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

Minimum Wage, Minimum Opportunity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 21, 2014

In 2007, the Philadelphia Youth Network needed to cut 1,100 jobs for inner-city teens. Why? Because they couldn’t afford to place as many teens in jobs under the higher minimum…

Media

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Regulation

Wine, Dine, and Bribe

  • March 18, 2014

“Today’s featured wine has notes of bureacracy, boondoggles, and waste, with a lingering aftertaste of corruption. May I interest you in this PLCB blend?” Unlike a fine wine, the PLCB…

Media

Read More: Wine, Dine, and Bribe

Regulation

PLCB Monopoly Breeds Corruption and Cronyism

  • March 17, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PLCB Officials Used Public Positions for Personal Gain State monopoly has culture of corruption and cronyism on the…

Press Release

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Regulation

A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2014

Is your family ready to bend their budget to pay for Pennsylvania’s pension crisis? State pension costs are set to drive up the average family’s taxes by nearly $900 annually,…

Media

Read More: A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

Regulation

Fact Check, Please! Anti-Liquor Privatization Study Falls Short

  • Bruce Cornibe
  • March 12, 2014

As several states (Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Oregon) look to rid themselves of antiquated government-run liquor systems, the defenders of state-control status quo are fighting back harder than ever.  And some…

Media

Read More: Fact Check, Please! Anti-Liquor Privatization Study Falls Short

State Budget

Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 3, 2014

Lottery winners on welfare, millionaires on food stamps and supervisors that turn a blind eye to fraud; these are the stories that drive Pennsylvanians crazy. But the…

Media

Read More: Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out

Regulation

End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 26, 2014

Taxpayers have spent millions on four different occasions to subsidize the infamous “Sony site” in Westmoreland County. In the 1970’s Volkswagen got $70 million in state aid under Gov.

Media

Read More: End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

Regulation

A Look at Job Growth in Pennsylvania

  • February 25, 2014

Pennsylvania’s economy is beginning to recover from the 2007 recession, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since 2010, Pennsylvania has added 86,400 jobs, ranking…

Media

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State Budget

Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2014

Recent headlines have former Gov. Ed Rendell challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the issue of the deficit he left the current administration. Gov. Corbett has campaign ads stating he closed…

Media

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Regulation

Tableleaf is Dead, Booze Bureaucracy Remains

  • February 24, 2014

In a long overdue move, the PLCB is discontinuing its in-house wine, Tableleaf. As a refresher, Tableleaf is the PLCB’s own government-branded wine, which it introduced in 2011. Tableleaf…

Media

Read More: Tableleaf is Dead, Booze Bureaucracy Remains

Health Care

Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 14, 2014

This week, John Micek called out Keystone Progress on his Pennlive.com blog for what he termed a “disgusting” email that “has no place in our discourse.” What provoked this…

Media

Read More: Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

Taxes & Economy

Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage Europe

  • Gordon Tomb
  • February 12, 2014

State legislators who advocate for an expansion of government incentives for alternative energy sources need to pay attention to the events happening across the pond where the European Commission is…

Media

Read More: Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage Europe

State Budget

Pennsylvanians Are Losing Economic Freedom

  • Bruce Cornibe
  • February 7, 2014

Pennsylvanians are losing economic freedom according to the Fraser Institute’s annual report, Economic Freedom of North America 2013. The commonwealth is slowly losing ground ranking 33rd in 2009 and…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Losing Economic Freedom

State Budget

5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2014

The 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Budget proposal is more than 1000 pages, but we’ve boiled it down to five facts taxpayers you need to know 1. State Spending is at an All-Time…

Media

Read More: 5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

State Budget

State Budget Déjà Vu

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2014

Ceremonies in Punxsutawney have come and gone, but every year Groundhog Day reminds me of the film of the same name—in which Bill Murray lives the same day over and over…

Commentary

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State Budget

Governor’s Budget Right on Priorities

  • February 4, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact:717-671-1901 Governor's Budget Right on Priorities   February 4, 2014, HARRISBURG, Pa—In response to Governor Corbett’s budget address this afternoon, Matthew J. Brouillette,…

Press Release

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Regulation

Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • February 3, 2014

Over the past six fiscal years, the commonwealth has spent more than it has taken in.  This fiscal gap is projected to widen as expenditures are on pace to grow…

Report

Read More: Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

Regulation

Don’t Stop Halfway

  • January 31, 2014

Liquor privatization has been a promise, a priority and even passed the House last year. And in the roughly 11 months since that historic vote, progress remains stalled. But it’s…

Media

Read More: Don’t Stop Halfway

Health Care

Obamacare Sticker Shock for Pittsburgh Workers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 31, 2014

The reality of Obamacare hit home for the employees of Simonetta’s Collision Repair Center in McKeesport. WTAE news captured the reaction of six employees who were told their copays,…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Sticker Shock for Pittsburgh Workers

Education

Win for Transparency in Public School Spending

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 22, 2014

How would you like to know what’s in a teachers’ contract before your school district passes it—and locks in spending—for four years? And how would you like to track how…

Media

Read More: Win for Transparency in Public School Spending

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Condition is Critical

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 21, 2014

Pennsylvania ranks 42nd in overall fiscal condition, according to a report by Sarah Arnett of the Mercatus Center. The report, State Fiscal Condition: Ranking the 50 States, analyzes states’ abilities…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Condition is Critical