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Government Accountability
Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2026 — In a 7–0 unanimous decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in Punxsutawney Hunting Club v. Pennsylvania Game Commission, sided with Pennsylvania landowners and ruled against warrantless searches on open fields. Under previous case law, the open…
Read More: Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
Education
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Education
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Education
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Pennsylvania would do well to follow Wisconsin’s lead
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Read More: Pennsylvania would do well to follow Wisconsin’s leadEducation
Back to School Numbers
With kids returning to school this week, here are some fast facts about education spending and performance in Pennsylvania. $14,865: The amount Pennsylvania school districts spent per student in…
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Read More: Back to School Numbers
Pa. internal budget guidelines warn of cost increases, declining federal dollars
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Read More: Pa. internal budget guidelines warn of cost increases, declining federal dollars
For Allentown, arena is all reward, no risk
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Read More: For Allentown, arena is all reward, no riskRegulation
Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible Funding
Thirty counties have applied for slots in the Department of Public Welfare’s Human Services County Block Grant pilot program. Unfortunately, the pilot program was limited to 20 counties. The…
Media
Read More: Counties Clamor to Qualify for Flexible FundingState Budget
Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo
A recent memo from Gov. Corbett to all state agencies offers budget-saving tips, reminding officials that Pennsylvania faces a four alarm fiscal fire. PA Independent has…
Media
Read More: Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett MemoEducation
Opportunity Scholarships a “Choice for a Better Future”
This week, the Times-Herald of Montgomery County published my letter to the editor on underperforming schools and why Pennsylvania’s new opportunity scholarships matter: In “Norristown School…
Media
Read More: Opportunity Scholarships a “Choice for a Better Future”Taxes & Economy
Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers
PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads TaxpayersRegulation
Booze Bosses Busted?
The unethical behavior of top Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board executives, including “CEO” Joe Conti, has landed the Kings of Cabernet under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The…
Media
Read More: Booze Bosses Busted?Taxes & Economy
Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else Too
Bernard Hinault, five-time cycling champion of the Tour de France, once grumbled that the French government taxed the rich so heavily, the state had claim to three pumps of…
Media
Read More: Raising Taxes on “the Rich,” And Everybody Else TooEducation
Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity Scholarships
Since our last update on the new Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program, the Pa. Department of Education and Department of Community and Economic Development have compiled additional information…
Media
Read More: Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity ScholarshipsPublic Union Democracy
Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension Reforms
CF Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania House about how to make our public pensions current, affordable and predictable, proposing a five-step plan for doing…
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Read More: Union Leaders Misrepresent Pension ReformsEducation
Keep Tuition Affordable Legislative Package
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to Pennsylvania House State Government Committee, August 15, 2012 Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the director of policy analysis for the…
Testimony
Read More: Keep Tuition Affordable Legislative PackageWelfare
Welfare Without Work Fails
The Obama administration recently relaxed welfare to work requirements, arguing it will help the truly needy. In contrast, Pennsylvania lawmakers took an opposite step by including new welfare work requirements…
Media
Read More: Welfare Without Work FailsPublic Union Democracy
Union Allowed to Stalk in Pennsylvania
A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlights special state laws governing labor unions. For example, four states, including Pennsylvania, have anti-stalking laws, but exempt labor unions…
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Read More: Union Allowed to Stalk in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
ACA a Boon to Special Interests
Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…
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Read More: ACA a Boon to Special InterestsHealth Care
Pizza, Burgers and Health Care Reform
The devastating side effects of the Affordable Care Act are multiplying every day. It’s not uncommon to hear that premiums are rising, about 7 percent next year, according to the…
Media
Read More: Pizza, Burgers and Health Care ReformGovernment Accountability
Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down Drain
Need some Zeppelin with your zinfandel, Coldplay with your chardonnay or Seger with your Seagrams? Well, wait no more music and driving fans, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has a…
Media
Read More: Czars of Zinfandel Pour More Down Drain
State pension reforms to get first vetting Tuesday
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Read More: State pension reforms to get first vetting Tuesday