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Education
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process![teacher union influence](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/iStock-2150482568-900x887.jpg)
Public Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education![shapiro capable of leading](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1244606495-900x692.jpg)
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Education
Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of Accomplishment
Read More: Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of AccomplishmentRegulation
The Liquor Control Board is a Jobs Program, Not a Business
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) recently announced “record sales and record net income” for the year ended June 30th. Such wording is the language of a business proudly…
Media
Read More: The Liquor Control Board is a Jobs Program, Not a BusinessCriminal Justice Reform
Rallying for Probation Reform
Earlier this week, hundreds of activists gathered in the capitol in support of probation reform. Here’s what Pennsylvanians impacted by the probation system have to say: “I couldn’t…
Media
Read More: Rallying for Probation Reform
Researchers Give School Choice an A+
Governor Wolf has declared all-out war on opportunity for Pennsylvania students, seeking to cap charter school enrollment and limit charter school expansion. He says charters are “too expensive” and…
Media
Read More: Researchers Give School Choice an A+Education
Charter Reform Done Right
Whether it’s a walk down the hall to a colleague’s office, or a flight across the ocean to see an old friend, visits show you care. Governor Tom Wolf visits many…
Media
Read More: Charter Reform Done RightEducation
District Admits Breaking Charter Funding Law
You don’t often see a public official admit willfully and repeatedly breaking the law. Yet that’s what Pottsville Superintendent Jeffrey Zwiebel brazenly did in the Philadelphia Inquirer last week…
Media
Read More: District Admits Breaking Charter Funding LawPublic Union Democracy
Why Can’t Workers Leave Their Unions?
We recently released a 50-state report analyzing labor issue trends and grading states by their labor laws. So where does Pennsylvania fall in this ranking? A disappointing D.
Media
Read More: Why Can’t Workers Leave Their Unions?
Death and Taxes…and Dating?
You can’t put a price on love, but you can put a price on finding it…and in Pennsylvania, it’s not cheap. Taxes, regulations, and government overreach are known to unnecessarily increase the cost…
Media
Read More: Death and Taxes…and Dating?
Back to School, Back to Basics
In the summer of 1961, legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi opened training camp with the following greeting for his players: “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Lombardi wasn’t condescending to or…
Media
Read More: Back to School, Back to BasicsRegulation
Employment for Disabled Workers is Up, but Regulations are Holding Them Back
Lyft, a major ride sharing company, rolled out a feature to make it easier for those who are deaf or hard of hearing to be employed as a driver. The labor…
Media
Read More: Employment for Disabled Workers is Up, but Regulations are Holding Them BackHealth Care
Sen. Martin Introduces Bill to Protect Safety Net
Steve Blazer of Surge Staffing is taking an unusual approach to filling hundreds of open warehouse positions: attending job fairs at state prisons. Steve’s struggle to find workers is…
Media
Read More: Sen. Martin Introduces Bill to Protect Safety NetEducation
Wolf’s Solution for Low-Income Kids? Attack the Schools that Save Their Lives
Shortly after announcing his troubling plan to restrict student access to schools of choice through executive actions, Governor Wolf tried to add positive spin via Twitter:…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Solution for Low-Income Kids? Attack the Schools that Save Their LivesRegulation
Black Market Lemonade
Lemonade stands are about as American as apple pie and baseball. Kids all over the country set up their stands hoping to earn a little spending money. Often, this is…
Media
Read More: Black Market LemonadeEducation
Teachers Unions are Out of Touch on School Choice
A recently released poll by Education Next finds widespread—and growing—support for school choice in America. Moreover, this support crosses racial and party lines. Pennsylvania’s two types of school choice—charter…
Media
Read More: Teachers Unions are Out of Touch on School ChoiceTaxes & Economy
Restore PA Doubles Down on Taxes
Pennsylvania native and founding father Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “The problem with common sense is, it isn’t.” As with so very many things in the political sphere, in Governor Wolf’s…
Media
Read More: Restore PA Doubles Down on Taxes
Report Shows Govt. Union Leaders Striking Back in the States
August 28, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.— After the Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision, government unions leaders are striking back at the state level with flurry of union-friendly bills across the country…
Press Release
Read More: Report Shows Govt. Union Leaders Striking Back in the StatesEducation
A Quality Education for Harrisburg Kids
Gov. Wolf likes to talk about getting every child a quality education no matter their zip code. Speaker Mike Turzai just unveiled a plan that would turn that platitude into…
Media
Read More: A Quality Education for Harrisburg Kids
On Alcohol, Can We at Least Be Like Sweden?
What do Pennsylvania and Sweden have in common? Aside from Sweden’s short-lived colony on the Delaware River, very little. Except a government liquor monopoly. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…
Media
Read More: On Alcohol, Can We at Least Be Like Sweden?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Economy Is Not Indicative of Its Business Climate
Pennsylvania’s economy is the most diverse in America. With the release of the latest Bloomberg Economic Diversity Index, Pennsylvania surpassed both Colorado and Texas to claim the top spot. The benefit…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Is Not Indicative of Its Business ClimateEducation
Gov. Wolf Attacks Charters with 11 Executive Actions
Earlier this summer, Gov. Wolf vetoed an expansion of tax credit scholarships that would have empowered thousands of Pennsylvania students. Now, he’s turned his attention to charter schools. The…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Attacks Charters with 11 Executive ActionsState Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act Is Commonsense
For over a decade, various lawmakers have introduced Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) legislation to get a handle on Pennsylvania’s out of control budget. This overspending hurts our economy, drives away…
Media
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act Is CommonsenseCriminal Justice Reform
School to Prison Pipeline? Here’s the Escape Valve
Anthony Samuels is “the only male in my family that doesn’t have a record.” Rather, Anthony is a college graduate and a business owner. At an age when many…
Media
Read More: School to Prison Pipeline? Here’s the Escape Valve