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

Obamcare’s Premium Shock

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 19, 2013

Young adults who purchase their health insurance are in for rude awakening under the Affordable Care Act. The ironically-named law will force premiums to spike in order to pad insurance companies’ pockets. Is this what…

Media

Read More: Obamcare’s Premium Shock

Regulation

Repeating Detroit’s Error in Pennsylvania

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 19, 2013

Much has been said about why Detroit lies in critical condition, but one serious wound has been festering for decades: the unsustainable pension and health benefits that were secured for…

Commentary

Read More: Repeating Detroit’s Error in Pennsylvania

Health Care

Podcast: Medicaid Expansion with AFP

  • August 9, 2013

Does Medicaid really help the poor? What are the consequences of expanding the program? What are the costs involved for taxpayers? How can you make your voice heard on this…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Medicaid Expansion with AFP

Public Union Democracy

Who’s Strangling Whom?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • August 7, 2013

Jodi Hirsh wants you to believe that a shadowy, deep-pocketed, Washington-based organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has a “stranglehold on our statehouse.”  That’s the claim Ms. Hirsh,…

Media

Read More: Who’s Strangling Whom?

Regulation

PLCB’s “Record Revenue” No Reason to Celebrate

  • August 7, 2013

For Release: August 5, 2013 PLCB’s “Record Revenue” No Reason to Celebrate New numbers tell only half the story Harrisburg, PA—Today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control…

Press Release

Read More: PLCB’s “Record Revenue” No Reason to Celebrate

Regulation

BREAKING: State Monopoly Brings in Record Revenue

  • August 6, 2013

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reported record revenue and “profits,” leading some to claim that privatization just isn’t necessary. Not so fast. First, it should be no surprise that…

Media

Read More: BREAKING: State Monopoly Brings in Record Revenue

Government Accountability

New Video: CF President on FOX Business

  • August 5, 2013

This morning, CF President & CEO Matthew Brouillette appeared on FOX Business’s Varney & Co. to highlight the public pension crisis facing Pennsylvania and cities and states across the…

Media

Read More: New Video: CF President on FOX Business

Regulation

Copycat Union Letters Repeat Pension Myths

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 5, 2013

In July, a commentary by Matt Brouillette on why pension reform failed in our state legislature ran in several newspapers across Pennsylvania. Now response letters from teachers have been…

Media

Read More: Copycat Union Letters Repeat Pension Myths

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Break Cities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2013

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal illustrates how government union leaders halted any reforms that may have prevented Detroit’s bankruptcy: A major expense for Detroit is the…

Media

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Regulation

Liquor Privatization Saves Lives?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2013

A little more than one year ago, Washington state privatized its liquor stores (and liquor wholesale operations). As we’ve noted before, both sales and tax revenue increased under privatization.

Media

Read More: Liquor Privatization Saves Lives?

Health Care

States Use Federalism to Protect Poor

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 18, 2013

The debate in the Keystone State on the question of whether to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act looks to be ending. Governor Tom Corbett has successfully pointed out…

Commentary

Read More: States Use Federalism to Protect Poor

Taxes & Economy

Drilling Moratorium Handcuffs Landowners, Stunts Economy

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 18, 2013

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) continues to stymie development of the Marcellus Shale in all or parts of 13 Pennsylvania counties even as Governor Corbett, Senator Pat…

Media

Read More: Drilling Moratorium Handcuffs Landowners, Stunts Economy

Regulation

“Failure” Leads to Downgrade for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2013

This latest look at Pennsylvania’s fiscal house shows the urgency of pension reform and spending restraint. Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Pennsylvania’s bond rating.  This effectively sends a sign to…

Media

Read More: “Failure” Leads to Downgrade for Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

We’re 39th! We’re 39th!

  • July 16, 2013

CNBC just released its ranking of the top states for business in 2013.  In case you missed the subtle wording in this blog’s title, Pennsylvania languishes near the bottom.

Media

Read More: We’re 39th! We’re 39th!

Taxes & Economy

Gasland Part II: New Name, Same Propaganda

  • July 12, 2013

Remember the frackaphobic film Gasland (2010) directed by Pennsylvania native Josh Fox? Although a documentary in name, we proved the film to be largely fictional. Despite critical acclaim and…

Media

Read More: Gasland Part II: New Name, Same Propaganda

Health Care

Obamacare Failure: Goodbye Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 12, 2013

Last week, the Obama administration tried to sneak through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) bombshell—the delay of the employer mandate. What does this mean? Basically, it acknowledges that as…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Failure: Goodbye Jobs

State Budget

New Video: Budget Season Wrap Up

  • July 12, 2013

Gov. Corbett signed a more than $28 billion budget at the end of June—but was it a win for you the taxpayer? CF policy experts offer answers on this and…

Media

Read More: New Video: Budget Season Wrap Up

Taxes & Economy

EPA Quietly Drops Flawed Fracking Study

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 8, 2013

With all of its enormous resources, the federal government’s capacity to influence exceeds even that of Hollywood and Madison Avenue. That is why it is so disconcerting when Washington…

Media

Read More: EPA Quietly Drops Flawed Fracking Study

Public Union Democracy

Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 8, 2013

Why haven’t liquor privatization and pension reform passed yet here in Pennsylvania? The reason is that the true divide in the General Assembly is not between the Republicans and Democrats,…

Commentary

Read More: Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Torpedo Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2013

The state budget deadline came and went without passage of any of the “Big Three” policy items—liquor store privatization, pension reform, or transportation tax and fee increases. It was clear…

Media

Read More: Government Unions Torpedo Agenda

Regulation

Consumers Still Waiting for Convenience

  • July 2, 2013

Consumers still demand convenience when it comes to purchasing alcohol, according to a story in the Patriot News, despite the General Assembly’s delay on passing liquor privatization until after…

Media

Read More: Consumers Still Waiting for Convenience