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Education
DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done
Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 20, 2024—While Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro makes the rounds at Democratic Convention events in Chicago, the Commonwealth Foundation is highlighting his lack of legislative accomplishments in an…
Read More: DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done![coalition letter green energy subsidy inflation](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-1675930719-900x836.jpg)
Energy
Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary![josh shapiro pennsylvania](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-157529650-900x836.jpg)
Education
Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania
Read More: Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania![federal government unions](https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/iStock-474066854-900x836.jpg)
Public Union Democracy
Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and Reforms
Read More: Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and ReformsState Budget
“Pork” database passed
Reuters Story on the passage of legislation that would create a new web database of all pork barrel grants. Hopefully transparency is but the first step in reducing wasteful…
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Read More: “Pork” database passedGovernment Accountability
Judicial pay raise outrage
WHP CBS21 coverage of the pay raise ruling, featuring video of our very own Matthew Brouillette talking with angry callers.
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Read More: Judicial pay raise outrageGovernment Accountability
Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Raise
The PA Supreme Court Opinion on the pay raise, issued today (view the last two pages for the Conclusion) makes the following decisions: 1) The repeal (Act 72 of…
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Read More: Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay RaiseGovernment Accountability
Pay Raise is Back
The Patriot News reports that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated last July’s pay raise, for judges–a ruling which raises the pay of the Supreme Court Justices. The ruling also…
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Read More: Pay Raise is BackTaxes & Economy
Wal-Mart and Chicago
Following Chicago Major Daley’s 1st ever veto, the city council is reconsidering the law they passed requiring “Big Box Retailers” to pay a “living wage” and benefits. Investor’s Business…
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Privatize Amtrak
In the wake of some discussion on the GrassrootsPA comments section on whether we need to keep subsidizing Amtrak with tax dollars, I thought these analyses would be useful…
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Read More: Privatize AmtrakState Budget
Earmark Showdown
Wall Street Journal article on a couple of bills expected to come up in Congress this week that would address pork barrel spending. While these bills wouldn’t reduce spending,…
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Read More: Earmark ShowdownTaxes & Economy
Why are people rich?
A study, summarized by NCPA, takes on the critics of free markets, with some common sense finding. While some on the left insist that “the rich are getting richer…
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Read More: Why are people rich?
Philly-to-Harrisburg on high-speed rail
From PennLive.com NewsFlash: Harrisburg to Philly on high speed trains? Cool.Trains at 110 miles per hour? Neat.Only an hour and a half from HAR to PHL? Ok.
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Read More: Philly-to-Harrisburg on high-speed railTaxes & Economy
Rendell Looks to Raise Taxes on Oil Companies in Pennsylvania
From The Tax Foundation.
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Read More: Rendell Looks to Raise Taxes on Oil Companies in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Property Tax Relief that Isn’t
The new property tax “relief” plan, Act 1, is already taking heat for not providing much relief – even for senior citizens, the group targetted for immediate relief – based…
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Read More: Property Tax Relief that Isn’tWelfare
PA lagging in Welfare to Work
Pennsylvania is among a handful of states that need to improve the number of welfare recipients working, the AP reports. Under new federal law, states are required to have…
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Read More: PA lagging in Welfare to WorkRegulation
Hair Braiding Drama
Patriot News article on the fear of unlicensed hair-braiders vs. the danger in regulatory professions (though they emphasize the former). Read Stephen Albert’s commentary on the burdens of…
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Read More: Hair Braiding DramaHealth Care
Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?
NCPA Analysis of Health Insurance Mandates, such as the new Massachusetts law and proposals discussed at recent hearings in Pennsylvania. Bottom line: they won’t work, and they could drive…
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Read More: Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?Government Accountability
The real meaning of ‘reform’
Brad Bumsted column in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune Review on the need for legislative reform. He cites the recent Commonwealth Foundation study on reforms needed.
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Read More: The real meaning of ‘reform’Taxes & Economy
Incomes and Politics
Wall Street Journal article on income disparity and inconsistent political rhetoric.
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Read More: Incomes and PoliticsEducation
School choice leads to less segregation
Contrary to the rhetoric of many opponents of school choice, two new studies from the Milton & Rose Friedman Foundation shows that private schools participating in the voucher programs…
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Read More: School choice leads to less segregationTaxes & Economy
Household Income Analysis
Interesting note by the The Tax Foundation on recent household income data. While a recent Census Report indicates that real median household income (adjusted for inflation) has declined since…
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Read More: Household Income AnalysisEducation
The best education reform: More sleep.
Wall Street Journal editorial on why schools should start their days later. I’ve never considered this from a policy point of view, but I know that for 13 years,…
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Read More: The best education reform: More sleep.Education
SAT Scores and PA Schools
SAT Scores Nationally, scores dropped, primarily attributed to a change in the test format. Pennsylania continues to lag behind, ranking 47th in the nation in average combined SAT score.
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Read More: SAT Scores and PA SchoolsHealth Care
Tax Credits for Health Care
While Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss mandating universal health care coverage, a Census Bureau report indicates fewer people are receiving health insurance from their employers, and more are paying for…
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Read More: Tax Credits for Health Care