Media

Education

Questions for Appropriators on Higher Education

• Nathan Benefield
• May 27, 2011

Since Gov. Corbett presented a budget which reduced state taxpayer funding for institutions including Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and the State System of Higher Education, college administrators, faculty and lobbyists…

Media

Education

Oh Yeah, Those Guys

• Nathan Benefield
• May 26, 2011

My letter to the Philadelphia Daily News: Will Bunch’s recent article identifies wealthy Americans who are voluntary donating their money to push greater school choice.  Bunch fails…

Media

Anti-school voucher lobbyists are protecting their income streams

• May 26, 2011

Media Hit

State Budget

Is Gas Drilling Behind the Surplus?

• Nathan Benefield
• May 26, 2011

A reader asks if natural gas drilling is behind April’s higher than estimated tax revenues — what legislators are now calling a “budget surplus.” It would be difficult to definitively make that claim,…

Media

Coalition Says “Not” to NAT GAS Act

• Nathan Benefield
• May 25, 2011

A coalition of groups, including the Commonwealth Foundation, sent a letter to members of Congress opposing the NAT GAS Act.  The NAT GAS Act (similar to the state-level “Marcellus…

Media

Schools of Hard Knocks: Budget cuts worry teachers’ unions

• May 25, 2011

Media Hit

State Budget

PA House Passes Fiscally Responsible Budget

• May 25, 2011

Last night, the Pennsylvania House passed a $27.3 billion General Fund budget bill (HB 1485). The fiscally responsible proposal includes no new taxes, prioritizes resources and maintains the…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Court Orders U. of Virginia to Produce Michael Mann Documents

• May 25, 2011

As I mentioned last week, the American Tradition Institute’s Environmental Law Center took the University of Virginia to court yesterday in Prince William County, Va., to…

Media

Cyber charter schools provide a real savings

• May 24, 2011

Media Hit

Man Bites Dog! Former Union Organizer Joins CF Freedom Fight

• May 24, 2011

In a move a headline writer might describe as “Man bites dog,” a former union organizer and lobbyist has joined the Commonwealth Foundation to fight for workers’ rights and protect…

Media

State balancing pension, tax impact

• May 24, 2011

Media Hit

Schools of Hard Knocks: Districts find ways to exceed tax caps set by Act 1 index

• May 24, 2011

Media Hit

Antitax campaigner holds a lot of sway in Harrisburg

• May 24, 2011

Media Hit

Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passes bill to step up accountability on state vehicle usage

• May 23, 2011

Media Hit

Glasnost Gov’t Gives Tipsy Tip Line

• May 23, 2011

The PLCB, purveyors of Pennsylvania perestroika and Big Brother boosters, are at it again today, this time revealing a tipsy tip line for tattletales exposing ethics encroachments. “PLCB…

Media

Public Union Democracy

PA Legislators Consider Unemployment Compensation Reforms

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 23, 2011

By June 11th, the state must change its unemployment compensation rules to meet federal guidelines, or 45,000 Pennsylvanians will lose their unemployment benefits. Gov. Corbett has been supportive of more…

Media

Teacher furloughs should be based on performance, not just seniority

• May 23, 2011

Media Hit

School boards need help to do their job

• May 21, 2011

Media Hit

Education

Is Full-Day Kindergarten All Supporters Claim it to Be?

• May 20, 2011

Gov. Corbett’s proposed budget includes cutting Pennsylvania’s Accountability Block Grant (ABG). Among the areas Accountability Block Grants can be use for is full-day Kindergarten programs at school districts. While…

Media

Pennsylvania Union PAC Spending Topped $23 Million in 2010

• May 20, 2011

“Money in politics” is a popular topic of discussion; case in point: a study that executives and employees of natural gas companies gave over $2 million to Pennsylvania candidates…

Media

A penny saved or a penny burned

• May 20, 2011

Media Hit