Education
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansHigh taxes make for a slow-growing economy. And communities feel the pinch of high taxes as more and more native Pennsylvanians leave the Keystone State to prosper elsewhere. To remain economically competitive, Pennsylvania must lower state taxes and ensure businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Lower taxes will incentivize more individuals to call Pennsylvania their home, ultimately spurring our statewide economy forward.
Taxes & Economy
Penn State Fronts for GE
The New York Times reports today that companies are responding to new rules on earmark bans for private business by either setting up their own nonprofits, or…
Media
Read More: Penn State Fronts for GEGovernment Accountability
Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?
The delay to include the proposed Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) is just legislators’ latest attempt to resist the transparency and accountability legislation Pennsylvanians deserve. According to John Micek at…
Media
Read More: Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?Government Accountability
Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?
With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office. That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…
Media
Read More: Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?Education
Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in Climategate
Unsurprisingly, Penn State’s second investigation into its own faculty member, Michael Mann, cleared him of any scientific misconduct charges today. Among the reasons for clearing Mann, the report notes:…
Media
Read More: Penn State Clears “Award-Winning” Mann in ClimategateTaxes & Economy
Wind Power May Kill You
With the recent fatalities resulting from disasters at the Deep Water Horizon drilling rig and Massey’s Upper Big Branch coal mine, many may begin to think that such…
Media
Read More: Wind Power May Kill YouTaxes & Economy
2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for Future
Harrisburg, PA – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette released the following statement in response to the announced Pennsylvania state budget deal: “It’s difficult to negotiate a sane budget…
Press Release
Read More: 2010 Budget Deal Fails to Plan for FutureEducation
Politics Making a Mess of Education
It appears Gov. Rendell has succeeded in getting an increase in education spending for the FY 2010-11 budget. Despite the fact that enrollment is down across the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Politics Making a Mess of EducationRegulation
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate Taxes
The Commonwealth has the second highest state corporate income tax (behind Iowa, which has more generous deductions and exemptions). When compounding state and federal corporate taxes, Pennsylvania's corporate income tax…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate TaxesGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Commission IDs Spending Cuts
In February, the Senate established a bipartisan commission to identify cost-savings measure for the Pennsylvania state budget could save money. David Argall, the chairman of…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Commission IDs Spending CutsTaxes & Economy
The Environment Impact of Natural Gas Drilling
Concerns about the environment impact of natural gas drilling are well-founded, but often overstated. A common misconception is that the hydraulic fracturing process has contaminated many wells and groundwater.
Media
Read More: The Environment Impact of Natural Gas DrillingTaxes & Economy
Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill Jobs
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a new video out explaining how minimum wage laws kill jobs. From 2006 to 2009 the…
Media
Read More: Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill JobsGovernment Accountability
How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget
The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…
Media
Read More: How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the BudgetTaxes & Economy
Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’
Offering more evidence that CVPA’s call for Tom Corbett to return campaign contributions was a partisan stunt, Anadarko also gave Sen. Arlen Specter…
Media
Read More: Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’Taxes & Economy
More Reforms Before More Revenue in Transportation
Good morning and thank you Chairman Rafferty for the invitation to testify before your committee and for your consideration of our policy solutions to help address Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure funding…
Testimony
Read More: More Reforms Before More Revenue in TransportationEducation
A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania
A Taxpayer's Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania identifies opportunities to cut over $4 billion in wasteful state spending in Gov. Rendell's proposed FY 2010-11 budget. The report also offers…
Report
Read More: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”
I sent the letter below to the group “Conservation Voters of PA“: I saw your press release demanding Tom Corbett return the $6,000 campaign contribution he…
Media
Read More: Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”Energy
The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus
The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study…
Commentary
Read More: The Marcellus Shale: A Real StimulusTaxes & Economy
Government Spending and Economic Growth
The Mercatus Center has a new brief policy analysis reviewing the economic literature on the role of government spending and economic growth. Their conclusion would (but should not)…
Media
Read More: Government Spending and Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
Gasland Debunked
Tonight, HBO premiered the documentary Gasland – a film about the impacts of natural gas drilling across the United States. Director/producer and Pennsylvania native Josh Fox has been touring the…
Media
Read More: Gasland DebunkedTaxes & Economy
Baptists and Bootleggers
ReasonTV has a new video up on “Bootleggers and Baptists.” This is a concept that relates to virtually everything we do here at the Commonwealth Foundation. The…
Media
Read More: Baptists and BootleggersTaxes & Economy
New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still Grim
Contrary to Gov. Rendell’s seemingly rosy interpretation of Pennsylvania latest job numbers, the BLS data hardly inspires confidence. In May (seasonally adjusted data): Pennsylvania added 19,000 payroll jobs…
Media
Read More: New Data on Pennsylvania’s Economy Still Grim