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

Decipher PLCB Clues, Taxpayers Lose

  • October 22, 2012

Do you remember playing the board game Clue?  It was one of my favorites as a kid; I loved deducing who committed the crime, in what room, and with…

Media

Read More: Decipher PLCB Clues, Taxpayers Lose

Taxes & Economy

Pa. Job Growth Triples National Rate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2012

Last week saw the release of September state jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Media coverage of this jobs report focused on the unemployment rate only, which…

Media

Read More: Pa. Job Growth Triples National Rate

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections Reform

  • October 18, 2012

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania passed the final piece, House Bill 135, of a landmark corrections reform package that transforms our ailing prison system to one that works better for YOU. Commonwealth Foundation…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections Reform

Taxes & Economy

Truth, Lies & Answers on Natural Gas Drilling

  • October 15, 2012

Hydraulic fracturing has been closely studied since its development in the 1940s. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the former head of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have…

Poll

Read More: Truth, Lies & Answers on Natural Gas Drilling

Taxes & Economy

Foreign Federation Finances Phony Frackophobic Film

  • October 12, 2012

A new anti-fracking movie, Promised Land, is set to release in a couple of months, but controversy around the movie is already in full swing. The film has come…

Media

Read More: Foreign Federation Finances Phony Frackophobic Film

Health Care

Principles for Health Care Reform

  • October 11, 2012

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands Medicaid, subsidizes health insurance for middle class families, and creates new federal health insurance regulations. To pay for this additional spending, the ACA makes…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps Disabled

  • Charles Mitchell
  • October 11, 2012

The Union Party never minces words:  They believe the best way to help people is to grow government.  That’s the message they’ve brought to bear throughout the Corbett Administration,…

Media

Read More: Lowe’s Shows Dignity of Work, Helps Disabled

Regulation

Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?

  • October 10, 2012

Last month, I testified to the House Finance Committee that targeted tax breaks and corporate welfare subsidies prevent across-the-board tax rate reductions that would benefit all Pennsylvanians. As a follow-up…

Media

Read More: Mailbag: Would Eliminating Tax Credits Really Lower Taxes?

Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?

  • October 10, 2012

Under Gov. Tom Corbett’s leadership, Pennsylvania unanimously passed (Senate Bill 100) part of a landmark corrections reform package last session. SB 100, now Act 122 of 2012, aims to…

Media

Read More: Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?

State Budget

Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal Firefighting

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2012

Gov. Tom Corbett was one of only four governors to get an “A” in Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Corbett was joined by Govs. Sam…

Media

Read More: Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal Firefighting

Health Care

Medicaid Expansion Bad Deal for Patients

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 3, 2012

Health care interest groups took to the press in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to argue for expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania, but these advocates overlook the program’s flaws and its long-term…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Expansion Bad Deal for Patients

Government Accountability

Oh, Great, More “Convenience”

  • October 2, 2012

From the fine makers of the wine kiosk catastrophe, government-branded grapes of wrath, uncorked comedic cronyism  and wasteful wine surplus trailer parks comes “Convenience…

Media

Read More: Oh, Great, More “Convenience”

Regulation

PLCB Spills Grapes of Wrath!

  • October 1, 2012

Wine Shrines, Kiosk Catastrophes and ethics investigations step aside (okay, hold that last one), the Kings of Cabernet have uncorked their latest mayhem of modernization, malfeasance and…

Media

Read More: PLCB Spills Grapes of Wrath!

Health Care

Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget Buster

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 26, 2012

Pensions and transportation top the list of crises the General Assembly won’t address in their short fall session, but little has been said about the biggest budget buster facing the…

Media

Read More: Saylor Broaches Biggest Budget Buster

Education

5 Fixes for Property Tax Fires

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2012

Yesterday, I testified before the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, presenting on the best tax policy to finance government operations, and on…

Media

Read More: 5 Fixes for Property Tax Fires

Education

Approaches to Property Tax Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2012

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the director of policy analysis for…

Testimony

Read More: Approaches to Property Tax Reform

Regulation

Pension Iceberg Grows $4 Billion

  • September 21, 2012

Pennsylvania’s ailing government worker pension system just landed taxpayers an estimated $4 billion more in unfunded pension liabilities. The Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS)—the largest government worker pension system…

Media

Read More: Pension Iceberg Grows $4 Billion

Regulation

Simply Naked or Simply Stupid?

  • September 20, 2012

Contradictions, corruption and chaos have consistently characterized the conduct of the Kings of Cabernet.  So it should be no surprise today they renewed a kids’ contest designed to bring…

Media

Read More: Simply Naked or Simply Stupid?

Regulation

Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?

  • September 20, 2012

I testified yesterday before the House Finance Committee about how government-directed “economic development” hampers economic growth. A prime example of this happened Tuesday, where taxpayers forked over more…

Media

Read More: Should Taxpayers Subsidize Chocolate Making?

Regulation

Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • September 19, 2012

Testimony of Katrina M. Currie to Pennsylvania House Finance Committee, September 19, 2012 Good afternoon, my name is Katrina Currie; I am a policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s…

Testimony

Read More: Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy

Health Care

How Much Will Obama’s Health Care Cost You?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 18, 2012

How much will the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) cost you? Our new policy points look at the cost Pennsylvanians will shoulder under the sweeping health care reform law.

Media

Read More: How Much Will Obama’s Health Care Cost You?