Media

Taxes & Economy

Commonwealth Foundation Joins Farmers in Fight Against Higher Taxes

• June 16, 2009

Harrisburg, PA — Straight from the fields of their small, family farms, a contingent of Pennsylvania farmers today traveled to the state Capitol to join the Commonwealth Foundation in speaking…

Press Release

Taxes & Economy

Gov. Rendell Proposes Firing 24,000 Pennsylvania Workers

• Nathan Benefield
• June 16, 2009

Governor Rendell announced today that to satisfy his appetite for more spending, he would like to increase Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) by 0.5 percentage points – to…

Media

Health Care

What not to like about ObamaCare

• Nathan Benefield
• June 16, 2009

The Cato Institute has a recent publication out highlighting “Seven Bad Ideas” of President Obama’s health care plan. Here are some more on two of those bad ideas: Paying…

Media

Public Union Democracy

State Agency Forces Private Sector to Pay Prevailing Wage

• June 16, 2009

Due to a standing order by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), all public universities are required to pay prevailing wage rates on construction projects funded by…

Media

Government Accountability

Will Rendell’s Closed-Door Cabinet Meeting Violate Sunshine Law?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2009

Today, Governor Rendell announced an “emergency cabinet meeting” to discuss the state budget, and state the meeting will be closed to the public. But wouldn’t such a closed-door…

Media

PIT Increase Would Cost Thousands of PA Jobs

• June 15, 2009

HARRISBURG, PA —  A new economic analysis from the Commonwealth Foundation reveals that a proposed increase in Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) would result in the loss of tens of…

Press Release

Regulation

Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2009

A coalition of business groups released their proposals aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s economic climate. Among the top of their list were state spending limits, lower business taxes, health care reform,…

Media

Can We Sell our GM Shares?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2009

Imagine if I told you that my stockbroker told me I should invest in a failing company, and I told him not to.  My stockbroker then invested in the company…

Media

Education

Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees Online

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2009

Stop Teacher Strikes has posted the 2007-08 salary information (collected by Asbury Park Press) for 195,000 Pennsylvania teachers and school employees, searchable by  name, district, or position…

Media

State Budget

Rendell’s propaganda machine

• Nathan Benefield
• June 15, 2009

Brad Bumsted’s latest column wraps up some of the more absurd rhetoric coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate version of the Pennsylvania budget: The bill…

Media

Taxes & Economy

“Stimulus” Kills Pennsylvania Steel Jobs

• Nathan Benefield
• June 14, 2009

Redstate notes how the “buy American” provision of the so-called stimulus bill is already putting some Pennsylvania’s out of of work.  See the original Canadian Press article here.

Media

Education

“Is public education socialism?”

• Matthew Brouillette
• June 13, 2009

In defense of a single-payer health care system, possible U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Dravosburg) asked, “Is public education socialism? No. This is the same thing.”…

Media

Taxes & Economy

How Much Would Cap and Trade Cost Your Family?

• June 12, 2009

The Tax Foundation today released a calculator for families to estimate the annual household cost of a cap and trade system. It’s based on their recent study, “Who…

Media

Education

Fact Check: The Costing-Out Study

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 12, 2009

Today the Governor wraps up his “Tax You More Tour” with Matt Brouillette following stride for stride. Meanwhile, we’re debunking another spending myth: The Costing-Out Study…

Media

Education

Voters Want More School Funding – Until They Get the Facts

• Nathan Benefield
• June 12, 2009

For followers of the Rendell “Tax You More Bus Tour” and the debate on education funding, I would recommend checking out this analysis from Education Next:  The…

Media

Education

Public Schools’ Edifice Complex

• Nathan Benefield
• June 11, 2009

John Micek and I (@NathanBenefield) had a little discussion via Twitter over the cost of public school buildings. John wonders what is wrong with having nice school…

Media

In What World is a 15.9% Increase Called a Decrease?

• June 11, 2009

Harrisburg, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette continues to follow Gov. Ed Rendell’s taxpayer-funded bus campaign today.  The  Administration’s “Tax You More Bus Tour” will make a…

Press Release

Education

Fact Check: School Choice Saves

• Elizabeth Stelle
• June 11, 2009

As the “Tax You More” lobbying tour continues its journey Matt Brouillette continues to offer the real facts on state education spending. Today’s education fact focusing on how…

Media

State Budget

Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black

• Nathan Benefield
• June 11, 2009

The Sun-Gazette has a recent article on the Pennsylvania state budget titled “Rendell lashes out at Senate plan”.  It didn’t sound like something that would surprise me – but…

Media

Health Care

Warmed-Over RendellCare Includes a New Tax on Health Insurance

• Nathan Benefield
• June 10, 2009

The Pennsylvania State House has been debating HB 1, which would expand the state’s Adult Basic program, to make more individuals eligible for government health care. The Commonwealth Foundation…

Media

Education

In What World is an 11.7% Increase Called a Decrease?

• June 10, 2009

Harrisburg, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette continues to follow Gov. Ed Rendell’s taxpayer-funded bus campaign into the northeastern part of the state today.  Today’s “Tax You…

Press Release