Education

Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation

  • February 3, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released the following statement in response to Penn State’s internal investigation of alleged scientific misconduct by Michael Mann, a prominent global warming…

Press Release

Read More: Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation

Government Accountability

Hearing on Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2010

The PA House and Senate Finance Committees held a joint hearing on creating a “Independent Fiscal Office”.  The IFO was authorized in the fiscal code (part of the budget deal),…

Media

Read More: Hearing on Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office

Education

PSU Clears Mann on 3 of 4 Allegations

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2010

Penn State’s internal investigation into the scientific conduct of Michael Mann cleared him of three of the four allegations against him. The report states they could find “no credible…

Media

Read More: PSU Clears Mann on 3 of 4 Allegations

Government Accountability

Hyperbole and Hypocrisy on Campaign Finance Ruling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2010

A must read article about the Citizen’s United case and the supposed destruction of democracy. Many states, including Illinois and Maryland, allow corporate contributions to state candidates. As…

Media

Read More: Hyperbole and Hypocrisy on Campaign Finance Ruling

Taxes & Economy

Stimulus: Saving Jobs or Delaying Recovery?

  • February 3, 2010

President Obama’s hollow promises are so glaringly visible these days that he has to chalk every compounding problem to the previous administration. One of his promises, though, involved colossal levels…

Media

Read More: Stimulus: Saving Jobs or Delaying Recovery?

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