Regulation

Economic Development Funding – A Legacy of Waste

  • April 22, 2010

Earlier this month the State House passed a bill establishing the Industry Partnerships Program. Yet another Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program will be instituted, and as…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Obstructionist PennFuture Rants Again

  • April 21, 2010

Yesterday PennFuture demonstrated in Pittsburgh in support of a moratorium on any new drilling on Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas formation, in an effort to “save the…

Media

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Regulation

Turzai Bill Would Privatize PA Liquor Stores

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2010

State Representative Mike Turzai announced legislation today to privatize Pennsylvania’s state liquor stores (i.e. wine and spirit sales). The legislation would auction off 750 retail store licenses and 100…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Talking about PA Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 21, 2010

If you missed our Policies and Principles luncheon with Scott Hodge of the Tax Foundation, Eric Boehm of PA Independent has a write-up of the event, and also recorded…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Hide the Decline, Part Doh!

  • April 20, 2010

After receiving litigation threats from Climategate scientist Michael “Hockey Stick” Mann (of Penn State) over the use of his image in the enormously popular “Hide the Decline” video,…

Media

Read More: Hide the Decline, Part Doh!

Government Accountability

Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits

  • April 20, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released results of a recently commissioned statewide poll measuring Pennsylvanians’ opinion of three landmark reforms.  The survey of 700 registered voters was conducted by…

Press Release

Read More: Poll Shows Voters Support Pension Reform, I&R, and Spending Limits

Regulation

Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2010

The PA House Democrats unveiled their “jobs plan” yesterday. In short, it is more of the same failed policies of the past, i.e. those of Ridge-Rendell and…

Media

Read More: Another Plan to Spend Our Way to Prosperity

Government Accountability

What Would a PA Constitutional Convention Include?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 19, 2010

At the PA Leadership Conference, my former colleague, and now Executive Director of the Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, Joe Sterns touted the need for a state Constitutional Convention. In…

Media

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Government Accountability

PA Leadership Conference Wrap-Up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2010

Here are some news stories and blogs from the PA Leadership Conference: William Cinfici’s blog: focusing on Dick Morris’s speech and the panels on polling and government corruption. John…

Media

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Government Accountability

Live from PA Leadership Conference (#PALC)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2010

For those of you unable to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference this year, most of the sessions will be carried live on PCN TV.  You can also listen…

Media

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State Budget

PA Budget Deficit Grows by $800 Million, Plus More Fees for Lawyers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2010

To fill last year’s overspending, Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Rendell drained all of the state’s reserve funds, including the MCare fund. Yesterday, the Commonwealth Court ruled this raid was illegal,…

Media

Read More: PA Budget Deficit Grows by $800 Million, Plus More Fees for Lawyers

Taxes & Economy

PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings

  • April 15, 2010

This month, the American Legislative Exchange Council released their third annual ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index. Unfortunately, in the last three years Pennsylvania’s economic rankings not only have been…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!

  • April 15, 2010

Federal, state, and local taxes consume about 28% of the income earned by Pennsylvania residents, in the aggregate. This represents 103 days – meaning…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

How Fast Is Harrisburg Spending Your Money?

  • April 15, 2010

Pennsylvania state government is spending $66 Billion of YOUR money this fiscal year at a clip of $180,000,000 per day. $7,500,000 per hour.

Press Release

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Education

Are Pittsburgh Public Schools Among the Nation’s Best?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2010

A recent national ranking said the Pittsburgh Public Schools were 7th best among large cities in the nation. (HT Grassroots PA). This was quite surprising, as the Pittsburgh…

Media

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CF Blog Round Up

  • April 15, 2010

Here is what the Commonwealth Foundation has bloggers discussing this week: PAWaterCooler and GrassrootsPA commented on our gubernatorial candidate survey. FYI by PLS noted Nathan Benefield’s…

Media

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Education

Cyber School Stardom

  • April 14, 2010

Participating in PA Cyber Charter School won’t guarantee a student’s stardom but it did make it possible for Aaron Kelly, an 2010 American Idol finalist. Kelly, a 17 year…

Media

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