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.

State Budget

Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2012

This July signals the beginning and end of two feats requiring amazing determination, stamina and perseverance—the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the on-time passage of the Pennsylvania state…

Commentary

Read More: Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget

Health Care

State Officials Have the Power to Stop Federal Health Care

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 3, 2012

The Supreme Court health care ruling last week gave Pennsylvania two opportunities to undermine the Affordable Care Act. States can decline to set up a state exchange and choose not…

Media

Read More: State Officials Have the Power to Stop Federal Health Care

Taxes & Economy

How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling in 2012?

  • July 3, 2012

Back in 2010, Pennsylvania was as attractive to drill in as Cambodia. The state ranked 66th out of 133 jurisdictions worldwide, according to the Fraser Institute’s Global Petroleum…

Media

Read More: How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling in 2012?

State Budget

What’s In It for You – Budget Review

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 2, 2012

With only minutes to spare Saturday night, Gov. Corbett signed his second on-time budget without increasing taxes and limiting spending growth to less than inflation and population growth. Here’s what…

Media

Read More: What’s In It for You – Budget Review

State Budget

Of Milestones and Things Left Undone | WEEKLY UPDATE

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 2, 2012

Do you get CF’s WEEKLY UPDATE every Monday?  If not, here’s what you’re missing.  Sign up here so you don’t miss next week’s message!    …

Media

Read More: Of Milestones and Things Left Undone | WEEKLY UPDATE

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Passes Proven Prison Reform

  • June 29, 2012

Pennsylvania's inmate population and rate of recidivism have reached crisis levels in recent years.  Since 1980, Pennsylvania's inmate population increased over 500% between 1980 and 2009. …

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Passes Proven Prison Reform

Taxes & Economy

Chart: A Decade of State Spending Growth

  • June 29, 2012

State policymakers agreed on a budget deal that includes $27.7 billion in General Fund spending. This budget deal represents a $6.8 billion, or 36.1 percent, increase in General Fund spending…

Media

Read More: Chart: A Decade of State Spending Growth

Education

Temple Tuition Tamp-Down Shows Wake-Up Calls Work

  • Charles Mitchell
  • June 29, 2012

During last year’s budget season, I was pretty critical of Temple University for raising tuition by ten percent while its administrators joined in the Chicken Little routine (“The sky…

Media

Read More: Temple Tuition Tamp-Down Shows Wake-Up Calls Work

Criminal Justice Reform

Pennsylvania Passes Landmark Corrections Reform

  • June 28, 2012

On Monday, Pennsylvania passed landmark legislation to replace decades of ineffective and expensive corrections policies with reforms that make our communities safer and save taxpayers money.   Commonwealth Foundation thanks…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Passes Landmark Corrections Reform

Health Care

Constitutional, but Still Unaffordable, Unsustainable and Nonsensical

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 28, 2012

My response to today’s Supreme Court of the United States ruling on President Obama’s healthcare reform law: Just because something is ruled Constitutional doesn’t make it affordable, sustainable or…

Media

Read More: Constitutional, but Still Unaffordable, Unsustainable and Nonsensical

Taxes & Economy

Welfare is Number One in New Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 27, 2012

Pennsylvania taxpayers will once again spend more on welfare than any other department in the General Fund, including education, according to newly released budget spreadsheets (based on the tentative…

Media

Read More: Welfare is Number One in New Budget

Education

Would You Rather Kids Share Books, or Get Booked?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • June 26, 2012

I’m writing right now from the road, specifically from the poorest city in America:  Reading, Pennsylvania.  Reading is one of the cities mentioned in today’s CF news release pointing…

Media

Read More: Would You Rather Kids Share Books, or Get Booked?

Public Union Democracy

Unions Fight Flexible Funding

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 25, 2012

Gov. Corbett’s budget proposed combining five county human services programs into one flexible block grant. In the past, state legislation dictated how much counties could spend under each category, regardless…

Media

Read More: Unions Fight Flexible Funding

Regulation

Dailies Declare Defending Dukes of Distillation Dereliction of Duty

  • June 22, 2012

Declaring a dereliction of duty to delay disposal of the PLCB’s monopoly of manipulation, mediocrity, mismanagement and malfeasance, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial team lambasted lawmakers, saying some stood as,…

Media

Read More: Dailies Declare Defending Dukes of Distillation Dereliction of Duty

Regulation

Who Will Help CF Save You Money?

  • June 20, 2012

Organizations that love to lobby for your tax dollars and special handouts for their special interests are posturing against Gov. Tom Corbett’s corporate welfare package to lure Shell’s new…

Media

Read More: Who Will Help CF Save You Money?

Regulation

Kings of Cabernet Caught Grabbing Grift, Gifts, Golf

  • June 19, 2012

So how do some alcohol vendors become wine winners and others liquor losers under a state-run monopoly?  Well, a scathing new report by the Inspector General’s Office, broken this…

Media

Read More: Kings of Cabernet Caught Grabbing Grift, Gifts, Golf

State Budget

State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2012

Let’s pretend you’ve been financially struggling recently, have spent your savings and pushed off paying some of your bills. But here’s some good news: You have $500 in your checking…

Media

Read More: State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?

Regulation

Happy Hour or Last Call? What’s the Scoop on HB 11

  • June 18, 2012

Ready to toast to an end of the state-run monopoly on wine and spirits? Nearly seven out of 10 Pennsylvanians would raise their glasses with you. Government-sold booze is…

Media

Read More: Happy Hour or Last Call? What’s the Scoop on HB 11

Public Union Democracy

Voters: Limit Government Spending!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2012

In a recent poll, Susquehanna Polling and Research asked 700 registered Pennsylvania voters if they would support limiting the growth of state government spending—legislation similar to the…

Media

Read More: Voters: Limit Government Spending!

Education

What’s in the Property Tax Elimination Bill?

  • Priya Brannick
  • June 13, 2012

This week, the House Finance Committee tabled HB 1776 until the fall to have further discussion. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Cox, would eliminate school property taxes and…

Media

Read More: What’s in the Property Tax Elimination Bill?

Regulation

Top-5 Liquor Liberty Myths Busted!

  • June 12, 2012

Pennsylvanians have come together, transcending party lines, gender, economic means and all geographic regions of the state to call for an end to the state-run monopoly on wine and…

Media

Read More: Top-5 Liquor Liberty Myths Busted!