Education

Charter schools produce graduates, cost less

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2008

Jay P. Greene’s blog points to a couple of recent studies on charter schools. The first one (link to full study here) shows that charter schools in Florida…

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Turnpike Commission Cutting Work Force

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

Following traffic and revenue declines, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced it will be reducing its staff size starting with a “voluntary departure program”, with layoffs to be next. Curiously,…

Media

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Government Accountability

Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

Some good opportunities to earn money working for liberty for college students, recent graduates and young professionals, and young journalists to pass along:Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow…

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Government Accountability

Shed a little light on your government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

ShowMeTheSpending.com, a project of the National Taxpayers Union (with a coalition of groups) has relaunched as a wiki (like Wikipedia) as part of the Sunshine Review…

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Government Accountability

Corruption and Potential for Reform in State Contracts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

Chris Freind has a five part series in The Bulletin on conflicts of interest, corruption, and the inability to get reforms passed in how state contracts are awarded.  The…

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Taxes & Economy

RINO Season Is Now Open

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2008

Ted Nugent declares “RINOs” fair game in a poignant piece on Human Events There are really only four things I have a strong aversion to: unloaded guns,…

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Government Accountability

Speaker Franklin Award Dinner Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

Coverage of our Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner will air on PCN at 4:10 today. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel and below. Gov.

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Health Care

Where will Obama go on health care?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

In our commentary today, Matt Brouillette and I argue that President Obama will pursue a somewhat tempered course – we will get the Obama of the general election campaign…

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Taxes & Economy

Bailout execs get bonus billions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on how executives of firms getting money from the financial bailout are also getting large bonuses (more at Beyond Bailouts). Personally, I…

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Government Accountability

Statement on the Passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll

  • November 13, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation is saddened by the loss of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. We will fondly remember her unsurpassed dedication to her roles in public service, her compassion and…

Press Release

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Government Accountability

RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2008

As many readers are aware, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll passed away last night.  Here is the Patriot News Story.  John Micek has posted reactions from…

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Education

Harrisburg’s Most Powerful Special Interest

  • November 12, 2008

New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today released Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians &…

Press Release

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Health Care

Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2008

Cross-Posted at Capital Domes The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently looked at the looming budget shortfall and its potential impact on Medicaid spending. The legislature couldn’t simply…

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Taxes & Economy

Free markets are under attack again

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2008

Matt Welch has an excellent article on Reason Magazine on the financial bailout and the debate over the role of government and the free market: President George…

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Health Care

Government Health Care Kills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2008

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is calling on the Pennsylvania Senate leadership to break their pledge not to hold a lame duck session. Among Rendell’s rhetorical arguments is that “nearly…

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Health Care

Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance

  • November 11, 2008

Uninsured citizens fare better than government insured HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today illustrated the absurdity of Gov. Ed Rendell’s politically motivated claim that “two Pennsylvanians die each…

Press Release

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Education

National Campaign for School Choice Launched

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2008

Our friends at the Alliance for School Choice have launched a new campaign – Let Parents Choose – aimed at recruiting 10,000 activists and supporters of school choice.

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Government Accountability

Bailout Transparency Fading Fast

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 11, 2008

The Tribune-Review reports Bloomberg News has filed a FOIA and a federal lawsuit seeking to force the disclosure of recipients who received $2 trillion in emergency loans from…

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Government Accountability

Book Review: The Best-Laid Plans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2008

Fans of The Road to Serfdom will recognize the dangers of government planning. Unfortunately, government planning has become even more prevalent in the US since Hayek’s warning. Randal O’Toole’s book…

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Education

School Choice Improves Student Learning

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2008

While evidence on school choice programs in the US indicates both benefits for student recipients and competitive benefits for public schools (not to mention greater parental satisfaction…

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Taxes & Economy

Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2008

A mostly on-target piece in the Wall Street Journal explains why a blank check to the Detroit automakers won’t solve their problems: In return for any direct…

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