Government Accountability

Disclosing the Assault on Free Speech

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2010

As election season approaches, Democrats in the House are scrambling to gather votes to pass the DISCLOSE Act. Even the ACLU criticizes the effect DISCLOSE would have on…

Media

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Education

DC Vouchers Boost High School Graduation Rates

  • June 24, 2010

University of Arkansas professor Patrick Wolf recently concluded a study of the voucher program in D.C. The study concludes that this simple, six-year program was able to increase graduation…

Media

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State Budget

Balancing the PA Budget with Gimmicks

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 24, 2010

The temperature is in the 90s in Harrisburg this week, and most folks are wearing short sleeves. One exception is budget negotiators, who are still keeping plenty of tricks up…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Video: How Minimum Wage Laws Kill Jobs

  • June 24, 2010

The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a new video out explaining how minimum wage laws kill jobs.     From 2006 to 2009 the…

Media

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Government Accountability

How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2010

The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Re: Hypocrisy of ‘Conservation Voters’

  • June 23, 2010

Offering more evidence that CVPA’s call for Tom Corbett to return campaign contributions was a partisan stunt, Anadarko also gave Sen. Arlen Specter…

Media

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State Budget

Time for A Taxpayer’s Budget

  • June 23, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA —The Commonwealth Foundation today released A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania, a report identifying $4 billion in…

Press Release

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Taxes & Economy

More Reforms Before More Revenue in Transportation

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 23, 2010

Good morning and thank you Chairman Rafferty for the invitation to testify before your committee and for your consideration of our policy solutions to help address Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure funding…

Testimony

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Regulation

Knee-Jerk Reaction on Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2010

Following yesterday’s post of Rep. Mike Turzai talking about liquor store privatization, I got a couple of replies via Twitter from “Swanny88,” which makes…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Hypocrisy of “Conservation Voters”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2010

I sent the letter below to the group “Conservation Voters of PA“: I saw your press release demanding Tom Corbett return the $6,000 campaign contribution he…

Media

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Regulation

Video: Privatizing PA Liquor Stores

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2010

State Rep. Mike Turzai stops by to talk about his proposal to privatize Pennsylvania’s wine and spirit sales in a new video: Click the links in this…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Government Spending and Economic Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2010

The Mercatus Center has a new brief policy analysis reviewing the economic literature on the role of government spending and economic growth. Their conclusion would (but should not)…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Gasland Debunked

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 21, 2010

Tonight, HBO premiered the documentary Gasland – a film about the impacts of natural gas drilling across the United States. Director/producer and Pennsylvania native Josh Fox has been touring the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Baptists and Bootleggers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2010

ReasonTV has a new video up on “Bootleggers and Baptists.” This is a concept that relates to virtually everything we do here at the Commonwealth Foundation. The…

Media

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