Media

welfare infographic

• April 9, 2018

Bipartisan federal welfare reform in 1996 promoted independence by keeping people engaged in the workforce. Healthy adults were limited to 3 months of cash assistance benefits unless they worked 20…

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Health Care

What’s the Goal of Welfare Reform?

• Elizabeth Stelle
• April 6, 2018

Pennsylvania's welfare system focuses on how much one needs to “get by” or how many different services and programs one can qualify for. These are well-intentioned attitudes that stem from…

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Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf Receives $8 Million from Government Union PACs

• Jessica Barnett
• April 6, 2018

As the 2018 election season gains momentum, Governor Wolf’s campaign friends are ramping up their financial support–and Pennsylvania taxpayers have helped them. Since his first campaign in 2013, Governor Wolf…

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Government Accountability

The Call for Contract Transparency Continues

• Jessica Barnett
• March 30, 2018

An ABC27 special investigation asks a simple question: “Would you pay a bill before you saw it?” Most people would answer with a resounding no. Yet, as the report highlights, that’s exactly…

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Education

Philly Exodus Spells the Need for School Choice

• Marc LeBlond
• March 29, 2018

Philadelphia’s population is growing. In fact, Philly’s population has grown for 11 consecutive years according to the U.S. Census Bureau and highlighted recently in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Population growth…

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Government Accountability

The Ethics Reform Pa. Should Prioritize

• Jessica Barnett
• March 28, 2018

Governor Wolf recently revealed more details of his “Citizens First” plan to reform campaign finance laws and gerrymandering practices. This follows the state Supreme Court’s controversial decision to redraw…

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Taxes & Economy

More Dependency Isn’t the Answer to PA Poverty

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 28, 2018

Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller wants more people on food stamps (or SNAP). In a hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee, she argued that because the program…

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Regulation

Infrastructure Investment Doesn’t Require Growing Government

• March 21, 2018

Nearly everyone agrees infrastructure is vital to the success of an economy. And while most infrastructure is provided by the private sector, the government does play a role. This…

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Public Union Democracy

Pa. Government Union Politics: $114 Million Since 2007

• Jessica Barnett
• March 21, 2018

The data affirms—government unions are among Pennsylvania’s most powerful political players. From 2007-17, the commonwealth’s top government unions spent more than $114.8 million on politics.

Media

Education

Are ESAs Coming to Connecticut?

• Marc LeBlond
• March 20, 2018

Is a popular school choice program poised for another expansion? Following New Hampshire's lead, Connecticut is the latest New England state to entertain the notion of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Connecticut,…

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Health Care

Missing the Mark in Medicaid

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 15, 2018

When it comes to welfare, state government asks the wrong question. That’s the premise of Rep. Kerry Benninghoff’s views on welfare reform in the latest Brews and Views podcast.

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Regulation

House Committee Embraces Pro-Growth Reforms

• March 14, 2018

On Tuesday the House State Government Committee voted to advance regulatory reforms that could restart Pennsylvania’s stagnant economy. Legislators advanced three bills included in a regulatory reform…

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Education

Scholarship Tax Credits

• Colleen Hroncich
• March 14, 2018

Ziva loves school. Yet just a year ago, it was a different story. According to her mother, Jesica, Ziva’s first grade teacher had given up on little Ziva, claiming the…

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Education

Some Clarity on Education Savings Accounts

• Marc LeBlond
• March 13, 2018

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) continues to repeat common misconceptions about Education Savings Account (ESA) programs. Here are six facts to dispel their fallacies. 1. School Choice Improves Academic…

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Government Accountability

Wolf’s “Citizens First” Reforms Won’t Solve Many Problems

• Nathan Benefield
• March 12, 2018

Today, Gov. Wolf  introduced a slew of “government reforms” to tackle Pennsylvania’s corruption problem. Here is our quick take on each. Gift Ban In theory, this seems like a…

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Government Accountability

Paycheck Protection, the Ethics Reform Wolf Should Pursue

• Jessica Barnett
• March 12, 2018

Governor Wolf unveiled today his Citizens First Ethics Plan, which should cause Pennsylvanians to wonder, how willing is the governor to truly pursue ethics reform? The plan includes a…

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Education

The Reality of PA School Spending

• Marc LeBlond
• March 9, 2018

The debate over education funding has found its way into the courts. Several school districts and residents are suing the state to fix an allegedly “unfair, inadequate and unconstitutional” school…

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Health Care

Pressure Mounts to Create a Pathway to Prosperity in Medicaid

• Elizabeth Stelle
• March 8, 2018

During state budget hearings this week, Pennsylvanians learned some unwelcome news about healthy adults added to Medicaid under the Obamacare expansion: less than half are working. The Department of Human Services (DHS)…

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Education

Education Choice Boosts Higher Ed Enrollment

• Marc LeBlond
• March 7, 2018

Recent studies on voucher programs in Milwaukee, Washington, DC, and Florida once again demonstrate education choice benefits families and taxpayers. Milwaukee A longitudinal study—which tracks individual students over long…

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Taxes & Economy

State Tax Reform Will Improve Pennsylvanians’ Lives

• March 7, 2018

Federal tax reform is having a positive impact on working people throughout the country, including right here in Pennsylvania. Companies have announced bonuses, wage increases, and enhanced retirement benefits for…

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Education

Pittsburgh Teachers’ Strike Averted, but Transparency is Still Needed

• Marc LeBlond
• March 1, 2018

After nearly nine months without a contract, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) and Pittsburgh Public Schools have tentatively reached an agreement, which will stave off this Friday’s impending…

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