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Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Commonwealth Foundation’s new report analyzes the success of DoorDash’s Portable Benefits Pilot Program in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 2025 – DoorDash unveiled its portable benefits pilot…
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Education
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Read More: Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Prosperity
Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Read More: Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Fairness
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union SpendingTaxes & Economy
Big Business Still Loves Big Government
HT to Joe Collins for pointing me to Timothy Carney’s article in the Washington Examiner. Despite the oft-repeated rhetoric that free market advocates are the puppets of big…
Media
Read More: Big Business Still Loves Big GovernmentRegulation
Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 Million
A new report from the Tax Foundation looks at the cost of the recent federal tax hike on cigarettes, an increase of 39 cents to $1.01 per pack, state…
Media
Read More: Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 MillionTaxes & Economy
The Sunspot Recession Crisis
According to NASA, we are in the midst of the greatest sunspot recession since 1913. Analysts believed the sunspot recession had hit bottom in 2008, but activity has continued…
Media
Read More: The Sunspot Recession CrisisGovernment Accountability
PA House GOP Leader Offers Gov’t Reform Plan
Pennsylvania House Republican leader Sam Smith unveiled a 12-point government reform plan which he calls Pennsylvania’s Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg (PATH). The proposals are: No staff…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Leader Offers Gov’t Reform PlanGovernment Accountability
Repeal Salary Increases?
As of Friday, 89 members of House and 31 members of Senate have either given back their 2.8% pay increase to the Treasury Department or to charity. Senate Majority Leader…
Media
Read More: Repeal Salary Increases?Taxes & Economy
Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea Parties
The Pittsburgh Tribune review has a story on Tea Parties going on in Pennsylvania, and specifically in Pittsburgh, which has upcoming events with Alan Keyes and Glen Meakem speaking. …
Media
Read More: Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea PartiesEducation
Tuition Relief Act Ready to Fold?
Governor Rendell is still traveling around the state to drum up support for his legalization of video poker scheme. At a recent stop at Reading Area Community College, Gov.
Media
Read More: Tuition Relief Act Ready to Fold?Public Union Democracy
Rendell Colludes with Unions to Avoid Cutting Wasteful Spending
Trumpets blared last week as Governor Rendell announced an agreement with state employee unions to “save” $200 million by temporarily reducing payments by 20 percent to their benefit…
Media
Read More: Rendell Colludes with Unions to Avoid Cutting Wasteful SpendingEducation
Study Shows School Vouchers are Working
The latest research on the Milwaukee school voucher program shows significant improvements in student achievement and millions of dollars in savings for state taxpayers. Interestingly, boys seem to be…
Media
Read More: Study Shows School Vouchers are WorkingTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | April 2009
Update on Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the March revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.61 billion short…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch | April 2009Education
Is Another State Test the Answer?
Recently, a deal was struck between the Department of Education and Pennsylvania’s School Board Association to establish what is known as the Keystone Exams. The exams would cost the state…
Media
Read More: Is Another State Test the Answer?Taxes & Economy
Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline Extended
The deadline for the Please No More Taxes Video Contest has been extended to June 1st! Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please…
Media
Read More: Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline ExtendedTaxes & Economy
FASB Eases “Mark to Market”
The Federal Accounting Standards Board voted to ease “mark to market” accounting rules, which forced financial firms to markdown the value of their assets. This is pretty wonkish, but…
Media
Read More: FASB Eases “Mark to Market”Public Union Democracy
What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?
The latest video from the Commonwealth Foundation:…
Media
Read More: What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?Taxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14
The Tax Foundation has released the latest report on Tax Freedom Day (get the Full Report in PDF). This year Tax Freedom Day will occur on April 13…
Media
Read More: Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14Taxes & Economy
A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollars
John Baer has a pop quiz on Pennsylvania’s recent government spending. How much do you know about taxpayer-funded bonuses to legislative staffers, legal fees to defend those bonuses, international…
Media
Read More: A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollarsPublic Union Democracy
Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” Blogger
In his blog today, John Micek makes a couple of jokes about “Joe the Plumber” – probably to avoid being called “Rat Rat Rat” by union bosses (who promise…
Media
Read More: Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” BloggerTaxes & Economy
PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too Early
Governor Rendell has a great April Fool’s gag, announcing a Pennsylvania “Stimulus Czar” (like anyone would think that’s a real job) that pays $120,000 per year for part-time work.
Media
Read More: PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too EarlyRegulation
Corporate Welfare Fails to Save PA Jobs
Amazon is closing distribution centers in three states, including one in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Just last year the state “helped” the world’s leading on-line retailer to open a new…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare Fails to Save PA JobsPublic Union Democracy
Union Intimidation in Action
Unions claim they won’t use intimidation as one of their tactics if the Employee Free Choice Act, a.k.a. “Card Check” is passed, eliminating the secret ballot in union elections. But…
Media
Read More: Union Intimidation in ActionState Budget
Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections
Following an Open Records request, the PA Office of the Budget provided us the their latest projections for General Fund revenue collections. The number for media, lawmakers, and policy nerds…
Media
Read More: Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections