Latest Content
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 Opportunity
Rich states grow faster by taxing less
Washington Examiner editorial on how rich states grow faster by taxing less…
Media
Read More: Rich states grow faster by taxing less
I Am Lawsuit Abuse
New website highlights of the worst cases of lawsuit abuse, including the infamous case of a judge suing a dry cleaner for losing his pants – for $67 million.
Media
Read More: I Am Lawsuit Abuse
Lawmakers have priorities confused
This Letter to the Editor at The REPUBLICAN & Herald succinctly nails what’s wrong with Harrisburg. We need more such letters in newspapers across Pennsylvania. Actually, we need more…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers have priorities confused
Taxpayer Protection Limit equal to 3.29%
With the latest population estimate from the Census Bureau (which shows continued anemic growth in PA), we can now estimate what the spending limit under the proposed…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Protection Limit equal to 3.29%
Politics and ideology stall health-care initiatives
I thought I’d comment on this Beaver County Times Editorial that decries “politics and ideology” for stopping health care initiatives like RendellCare. They are right, you know, ideology –…
Media
Read More: Politics and ideology stall health-care initiatives
Why the “Year of Reform” Wasn’t
Russ Diamond on “Why the “Year of Reform” Wasn’t”: Nothing else has been accomplished on the reform front, though. Newspaper editors, pundits, journalists and citizens are asking: Why?…
Media
Read More: Why the “Year of Reform” Wasn’t
The New Deal Jobs Myth
Amity Shlaes in the Wall Street Journal looks at how the New Deal era programs didn’t “create jobs”, but rather stifled growth. This is an important lesson for those…
Media
Read More: The New Deal Jobs Myth
Are they all “selfish”?
Nate Benefield’s commentary on our website today, elicited a response from inside the Capitol. We thought we’d share it with you…because the writer makes a very good point!…
Media
Read More: Are they all “selfish”?
Judge Andrew Napolitano on the State of our Rights
Fox News legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano at Reason.tv on the threat to our inherent rights — Government that violates its constitutional limitations.
Media
Read More: Judge Andrew Napolitano on the State of our Rights
Schools get no relief on pension contributions
That’s a horrible headline for the AP story in the Morning Call. Who are the “schools” anyway? It’s the taxpayers who get no relief. While the pension contribution…
Media
Read More: Schools get no relief on pension contributions
Where will projected I-80 revenue go?
In light of the FHWA questions to the Turnpike Commission – specifically about whether I-80 revenue will be used for debt services for non-I-80 expenses, and how payments to…
Media
Read More: Where will projected I-80 revenue go?
Creating a Free, Searchable Website of State Spending
Policy Note by our colleagues at theWashington Policy Center on creating a state-level, searchable online database of spending. Examples of online budget databases include Georgia, Texas, and…
Media
Read More: Creating a Free, Searchable Website of State Spending
A Brief History of Christmas
This Wall Street Journal article on the History of Christmas has little to do with policy (unless there is some debate over ending Christmas as a federal holiday), but…
Media
Read More: A Brief History of Christmas
‘It’s been a very difficult lesson’
Interview with Bill DeWeese in the Patriot News on his role in Bonusgate. His answers: 1) Didn’t know about bonuses ($1.9 million), 2) Will consider reforming legislative spending, 3)…
Media
Read More: ‘It’s been a very difficult lesson’
Citigroup Study Supported Act 44, Citigroup Makes Millions
As many who have been following the Act 44/I-80 Tolling fiasco are aware, the Turnpike Commission used a Citigroup Analysis to support their push for Act 44, tolling of…
Media
Read More: Citigroup Study Supported Act 44, Citigroup Makes Millions
Pew Trusts on State Pension Crunch
Pew Trusts analsysis of the looming state pension and retiree health care crisis in Pennsylvania. Index to 50-state analysis here.
Media
Read More: Pew Trusts on State Pension Crunch
Another Poor State Economy Ranking for PA
The Beacon Hill Institute has released their State Competitiveness Report 2007. Pennsylvania ranks 34th out of 50, based on Government and Fiscal Policy, Security, Infrastructure, Human Resources, Technology,…
Media
Read More: Another Poor State Economy Ranking for PA
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Borrows Today, You Pay the Taxes Tomorrow
FreedomWorks calls for an end to Turnpike Commission borrowing (based on the increasingly unlikely promise of I-80 tolling) and pursuing public-private partnerships in transportation.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Borrows Today, You Pay the Taxes Tomorrow
Superintendent Contracts
The Altoona Mirror has put together an extensive list of information on superintendent pay and contracts for all 501 school districts (at least the 447 they obtained information from).
Media
Read More: Superintendent Contracts
Biggest factor in rising health costs are the doctors themselves
Editorial in Dallas Morning News (by a doctor), details why health care costs to much (in part) – doctors order too many tests. The two reasons for this are…
Media
Read More: Biggest factor in rising health costs are the doctors themselves
Tax Free Christmas Presents
For those of you still shopping for Christmas gifts – here is a list of gift ideas, based on products that are exempt from the Pennsylvania Sales Tax: Food…
Media
Read More: Tax Free Christmas Presents