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.

Regulation

Will More Choice and Convenience Really Kill Your Kids?

  • April 30, 2014

In a move that reeks of desperation, the United Food and Commerical Workers Union (UFCW) released a new ad with a ridiculous message: liquor liberalization will kill your kids.  …

Media

Read More: Will More Choice and Convenience Really Kill Your Kids?

State Budget

Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2014

As we have pointed out in the past, Pennsylvania’s legacy of overspending has created a looming deficit, threatening to destroy our fiscal house. Yet, some lawmakers and public officials…

Media

Read More: Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?

Health Care

Poverty Isn’t a Partisan Problem

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2014

Here’s a sobering fact: 13.1 percent of Pennsylvanians live in poverty despite billions spent every year on the social safety net. Simply throwing more money at the problem won’t make…

Media

Read More: Poverty Isn’t a Partisan Problem

State Budget

S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s Overspending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2014

Standard & Poor’s is sounding the alarm, once again, on Pennsylvania’s record of overspending. A new S&P report singles out the commonwealth for not putting our fiscal house in order,…

Media

Read More: S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s Overspending

Government Accountability

Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!

  • Bruce Cornibe
  • April 21, 2014

Happy Tax Freedom Day! It took from January 1 until today for Pennsylvanians to have earned enough income to pay off their federal, state, and local taxes for the year. …

Media

Read More: Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!

Health Care

My Obamacare Plan is Failing Me

  • Priya Brannick
  • April 15, 2014

Tuesday is the last day to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. Luckily I’ve already purchased an exchange plan. But barely one month into my new health…

Commentary

Read More: My Obamacare Plan is Failing Me

Taxes & Economy

Taxes Not Popular in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2014

Shocker! (Not really). A new Gallup poll finds that the majority of Pennsylvanians—58 percent—think state taxes are too high. Pennsylvania’s polling falls right in line based on our tax…

Media

Read More: Taxes Not Popular in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

The Harmful Effects of a Minimum Wage Increase

  • April 7, 2014

In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama proposed increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Although it sounds beneficial to low-wage workers, minimum wage…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Harmful Effects of a Minimum Wage Increase

Health Care

Washington isn’t Interested in Fixing Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 4, 2014

“We have been legitimately working very hard with them and frankly, I’m very disappointed with the turn in discussions in the last week,” said Governor Corbett (paywall) on the federal…

Media

Read More: Washington isn’t Interested in Fixing Medicaid

Regulation

Booze Monopoly Bad for Business

  • April 1, 2014

This winter, a snow storm knocked the power out at the Continental Tavern, but Frank used a generator to keep his doors open and his customers in good spirits. The…

Commentary

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Health Care

Obamacare Fails to Deliver on Key Promises

  • March 31, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Obamacare Fails to Deliver on Key Promises More Pennsylvanians have lost coverage than gained because of Obamacare March 31, 2014,…

Press Release

Read More: Obamacare Fails to Deliver on Key Promises

Health Care

Protected from Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 31, 2014

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act promised to provide more affordable and better health care for all. Unfortunately, the law has delivered just the opposite—so much so that President…

Media

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Regulation

NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 28, 2014

Thanks to a recent minimum wage increase, 61 percent of New Jersey businesses are likely to raise their prices. In addition, a Congressional Budget Office analysis found increasing…

Media

Read More: NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill Jobs

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

Read More: Minimum Wage, Minimum Opportunity

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

Read More: PLCB Monopoly Breeds Corruption and Cronyism

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

Read More: A Look at Job Growth in Pennsylvania