Latest Content
Education
Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Harrisburg, Pa., May 15, 2025 — Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, according to new…
Read More: Public Schools Increased Spending to $23,000 Per Student, Ballooned Reserves While Enrollment Declined
Energy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Education
Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Read More: Senate Education Committee Approves Bipartisan PASS Scholarships, Offering Lifeline to Students in Need
Prosperity
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable BenefitsHealth Care
The New Big Dig
Wall Street Journal on the pitfalls of RomneyCare.
Media
Read More: The New Big Dig
Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling application
While Governor Rendell wanted to get a revised application for tolling I-80 to the feds by the end of the week, so he could ask for an expedited answer and…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling applicationTaxes & Economy
Money discriminates against blind people
A federal court ruled that paper money discriminates against blind people, since they can’t tell how much the money is worth. Note to Paulistas: This is because the blind…
Media
Read More: Money discriminates against blind people
Turnpike Lease Resources
Turnpike Lease/Bid OverviewFull Concession AgreementSynopsis of Lease Requirements/LimitsConcerns About Turnpike Lease Misguided…
Press Release
Read More: Turnpike Lease Resources
Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease/BidOverviewFull Concession AgreementSynopsis of Lease Requirements/LimitsConcerns About Turnpike Lease MisguidedTurnpike Commission implicit “bid”: $5.3 billionP3 Information…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease News Roundup
There are plenty of news articles on the Turnpike lease deal/bid, offering a number of legislative leaders and local lawmakers’ takes (articles quoting the Commonwealth Foundation listed first):…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease News RoundupTaxes & Economy
Freedom from Government Day
The American Institute for Economic Research has calculated that today, May 19, is the date at which Americans have earned enough income to pay for all governing spending. They…
Media
Read More: Freedom from Government Day
Turnpike Lease Details
Details from the Governor’s announcement on the winning bid for a Turnpike lease. The complete concession agreement (686 pages) is here. Top Bid: $12.8 Billion Winning Bidder: Abertis/Citi Infrastructure…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Details
Medicaid Money Laundering
Wall Street Journal reviews how states are taking advantage of the Medicaid system to get more money from the federal government (i.e. ripping off taxpayers). Here is a…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Money LaunderingGovernment Accountability
Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expense
Philadelphia Inquirer article covers the price of lawmakers buying gas at taxpayer expense. There is also a list of who drives taxpayer subsidized, non-hybrid SUVs (i.e. gas guzzlers).
Media
Read More: Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expenseEducation
NEA on the Presidential Candidates
The National Education Association put out their candidate guide, giving both the candidates’ positions and the NEA’s positions on power grabs for union leaders education issues. Here is the…
Media
Read More: NEA on the Presidential Candidates
Nation’s Newest School Choice Program
Georgia enacted new legislation that would create a tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations. Much like Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, the Georgia plan allows…
Media
Read More: Nation’s Newest School Choice Program
“Simple math” on turnpike lease
Williamsport SunGazette editorializes that the math should be easy on a Turnpike lease bid: use what the Turnpike Commission will give (i.e. our calculation) and the bid –…
Media
Read More: “Simple math” on turnpike leaseRegulation
More Outrage at Pension COLA
Tony Phyrillas has added to the number of voices noting that the proposed Pension COLA means higher property taxes.
Media
Read More: More Outrage at Pension COLA
Video: Choosing our Judges
Here is the video from yesterday’s luncheon on the subject of merit selection vs. election of Pennnylvania judges:…
Media
Read More: Video: Choosing our Judges
Long Waits for Health Care Are Costing Canadians Billions of Dollars
Here is a new article on the problems with “universal” health care in Canada from the latest Health Care News.
Media
Read More: Long Waits for Health Care Are Costing Canadians Billions of DollarsTaxes & Economy
Politicians and Economics
While a number of people say that many economic policy issues are “too complex” for the general public Thomas Sowell argues that for the most part these concepts –…
Media
Read More: Politicians and EconomicsGovernment Accountability
Cerberus Responds
Responding to my commentary today, Rep. Babbette Josephs – who I termed the Cerberus of the General Assembly – issued a news release defending her record, and…
Media
Read More: Cerberus RespondsRegulation
Big Business Loves Big Government
Michael G. Franc in NRO Online analyzes a seemingly suprising fundraising advantage by Democratic candidates among corporate CEOs – surprising given that Democrats continue to call for higher taxes,…
Media
Read More: Big Business Loves Big GovernmentRegulation
Gaming Control Board screw-ups continue
A number of PA House Republicans are calling for PA AG Tom Corbett to investigate the Gaming Control Board (as if he didn’t already have enough government officials…
Media
Read More: Gaming Control Board screw-ups continueGovernment Accountability
Taxpayer bill in Bonusgate grows
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that legal fees in the Bonusgate scandal now top $1 million – $700,000 by House Democrats. Yes, that is taxpayer-funded lawyers to defend politicians…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer bill in Bonusgate grows