Education

Milwaukee Voucher Program Raises Graduation Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2010

A new study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that students receiving a scholarship through the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) were 18% more likely to graduate than Milwaukee…

Media

Read More: Milwaukee Voucher Program Raises Graduation Rates

State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010

  • February 2, 2010

Following January’s estimate, Pennsylvania General Fund revenues are $374 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate…

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010

State Budget

Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2010

In a news release, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner estimates that – using the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s (DPW) estimated error rate – improper Medicaid payments cost Pennsylvania taxpayers…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million

Education

The Higher Education Bubble

  • February 2, 2010

Subsidies in the form of loans or grants to students have been an integral part of higher education…

Media

Read More: The Higher Education Bubble

Taxes & Economy

Electricity Competition: One Month Later . . .

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 1, 2010

With January electric bills in the hands of rate payers there is a host of discussion about the successes and short comings of electricity deregulation. Unlike Rep. George and…

Media

Read More: Electricity Competition: One Month Later . . .

Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas Tax Just Another Slush Fund

  • February 1, 2010

Letter in the Scranton Times-Tribune Editor: Those calling for a state tax on natural gas extraction – including Gov. Ed Rendell and The Times-Tribune – use poor logic…

Media

Read More: Natural Gas Tax Just Another Slush Fund

Government Accountability

CF Blog Roundup

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2010

Here are some recent Commonwealth Foundation mentions from various blogs: Bill Lawrence cites our alternatives to tolling I-80. GrassrootsPA gives us linkage on commentaries on Term Limits…

Media

Read More: CF Blog Roundup

Regulation

(Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2010

Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story – which bashes taxpayer bailouts of big Wall Street companies – was itself the recipient of taxpayer subsidies from the state of…

Media

Read More: (Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies

Taxes & Economy

State of the Union Summaries

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 28, 2010

I missed the entire State of the Union Addresses, as I went to bed before it started (no, I’m not that old, but I had an early morning drive for…

Media

Read More: State of the Union Summaries

Huffington Post attacks CF

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 28, 2010

The ultra-liberal Huffington Post’s Kevin Grandia attacks us because of our call for an independent investigation of PSU’s Michael Mann and his role in Climategate.  Of course, in…

Media

Read More: Huffington Post attacks CF

Education

The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2010

The Heritage Foundation has a new background on online education, from a national perspective.  They write: As many as 1 million children (roughly 2 percent of the…

Media

Read More: The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education

Regulation

New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2010

Reason TV has a new video on liquor store privatization in Virginia, which highlights the benefits for consumers, and notes that states that privatize both save money and increase…

Media

Read More: New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization

Government Accountability

Time for a Part-Time Legislature?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2010

Pennsylvania House Republicans Gordon Denlinger, Tim Krieger, and Bryan Cutler unveiled legislation that would return Pennsylvania to a part-time legislature. The bill, HB 1554, would limit sessions to…

Media

Read More: Time for a Part-Time Legislature?

Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2010

It’s been 88 days since the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission resubmitted its application to toll Interstate 80 (after being denied twice).  We’re told that the Federal Highway Administration will soon be…

Media

Read More: Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?