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Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Commonwealth Foundation’s new report analyzes the success of DoorDash’s Portable Benefits Pilot Program in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 2025 – DoorDash unveiled its portable benefits pilot…
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Education
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Read More: Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Prosperity
Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Read More: Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union SpendingEducation
Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a Chance
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation provided important perspective today on Pennsylvania’s charter and cyber schools in response to Auditor General Jack Wagner’s recommendations, including a moratorium on expanding public…
Press Release
Read More: Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a ChanceRegulation
Hey Big Spender
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell held a press conference to make note that Tom Corbett was overstating the amount of Pennsylvania taxpayer money Rendell was wasting on pork-barrel projects. Examples cited…
Media
Read More: Hey Big Spender
Arizona Sees Privatization as Solution to Budget Crisis
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is taking steps towards comprehensive state government reform, utilizing public-private partnerships and privatization of public services to save taxpayers money and ensure quality services continue. To…
Media
Read More: Arizona Sees Privatization as Solution to Budget CrisisRegulation
The Only Way to Fix Public Pensions
The Baltimore Sun editorializes that the only way to fix the pension plan for state workers (in Maryland, though the same would hold true in Pennsylvania) is to move…
Media
Read More: The Only Way to Fix Public PensionsTaxes & Economy
Cabot Squares Off with DEP
The pressure is building in Dimock, Pennsylvania, where the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and drilling company Cabot Oil and Gas are squaring off over a proposal to…
Media
Read More: Cabot Squares Off with DEPTaxes & Economy
Severance Tax at Odds with State Constitution
Earlier this week, Nate Benefield blogged on the unconstitutional process of the House-passed natural gas severance tax bill (SB 1155). This bill did not originate in the House,…
Media
Read More: Severance Tax at Odds with State ConstitutionEducation
Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?
Both gubernatorial candidates have voiced support for government-funded grants to allow parents to choose an alternative school for their children. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is…
Media
Read More: Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?Regulation
Could Legislation End Church Potlucks?
States are imposing professional licensing in more and more areas of our daily lives; restricting good intentions, individual entrepreneurship, and now threatening an essential part of church…
Media
Read More: Could Legislation End Church Potlucks?Taxes & Economy
Governor Rendell Earns a D on Fiscal Policy
Cato’s 2010 Fiscal Report Card on America’s Governors is out. Not surprisingly, Pennsylvania ranks low. With a score of 40 points, Gov. Ed Rendell earns a D for his…
Media
Read More: Governor Rendell Earns a D on Fiscal PolicyGovernment Accountability
Severance Tax Legislation: The Process Stinks Too
The Pennsylvania House amended legislation to impose a severance tax on natural gas last night, and will likely vote on the bill tonight. We wrote yesterday about the merits…
Media
Read More: Severance Tax Legislation: The Process Stinks TooGovernment Accountability
Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest Agenda
Earlier this year, we blogged on HB 2246, which would have allowed trial lawyers in auto cases to suggest the amount of compensation their plaintiffs should receive for their…
Media
Read More: Grassroots Activists Battle Special Interest AgendaTaxes & Economy
Fact Check: Severance Tax Proposal Would be Highest in US
SB 1155 would impose a severance tax rate of 39 cents per MCF. At the August estimated average wellhead price of $4.22 per MCF, this is an effective…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Severance Tax Proposal Would be Highest in USEducation
Report: PA School Spending Not Linked to Performance
A new study from the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) finds little relationship between education spending and performance. Specifically, the…
Media
Read More: Report: PA School Spending Not Linked to PerformanceTaxes & Economy
Democrats Natural Gas Jobs Tax is Off the Charts
Just how high is the PA House Democrat’s proposed natural gas jobs tax? It would represent the highest tax in the…
Media
Read More: Democrats Natural Gas Jobs Tax is Off the ChartsTaxes & Economy
Shale Gas is Revitalizing Communities
Cliff Wehrmen has a new pickup truck, thanks to the booming economy in Williston, North Dakota. In North Dakota, companies are fighting over workers via bidding wars, state unemployment…
Media
Read More: Shale Gas is Revitalizing Communities
PA House Democrats Unveil Nation’s Highest Severance Tax
Harrisburg, PA—A proposal by Pennsylvania House Democrats to levy severance taxes on natural gas would make Pennsylvania the most heavily-taxed natural gas producing state in the nation. At 39 cents…
Press Release
Read More: PA House Democrats Unveil Nation’s Highest Severance TaxState Budget
Where to Find Ideas to Balance the PA Budget
John Micek of the Morning Call has a piece today noting that the two candidates for Governor — Dan Onorato and Tom Corbett — have promised no, or few, new…
Media
Read More: Where to Find Ideas to Balance the PA Budget