Media

Regulation

5 Facts on the Proposed Nuclear Power Bailout

• Nathan Benefield
• February 20, 2019

Should Pennsylvanians pay more for electricity to benefit nuclear power companies? A group of lawmakers are proposing a new category to our renewable energy mandates known as the Alternative…

Media

West Virginia Leaves Students Without Options

• Colleen Hroncich
• February 19, 2019

Last month, hundreds of students gathered at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School outside of Pittsburgh to celebrate National School Choice Week. With music, dance acts, and peppy speakers, participants…

Media

Education

Penn Hills: A (Tragic) Love Story

• Lenny McAllister
• February 15, 2019

I’m a Penn Hills guy. I’ve lived in some of the most unique and dynamic places in the nation, yet I’ve never been around as many talented, genuine, and engaging…

Media

A New Legislative Solution for Pennsylvania’s Opportunity Gap

• Marc LeBlond
• February 15, 2019

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs have offered lifelines to hundreds of thousands of low to moderate-income Pennsylvania students. Yet many thousands more…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Raising Minimum Wage Causes Job Loss

• February 14, 2019

In his 2019 budget address, Governor Wolf lamented “too many hardworking people are struggling to get by.” The solution is attracting high-wage jobs and encouraging more Pennsylvanians to gain valuable…

Media

Public Union Democracy

A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and Won

• February 11, 2019

Cheryl Spano Lonis is a hard-working nurse from Hartford, Connecticut, who was trapped in her union for three years. The New England Health Care Employees Union disregarded her multiple…

Media

Education

Struggle for Education Choice in Montana Could Benefit Pa. Students

• February 11, 2019

Montana’s early settlers braved a tough wilderness in search of better lives for their families. Today, Montana families like the Espinozas, Andersons and Schaefers are engaged in another struggle, the…

Media

Education

How to Make Schools Safer

• February 8, 2019

On January 17, students drew blood at John Harris High School in Harrisburg. Over 30 students fought in the cafeteria during lunch. By the fight’s end kids needed medical…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their Rights

• Jessica Barnett
• February 8, 2019

Until recently, public sector employees (such as state and local government workers, teachers, and public safety officers) could be forced to pay hundreds of dollars in “fair share fees” to…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Pa. Small Businesses Show Tax Reform is Key to Greater Prosperity

• February 6, 2019

Keystone Clippers has exceeded expectations. Owner Al Rodriguez is now “ahead of the game” due to last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He has added…

Media

State Budget

Wolf’s Budget Rhetoric a Relief, but Doesn’t Match Reality

• February 5, 2019

Charles Mitchell, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Wolf’s fifth budget address: What a change four years and nine defeated…

Press Release

State Budget

5 Takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s 2019 Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• February 5, 2019

1. Dramatic cost overruns lead to a $86 billion budget.  Gov. Wolf proposed a $34.146 billion General Fund budget and a total operating budget of $85.804 billion.

Media

Criminal Justice Reform

Can Criminal Justice Reform Unite America?

• Charles Mitchell
• February 5, 2019

The following op-ed first appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Are partisan division and political bickering unavoidable in American politics? The headlines make it seem so, but it’s not true.

Media

Public Union Democracy

Why There’s “Money in Politics”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2019

The recent public corruption indictment of John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, leader of the IBEW 98 labor union, Philadelphia City Council member Bobby Henon, and a slew of other IBEW leaders shows…

Media

Regulation

New Report Shows Shortcomings of Corporate Welfare

• Nathan Benefield
• February 4, 2019

Pennsylvania moviegoers who bought tickets for M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass last weekend paid more than the price of the ticket. They paid with their taxes. According to the Department of…

Media

Education

Keep Moving Forward: Philly Students Celebrate Choice

• Marc LeBlond
• February 1, 2019

Last week the nation celebrated school choice, with thousands of student-centered events taking place across the United States. On Wednesday, hundreds of yellow-scarved, sign-bearing students from the Philly area…

Media

Public Union Democracy

PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark

• February 1, 2019

Less than one year ago, the Supreme Court declared that public sector workers’ constitutional rights to free speech and association came before government unions’ desire to collect fees from those…

Media

Education

Kids Deserve Fair Funding and Choice

• Marc LeBlond
• January 30, 2019

On Jan 23, 2019, Rep. Chris Rabb hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on 100 percent Fair School Funding. Rep. Rabb graciously invited CF to participate. Below are Marc…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Pa. Union Members Sue for the Right to Resign

• Jessica Barnett
• January 25, 2019

No organization should be able to force workers to remain members. Sadly, that’s the reality for thousands of Pennsylvania public sector workers. While the Supreme Court decision in Janus v.

Media

Education

School Choice: Stuck in the Middle (Class)

• Colleen Hroncich
• January 24, 2019

“I fear we’ve become a school for the haves and the have-nots,” one private school leader in Florida worried. What’s happened to those in between? The wealthy can afford to…

Media

Education

Michael Scott Wasn’t the Only Bad Manager in Scranton

• January 23, 2019

It’s been five years since the television show The Office ended, and Scranton is making headlines again. No, not because Michael Scott had an insensitive diversity training, nor because Ryan…

Media