Latest Content
![public sector unions](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-2102571053-1024x576.jpg)
Public Union Democracy
Blue States Open the Door for Public Sector Union Abuses, New Report Finds
Harrisburg, Pa., August 28, 2024 — New tax loopholes, predatory recruiting tactics, and relaxed campaign finance laws shift power away from workers and towards union officials, according to a…
Read More: Blue States Open the Door for Public Sector Union Abuses, New Report Finds![shapiro record](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-17-at-2.38.29 PM-900x900.png)
Education
DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done
Read More: DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done![coalition letter green energy subsidy inflation](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-1675930719-900x836.jpg)
Energy
Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary![josh shapiro pennsylvania](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-157529650-900x836.jpg)
Education
Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania
Read More: Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania
Return Pennsylvania to prosperity’s path
Media Hit
Read More: Return Pennsylvania to prosperity’s path
Facts show why state can’t keep upping taxes
Media Hit
Read More: Facts show why state can’t keep upping taxesGovernment Accountability
Baby Boomers Dominate in State Legislatures
Interesting, if trivial analysis from NCSL on the age of state legislators. Only 4% of legislators nationally are under age 34. They also have a tool with demographic…
Media
Read More: Baby Boomers Dominate in State LegislaturesRegulation
Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for Pennsylvania
Chris Freind writes on how the proposed increase of Philadelphia’s sales tax from 7% to 8% (6% state rate, local rate to double from 1 to 2%) will harm…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Sales Tax Increase Bad for Business and for PennsylvaniaEducation
2009 SAT Scores by State
EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released data on 2009 SAT Scores. I’ve compiled the data into a spreadsheet of…
Media
Read More: 2009 SAT Scores by StateEducation
School District Makes Due Without Tax Hike
ABC 27 has a story about East Pennsboro School District – the first stop on Gov. Rendell’s bus tour – using fiscal restraint, not higher taxes, to deal…
Media
Read More: School District Makes Due Without Tax HikeRegulation
Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a Nutshell
Yesterday the Senate approved HB 1828, a long and complicated bill full of so-called pension reforms and potential local tax increases. Here’s a basic summary of the provisions following…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Municipal Pension Reform in a NutshellHealth Care
Medicare’s Administrative Costs vs. Private Insurance
One of the myths is that Medicare has lower administrative costs than private insurance, and thus is the model for efficient health coverage. (This was an argument made by a…
Media
Read More: Medicare’s Administrative Costs vs. Private InsuranceHealth Care
The Success of Consumer-Driven Health Care
In the midst of debates over the right kind of health care reform, consumer-driven plans continue to attract consumers while keeping costs in check. Greg Scandlen of Consumers of…
Media
Read More: The Success of Consumer-Driven Health CareTaxes & Economy
Should Existing Interstate Highways Be Tolled?
Interesting question posed by National Journal on tolling of existing freeways, with particular focus on tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania, offering several experts the opportunity to respond. Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn…
Media
Read More: Should Existing Interstate Highways Be Tolled?
Compromise On Obamacare Public Option Unlikely
Media Hit
Read More: Compromise On Obamacare Public Option UnlikelyHealth Care
States Offer Valuable Insight into the Dangers of Socialized Medicine
The Commonwealth Foundation and Conservatives for Patients Rights recently hosted a policy forum entitled State-Run Health Care: Costly Mistakes, featuring policy experts from across the country who have seen…
Media
Read More: States Offer Valuable Insight into the Dangers of Socialized Medicine
High Speed Rail Proposal Just Another Way to Waste Taxpayer Dollars
The Patriot News highlights Pennsylvania’s latest request of $28.2 million for high-speed rail projects from the federal stimulus. Here is our recent commentary by Randal O’Toole on…
Media
Read More: High Speed Rail Proposal Just Another Way to Waste Taxpayer DollarsRegulation
Lack of Subsidy Spooks Movie Director
The remorse is almost audible in when people talk about the loss of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie Devil to Canada, ostensibly because of the budget impasse. What…
Media
Read More: Lack of Subsidy Spooks Movie DirectorRegulation
The Pennsylvania Pension Bailout
Pennsylvania legislators are drawing nearer to implementing a bailout bill for Philadelphia and a state takeover for insolvent municipal pension funds in cities like Pittsburgh. While pension reforms are…
Media
Read More: The Pennsylvania Pension BailoutTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Sales Tax Exemptions
There has been some discussion lately about filling the Pennsylvania budget hole with additional revenue by expanding the state sales tax to include currently exempt goods, services, or categories.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Sales Tax ExemptionsRegulation
Problem of PA Prison Population and Price
Last week Bill Cosby declared that it only costs taxpayers $4,000 a year to educate a child, but $33,000 a year to incarcerate someone (this statement is inaccurate, unless…
Media
Read More: Problem of PA Prison Population and Price
Senate May Vote On Philly Tax Hike Tomorrow
Media Hit
Read More: Senate May Vote On Philly Tax Hike TomorrowRegulation
What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?
Gov. Rendell has noted on many occasions that without large state “economic development” grant programs, Pennsylvania’s economy would tank. He has argued that the Senate budget, which would eliminate many…
Media
Read More: What Happens When There is No Funding for Corporate Welfare?Health Care
Explaining the Town-Hall Protests
John Goodman – the health care policy guru, not the star of Arachnophobia – has an editorial in Friday’s Wall Street Journal on those protesting Obama’s version of health…
Media
Read More: Explaining the Town-Hall ProtestsState Budget
Is Cash for Clunkers the Dumbest Government Program Ever?
Chris Edwards of Cato suggests “Cash for Clunkers” is the dumbest government program of all time: A few billion dollars worth of wealth was destroyed. About 750,000…
Media
Read More: Is Cash for Clunkers the Dumbest Government Program Ever?