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Education
Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Harrisburg, Pa., May 15, 2025 — Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, according to new…
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Energy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable BenefitsRegulation
Pileggi Ignores Support for Real Pension Reform
Here is a letter I sent to the West Chester Daily Local, responding to a piece by state Sen. Dominic Pileggi, which argues for passing a flawed pension bill now,…
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Would Milton Friedman Support the Fed’s “Stimulus VI”?
In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Allan Meltzer argues that Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman would never have supported the Federal Reserve’s purchase of $600 billion in long…
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Read More: Would Milton Friedman Support the Fed’s “Stimulus VI”?Taxes & Economy
PENNVEST to Vote on $12 Million “Pipeline to Nowhere” Tomorrow
Tomorrow, November 9th, PENNVEST will meet to approve a $12 million dollar grant & loan to construct a 12 mile water line from Montrose to Dimock Township in…
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Corbett has mandate to be fiscally sound
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PA House Cancels Lame-Duck Session
Today, Pennsylvania House of Representatives leaders announced there would be no more voting days this year, rather than holding a planned lame-duck session. Please be advised that the…
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Bethel Park Teachers Strike
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that Bethel Park teachers were on strike for the sixth time in thirty years. Interrupting classes in order to negotiate taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits…
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Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
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Defending State Pensions with Misinformation
A guest editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer defends HB2497—the pension deferral plan, by mischaracterizing its impact on the taxpayers and the economy. One myth is that a defined-benefit plan…
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Read More: Defending State Pensions with MisinformationGovernment Accountability
State Policies Sink Cities
Third-class cities (defined by population) in Pennsylvania, such as Lancaster, are hoping Governor-elect Tom Corbett will push legislation giving cities more autonomy from the state. The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce…
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Read More: State Policies Sink CitiesTaxes & Economy
PA DEP Reports Drilling Is Not Polluting the Air
In recent months, there has been much talk over air quality in areas with heavy Marcellus Shale drilling. Some have claimed drilling operations release enough chemicals into the air to…
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Read More: PA DEP Reports Drilling Is Not Polluting the AirEducation
Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway Government
HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement regarding yesterday’s general election: “Yesterday, millions of Pennsylvanians collectively hit the brakes on runaway government…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway GovernmentGovernment Accountability
PA Election Fun Facts
In case you missed our Election Night Live Blog last night, here are some highlights and fun facts. While Pat Toomey won the election for US Senate, he trailed…
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Pension reform bill economically ‘unsustainable’
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Read More: Pension reform bill economically ‘unsustainable’Government Accountability
Election Night Live Chat
Tonight, beginning at 4 pm until around midnight, we will be live blogging about the election results. In addition to CF’s team, the blog will feature PA Independent’s reporters,…
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Read More: Election Night Live ChatEducation
What’s Missing in Higher Education
While inputs like SAT scores, class rank, and GPA are plentiful, there are very few measures of college outputs, and the ones that are reported are very concerning. An analysis…
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Read More: What’s Missing in Higher EducationGovernment Accountability
Do We Spend Too Much on Politics?
Recent estimates put spending on midterm campaigns at over $3.6 billion nationally. That’s enough to buy 7.2 million I-pads, or roughly one dollar for every thousand spent by government.
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Read More: Do We Spend Too Much on Politics?Health Care
A Free Market in Health Care?!?
A commenter on our latest Policy Points on Health Care Reform describes health care as “the free market, unregulated situation at the time the Act was passed.” I’m not…
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Ridge Claims Marcellus is Exempt From No Tax Pledge
In a recent interview, former Governor Tom Ridge said that Tom Corbett could still enact a Marcellus Shale tax without breaking his promise of no…
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Read More: Ridge Claims Marcellus is Exempt From No Tax PledgeGovernment Accountability
Former Rep. Jeff Coleman Rejoins Commonwealth Foundation
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce that former State Representative Jeff Coleman has rejoined the Foundation as a senior fellow. Mr. Coleman was elected to the…
Press Release
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