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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…
Read More: Pa. Supreme Court Protects Private Property in New Ruling
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 OpportunityRegulation
Where to Find WAMs
I have gotten a couple of requests today for lists of WAMs and other recent spending. We put together a list of recent grants the Governor has awarded/announced in…
Media
Read More: Where to Find WAMsTaxes & Economy
No tax increases
President Pro Tem (and now Pennsylvania Lt. Governor, though the former role has more relevance) Joe Scarnati has take a strong stance against any tax increase in the Pittsburgh…
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Read More: No tax increasesTaxes & Economy
The Fallacy That Government Creates Jobs
Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute has an excellent piece on the economic benefit of so-called fiscal “stimulus” In part, this is a debate about Keynesian economics, which is…
Media
Read More: The Fallacy That Government Creates JobsGovernment Accountability
78-Group Coalition Demands Greater Bailout Transparency
The Commonwealth Foundation has joined 77 other organizations in calling for greater transparency for taxpayers in the numerous bailouts being handed out with little oversight. From the news release:…
Media
Read More: 78-Group Coalition Demands Greater Bailout TransparencyHealth Care
The Trouble with Canadian Healthcare
Brett Skinner has an article in The American magazine on why “a single-payer system is probably the least effective way to achieve universal health insurance coverage.”…
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Read More: The Trouble with Canadian HealthcareGovernment Accountability
Open government should save taxpayers, not cost them
The Tribune Review has a scathing editorial about Governor Rendell’s decision to charge citizens for the cost of retrieving open records about the government. In contrast, consider Texas,…
Media
Read More: Open government should save taxpayers, not cost themRegulation
Funding Loans While Facing a Deficit?
The day after announcing more budget cuts, including a wage freeze, Governor Rendell announced $2 million in new state funded loans. So let…
Media
Read More: Funding Loans While Facing a Deficit?Regulation
Rocky Balboa and the trouble with occupational licensing
The Moving Pictures Institute has put together the clip from Rocky Balboa in which Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) fights the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission for his right to box.
Media
Read More: Rocky Balboa and the trouble with occupational licensingRegulation
Cigarette Taxes Encourage Smuggling
A new report from the Mackinac Center (full 99 page report here) estimates the effect of cigarette taxes on smuggling of cigarettes (both “commercial” and “casual” – i.e.
Media
Read More: Cigarette Taxes Encourage SmugglingState Budget
How far will freezing pay go in solving Pennsylvania’s budget crisis?
Governor Rendell’s recent pronouncement that he will freeze the pay of 13,600 Pennsylvania state workers (this doesn’t apply to 62,000 unionize employees) is estimate to save about $14…
Media
Read More: How far will freezing pay go in solving Pennsylvania’s budget crisis?Taxes & Economy
Deficit spending, taxes, and economic stimulus
The latest Heritage Foundation WebMemo looks takes on the idea that “deficit spending” is a good stimulus for the economy, given the upcoming federal deficit is going to the…
Media
Read More: Deficit spending, taxes, and economic stimulusEducation
Higher Costs of Higher Education
New report diagnoses skyrocketing PA college tuition, prescribes remedy for lower costs HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today released Higher Costs of Higher Education: Reforming how Pennsylvania Taxpayers Finance…
Press Release
Read More: Higher Costs of Higher EducationEducation
“F” for Affordability
Today, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education released its National Report Card on Higher Education. The report surveyed…
Media
Read More: “F” for AffordabilityGovernment Accountability
Transparency: Increase Government Efficiency for Free
The House Democratic Caucus has demonstrated fiscal responsibility by rejecting this year’s COLA’s. Maybe Dr. Stilp got through to them. But the bigger question is how much did Eachus…
Media
Read More: Transparency: Increase Government Efficiency for FreeTaxes & Economy
Governors Against State Bailouts
While Governor Rendell and others state executives are asking for taxpayers to bail them out (see related article in The Bulletin) but want to pass the buck…
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Read More: Governors Against State BailoutsState Budget
Pennsylvania budget shortfall grows to $658 million
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has released the November Revenue Collections, showing the state General Fund collections now $658 million below estimate.
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Read More: Pennsylvania budget shortfall grows to $658 millionEducation
High Tech Higher Ed
The Washington Monthly ran an article by Kevin Carey of Education Sector last week on the effects of technology on higher education. Carey illustrates how one professor established…
Media
Read More: High Tech Higher EdState Budget
Spend Like It’s 2007
Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall grows to $658 million HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today renewed its call for restrained state government spending in the wake of a growing revenue…
Press Release
Read More: Spend Like It’s 2007Taxes & Economy
Is Greenspan to blame for the financial crisis?
Over at the Cato Institute, there seems to be some disagreement over to what extent Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve contributed to the present financial “crisis”. Some…
Media
Read More: Is Greenspan to blame for the financial crisis?Regulation
Pension Pain
Cross Posted at Capitol Domes The stock market’s steep decline is a source of angst for all those whose retirement account balances have taken a nosedive. The financial…
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Read More: Pension PainTaxes & Economy
The Bailout Explained in Two Minutes
If you’re having trouble understanding all the bailouts in Washington, then watch this two-minute YouTube video clip and you’ll learn everything you need to know… 🙂…
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Read More: The Bailout Explained in Two Minutes