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

Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 31, 2012

This week, Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, Sen. Mike Brubaker, Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman, and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi announced plans to introduce pension reform legislation. The…

Media

Read More: Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

State Budget

Taxpayer Protection Act for Smarties

  • May 31, 2012

The Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) would reasonably limit future growth in state government spending to inflation plus population growth, require the government to prioritize spending, create a Rainy Day Fund…

Poll

Read More: Taxpayer Protection Act for Smarties

State Budget

Appropriations Chair Endorses Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 31, 2012

Last week in his remarks at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Sen. Jake Corman endorsed the idea of spending limits for Pennsylvania state government. Corman expressed support for Sen. Mike Folmer’s proposed…

Media

Read More: Appropriations Chair Endorses Spending Limits

Taxes & Economy

Nearly One Million Found in Out-of-State Welfare Fraud!

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 30, 2012

The facts are starting to get in the way for critics of welfare reform. By reviewing just three months of non-contiguous out-of-state EBT card transactions (November 2011 to January…

Media

Read More: Nearly One Million Found in Out-of-State Welfare Fraud!

Regulation

Top 5 Ways Liquor Monopoly Wastes Your Money

  • May 30, 2012

There’s good reason why other states, like Washington, have moved to get government out of the booze business, and aren’t looking to copy Pennsylvania’s flawed monopoly model.  This post…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Ways Liquor Monopoly Wastes Your Money

Education

Readers Ask, We Answer: Education Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2012

A reader asked us to help clarify the claims of Yinzercation blog on state education subsidies. The blogger claims the Corbett administration is being disingenuous about state K-12 education…

Media

Read More: Readers Ask, We Answer: Education Spending

Education

$27B + $15K = What?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 29, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released school financial data for the 2010-11 school year. The latest data shows public school spending and revenue increased yet again in 2011,…

Media

Read More: $27B + $15K = What?

Criminal Justice Reform

How YOU Benefit if Lawmakers Act on Corrections

  • May 29, 2012

Correcting the commonwealth’s criminal justice system is urgent. This is why Gov. Tom Corbett made it clear that he wants to see reform legislation on his desk by June…

Media

Read More: How YOU Benefit if Lawmakers Act on Corrections

Public Union Democracy

The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 24, 2012

I heard on the radio this week another ridiculous ad against allowing retail stores to sell wine or liquor, funded by UFCW dues to play on stations across…

Media

Read More: The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers

Criminal Justice Reform

Gov. Corbett Is Right: Real Corrections Reform, Right Now

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 23, 2012

We here at CF are proud to be part, along with Gov. George M. Leader, his family, and many others, of a transpartisan coalition favoring “real corrections reform, right…

Media

Read More: Gov. Corbett Is Right: Real Corrections Reform, Right Now

Criminal Justice Reform

Corrections Coalition, Dynamic Duo Dandy Says Patriot

  • May 22, 2012

Hats off to the Patriot-News Editorial Board for calling for an end to the status quo approach to criminal justice that has failed Pennsylvanians. Today’s editorial highlights the dynamic…

Media

Read More: Corrections Coalition, Dynamic Duo Dandy Says Patriot

Criminal Justice Reform

Commonsense Can Correct Corrections

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 22, 2012

Kyle, a convicted burglar sentenced to 1-3 years in Pennsylvania state prison, was granted parole in June 2011, but spent an extra 100 days in jail, not because he failed…

Commentary

Read More: Commonsense Can Correct Corrections

Regulation

Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to Compete

  • May 22, 2012

In three separate studies on the state’s economic competitiveness and business climates, Pennsylvania remains near the bottom of the pack. The 2012 Alec-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index, ranks states economic…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to Compete

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 21, 2012

Laura Olson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pensions, and Gov. Corbett injecting pension reform into the budget discussion: Even with…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

Education

Cal U Waste Begs for Higher Ed Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 21, 2012

The Senate’s budget included more funding for state universities than Governor Corbett proposed, but new discoveries of wasteful spending should give lawmakers pause. Gov. Corbett proposed a 30 percent cut…

Media

Read More: Cal U Waste Begs for Higher Ed Reform

Education

Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

PA Independent reported on Monday that Pennsylvania school districts’ fund balances reached $3.2 billion in 2011 (they compiled the data from the PA Department of Education’s (PDE)…

Media

Read More: Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

Regulation

Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

Another day, another story of waste at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. ABC 27’s Dennis Owens reports on the PLCB buying extravagant wine, then selling it at a discount…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

Regulation

Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 16, 2012

What's more dangerous, an incompetent barber or incompetent emergency medical worker? Most people would say and EMT, but a barber has to undergo almost nine times the hours of training…

Media

Read More: Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?

Regulation

Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

  • May 15, 2012

Another day, another alliteration, another wasteful Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board practice uncovered by the media. This time, a hat tip to Ben Simmoneau of CBS 3 Philadelphia for his report…

Media

Read More: Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons

Health Care

New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 15, 2012

A bill on the floor of the state House would circumvent consumer freedom when it comes to prescription drugs. Many employers, including the state, encourage employees to buy less costly…

Media

Read More: New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million

State Budget

State Budget vs Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2012

Last week, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a budget representing $27.66 in General Fund spending. How does that stack up against inflation and population growth? If…

Media

Read More: State Budget vs Spending Limits