

Health Care

Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

  • James Paul
  • January 30, 2015

What is the ultimate goal of health care reform? Is it to provide all Americans with insurance cards? Or is it to enhance access to quality care at more affordable…

Media

Read More: Breaking Out of the Fortress & Into the Frontier

Energy

Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2015

It’s indisputable that where there is Marcellus shale drilling there has been robust economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling led the state in…

Commentary

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Regulation

PLCB Limitations Shackle Entrepreneurs

  • January 26, 2015

“I’ve got products in the pipeline that I can’t sell, because they didn’t get approved,” said Mike Gonze, president of Dreadnought Wines in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article that perfectly…

Media

Read More: PLCB Limitations Shackle Entrepreneurs

Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 23, 2015

Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…

Media

Read More: Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win

Taxes & Economy

How to Help the Poor Leave Poverty Behind

  • January 19, 2015

Making “the rich” pay higher taxes will miraculously help the poor. This antiquated idea is the conclusion of a recent paper released by the…

Media

Read More: How to Help the Poor Leave Poverty Behind

Regulation

Doing Business in Pennsylvania Can Be Taxing

  • January 12, 2015

This post was updated to reflect the most recent data available. Tax policy may not be as exciting as discussing Golden Globe winners, but few topics rise to the level…

Media

Read More: Doing Business in Pennsylvania Can Be Taxing

Public Union Democracy

Disappointed and Determined

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 12, 2015

Today, I am both disappointed and determined. I am disappointed that it is now a mathematical impossibility for any of the reforms you and countless other Pennsylvanians have demanded to…

Media

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Regulation

Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 8, 2015

Union leaders, copying from the same talking point memo, have repeated an identical falsehood about liquor store privatization. In two recent letters to the editor, I correct the record of…

Media

Read More: Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost

Taxes & Economy

Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their Feet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 5, 2015

Residents continued their exodus from Pennsylvania in 2014. The latest Census population estimates, released last month, show that Pennsylvania gained 5,913 in total population between July 2013 and July…

Media

Read More: Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their Feet

Education

Super Six: Important ‘Wins’ for Taxpayers, Kids this Year

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 30, 2014

Policymakers made significant strides over the past legislative session to increase school choice, save taxpayers from waste and abuse in unemployment compensation, and protect students. While critical reforms remain, it’s…

Media

Read More: Super Six: Important ‘Wins’ for Taxpayers, Kids this Year

Regulation

Government Falls Short in Subsidizing Job Creation

  • December 12, 2014

“Incomplete, misleading, and unreliable”—that is how an Auditor General report described Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of your…

Media

Read More: Government Falls Short in Subsidizing Job Creation

Education

Pennsylvanians Deserve True Fairness

  • December 11, 2014

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to pursue success in our state. While Gov.-elect Wolf's intentions echo this noble sentiment, many of his proposals fall far short of his vision.

Commentary

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State Budget

Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 5, 2014

With an estimated $2 billion “planning deficit” announced this week, one might believe crafting a balanced budget that doesn’t raise taxes is impossible. Yet earlier this year, we…

Media

Read More: Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget

Taxes & Economy

PA Ranks 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference

  • December 3, 2014

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PA Ranks a Mediocre 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference New Report Shows Expanding Economic Freedom Could Boost Incomes by Thousands…

Press Release

Read More: PA Ranks 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference

Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 2, 2014

Pennsylvania is the 27th freest state in America according to the Fraser Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of North America report, which is hardly news to be celebrating. States were…

Media

Read More: Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania

Regulation

EPA Rule Would Increase PA Energy Bills by $1,000

  • Gordon Tomb
  • November 26, 2014

The war on coal will be a catastrophe for consumers, according to a new analysis of energy prices under new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. According to…

Media

Read More: EPA Rule Would Increase PA Energy Bills by $1,000

Taxes & Economy

The Gift of Work

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 25, 2014

Red kettles, canned food drives, Toys for Tots—the holidays are a time when private charity shines. But have you ever wondered about the best way to help the poor? Ron…

Media

Read More: The Gift of Work

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s New Punxsutawney Phil

  • November 20, 2014

On February 2 of each year, all eyes are on Punxsutawney Phil. The famous groundhog is responsible for predicting the duration of winter-like weather. If Phil sees his shadow, we’re…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s New Punxsutawney Phil

Health Care

New Wave of Obamacare Price Hikes Arrives

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 17, 2014

Regina Weinhardt handles benefits for her family’s plumbing business in Delaware County. In business since 1962, providing health care to their employees has always been a priority, “My father started…

Media

Read More: New Wave of Obamacare Price Hikes Arrives