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Government Accountability
Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2026 — In a 7–0 unanimous decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in Punxsutawney Hunting Club v. Pennsylvania Game Commission, sided with Pennsylvania landowners and ruled against warrantless searches on open fields. Under previous case law, the open…
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Education
Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Releases Analysis on 2026-27 Budget Deal
Education
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
Education
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational OpportunityTaxes & Economy
Rendell’s Pants are on Fire
Governor Rendell, in comments made today about Sen. Specter, claimed that Specter is “being criticized by his party for voting for the stimulus … which is something every conservative economist…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Pants are on FireGovernment Accountability
Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?
Governor Rendell has declared that Pennsylvania no longer has a “crisis” in medical malpractice lawsuits, citing recent declines in the number of suits filed. Critics claimed that reform have…
Media
Read More: Is Pennsylvania’s Medical Malpractice Crisis Over?Regulation
Public Television Subsidies
Testimony from the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Pennsylvania House State Government CommitteeApril 28, 2008 We would like to thank the members of the House State…
Testimony
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Debating Drug Decriminalization
A recent Cato Study and a related article in Time look at the effect of drug decriminalization in Portugal, finding that, Those data…
Media
Read More: Debating Drug DecriminalizationEducation
Rethinking Financial Aid for Higher Ed
Andrew Gillen of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity has an interesting analysis of the effects of federal and state financial aid programs for colleges and universities. Namely,…
Media
Read More: Rethinking Financial Aid for Higher EdRegulation
PA Liquor Stores Want a Better Monopoly
Brian O’Neill with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that the PA Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has spent $3.7 million to develop a new name for their stores in an…
Media
Read More: PA Liquor Stores Want a Better MonopolyState Budget
More on Murtha Airport
Congressman John Murtha’s monument to himself – John Murtha airport – has gotten a lot of coverage lately. First, here is the CNN Clip, in which the airport…
Media
Read More: More on Murtha AirportTaxes & Economy
PA is 29th Best State for Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new ranking of the best state tax systems for small business. Pennsylvania ranks 29th (1 being the best). Click here…
Media
Read More: PA is 29th Best State for Small BusinessGovernment Accountability
Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA
Some coverage of our inaugural Live Free PA event featuring Ted Nugent. Lancaster Online: Open Season: Guitarist Ted Nugent rocks local crowd with riffs on gun control and…
Media
Read More: Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePAPublic Union Democracy
The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
Apparently my recent commentary on Philadelphia’s prevailing wages has stirred the city’s union waters, so I am posting the data analysis to support the article’s statement: The…
Media
Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawTaxes & Economy
Should State Taxpayers Fund Television
Governor Rendell has proposed cutting funding for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (about $12 million) from the state budget for next year. This has obviously led those who receive taxpayer…
Media
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Club for Growth Congressional Scorecard
The Club for Growth has released its 2008 Congressional Scorecard of votes on key economic, pro growth legislation. Click here for the breakdown of roll call votes by…
Media
Read More: Club for Growth Congressional ScorecardTaxes & Economy
Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – Failure
Story from CNN Money covers testimony from the special inspector overseeing the TARP program, i.e. the financial bailout (HT Brian Ellis): Barofsky said his top concern was…
Media
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Come to PA
According to Chris Barrett, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, state spending on tourism should be brought back up to it’s 2008-09…
Media
Read More: Come to PAPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and Misused
A federal court today issued an injunction against the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) in its effort to “debar” the firm Worth & Company from bidding on…
Media
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PA House Rejects Cell Phone Ban
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would ban (subject to a $50 fine) using hand-held cell phones while driving, follow a debate of several hours.
Media
Read More: PA House Rejects Cell Phone BanTaxes & Economy
Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee
Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…
Media
Read More: Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes CommitteeTaxes & Economy
Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”
President Obama has told his cabinet he want to them to cut $100 million from the federal budget to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. While $100 million is certainly a lot…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”Taxes & Economy
School Board Transparency Recognized
Carlisle School Board member Fred Baldwin wins award for Commonwealth Foundation project promoting open school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA — Fred Baldwin, manager of the Commonwealth Foundation’s School Board…
Press Release
Read More: School Board Transparency RecognizedState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the April revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $2.55 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell had estimated…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009Government Accountability
Big Government, Big Corruption
Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity links the connection between government growth and corruption in this clip. He notes that rather than promoting honest dealings,…
Media
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