Media

Taxes & Economy

Report Finds Pennsylvania Welfare System Unsustainable, Hurting Poor

• February 16, 2012

The Commonwealth Foundation released today an alarming new report on Pennsylvania public welfare that finds widespread abuse of tax dollars, with spending growing faster than the economy and exceeding education…

Press Release

Education

Attacking Cyber School Funding

• Priya Brannick
• February 15, 2012

The House Education Committee held an informational hearing today with administrators from several of Pennsylvania’s cyber schools. The school officials mainly addressed myths about cyber school funding and performance,…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Which County will be Duped into Imposing Marcellus Tax?

• February 15, 2012

On Monday, Gov. Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1950, the Marcellus Shale impact tax, into law. The funding formula funnels the first $23 million in revenue to statewide programs. Local…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Will the Union Party Win Again?

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 15, 2012

On Tuesday, everyone in the Capitol anticipated a final vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on a bill to increase the “prevailing wage” threshold for public construction…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Who Would Oppose Reforming a Costly, Unnecessary Law?

• Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
• February 14, 2012

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may vote today on a bill to reform the 1961 prevailing wage mandate.  The prevailing wage requires government to pay higher wages and benefits for…

Media

Health Care

CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care Law

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2012

The Commonwealth Foundation joined 17 other organizations and 333 state legislators from across the country in an amicus curiae brief challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed…

Media

Marcellus ‘fee’? A tax, stupid

• February 14, 2012

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

House Moves Unemployment Compensation Reform

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 13, 2012

More Unemployment Compensation reform is moving through the Pennsylvania House. Yesterday, HB 1754 sponsored by Rep. Ron Miller, and HB 1852 sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove, cleared the…

Media

Regulation

Reforming State Borrowing for Corporate Welfare

• Elizabeth Stelle
• February 13, 2012

Since 1986, state lawmakers have authorized more than $4 billion in borrowing for the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (or RACP). This is effectively debt for corporate welfare and…

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Government Union Jeopardizes Criminal Justice Reform

• February 10, 2012

As Pennsylvania takes a hard look at reforming its criminal justice system, prepare for the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association’s fear-mongering campaign against reducing prison populations. The officers’ union opposition…

Media

Education

School Choice Gives Students Hope

• Priya Brannick
• February 10, 2012

Chester-Upland School District in the Philadelphia area is in deep financial trouble, and it made news recently for suing the state for emergency funding to keep going. In a…

Media

Education

It’s Not About Tuition, It’s About Mo’ Money

• Charles Mitchell
• February 10, 2012

Over at PA Independent, Stacy Brown has an important story on the ongoing fight over Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal.  There, Duquesne University professor Antony Davies, a member of CF’s…

Media

PennDOT’s managers can earn overtime

• February 10, 2012

Media Hit

Harrisburg International Airport dangles $500,000 for nonstop Denver flights

• February 10, 2012

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Bill Summarized

• February 9, 2012

Gov. Corbett is expected to sign HB 1950, a comprehensive bill addressing Marcellus Shale. What’s inside the bill? The Marcellus Shale impact tax included in HB 1950 falls short of…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Turn on the Fiscal Fire Hose

• Priya Brannick
• February 9, 2012

Since Gov. Corbett unveiled his 2012-13 budget Tuesday, we’ve noted how it reduces overall spending for only the second time in 40 years. We’ve also explained that despite…

Media

Taxes & Economy

PA House Roll Call Vote on Marcellus Shale Billl

• Nathan Benefield
• February 9, 2012

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House passed the HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 101-90 margin with 99 Republicans and 2 Democrats FOR it and 10 Republicans and 80 Democrats AGAINST…

Media

State Budget

5 Facts about Gov. Corbett’s Budget Proposal

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2012

Here are five things everyone should know about Gov. Corbett’s proposed Pennsylvania state budget. Reduces overall spending. Both the General Fund and the total operating budgethave been cut – for…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Senate Votes on Natural Gas Tax (HB1950)

• February 8, 2012

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 31-19 margin with 26 Republicans and 5 Democrats FOR it and 4 Republicans…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Don’t Feed the Sharks!

• Matthew Brouillette
• February 8, 2012

Many Republicans, who once opposed raising taxes, are justifying their anticipated vote to increase taxes on the natural gas industry (it’s not a FEE to pay for uncompensated costs…something…

Media

Will These House Members Honor Their Pledge?

• February 8, 2012

That is the question Pennsylvanians are asking this afternoon, as 30 House members who signed their name and pledged to the people of the commonwealth not to raise taxes, are being asked to…

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