Media

Pennsylvania Legislature’s 2005 pay raise remembered

• July 7, 2015

Media Hit

Government Accountability

Transparency 10 Years after the Pay Raise

• Elizabeth Stelle, James Paul
• July 7, 2015

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the midnight pay raise. Although it was ultimately repealed, the pay raise was a dark hour in Pennsylvania political history. Over the…

Media

Education

Ink Running Dry on Wolf?s Veto Pen

• James Paul
• July 6, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto pen may be running out of ink.  In the span of one week, Pennsylvania’s “different kind of governor” vetoed a no-tax-hike budget, liquor privatization,…

Media

Lawmakers, stakeholders, react to Wolf’s liquor legislation veto

• July 6, 2015

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf Does Understand Economics

• Nathan Benefield
• July 6, 2015

Last Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation passed by the general assembly that would allow private retailers to sell wine and liquor. As my colleague Bob pointed out,…

Media

Poor Excuses Used to Prolong PLCB’s Power

• July 6, 2015

Gov. Wolf missed an opportunity to be a different kind of governor. He was positioned to finally end the corrupt and inefficient state-controlled liquor system. He opted…

Media

Regulation

Wolf Vetoes Liquor Independence

• July 2, 2015

Wolf Vetoes Liquor Independence Refuses to Separate Booze and State Governor Wolf today vetoed legislation to finally end Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era, government-run monopoly of wine and spirits. “Governor Wolf…

Press Release

Regulation

Growing Bipartisan Support for Municipal Pension Reform

• Nathan Benefield
• July 2, 2015

On Tuesday, a task force spearheaded by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released its recommendation for municipal pension reform. The report recommends, among other things, more transparency and accountability in municipal…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to Wolf

• Elizabeth Stelle
• July 1, 2015

Yesterday, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation to free homeowners from skyrocketing property taxes, make school budgets go further, and protect public employees from politics. SB 1 bill reforms…

Media

Regulation

One Signature Will End PA’s Prohibition

• July 1, 2015

The Pennsylvania legislature made history yesterday. For the first time since the creation of the state-controlled liquor system in 1933, both houses of the General Assembly voted to remove government…

Media

Education

Gov. Wolf, Don’t Raises Taxes on Working People

• Nathan Benefield
• July 1, 2015

My letter to the editor in the Pocono Record tackles some of the myths about educations spending and Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—and why, after the House of Represented rejected…

Media

State Budget

Wolf Plays Politics of the Past with Budget Veto

• July 1, 2015

Wolf Plays Politics of the Past with Budget Veto Governor’s Own Plan Grossly out of Step with 49 Other States July 1, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Within hours of receiving the…

Press Release

Regulation

Pension Reform Promises Fair,Sustainable Retirement for State Workers

• July 1, 2015

Pension Reform Promises Fair,Sustainable Retirement for State Workers Protects New Employees’ Retirements from Political Manipulation Last night, the Pennsylvania Legislature sent a monumental public pension reform measure to…

Press Release

Regulation

Pa Legislature Passes Historic Liquor Privatization

• July 1, 2015

Pa Legislature Passes Historic Liquor Privatization Only Governor Wolf Stands in the Way of Ending State’s Prohibition-Era Booze Monopoly Last night, the Pennsylvania General Assembly sent historic liquor privatization…

Press Release

State Budget

Legislature Passes Responsible No-Tax-Hike, Pro-Growth Budget

• June 30, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder, 570-490-1042 Legislature Passes Responsible No-Tax-Hike,Pro-Growth Budget Taxpayer-Friendly Alternative to Gov. Wolf’s Tax-And-Spend Plan June 30, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today,…

Press Release

State Budget

Audio: Wolf’s Tax Increase Dwarfs All Other States

• Jonathan Reginella
• June 30, 2015

Compared to the 49 other states, Gov. Wolf’s budget inflicts a tax increase that dwarfs all others–in fact, it’s 8 times larger than the state with the next highest tax…

Media

Regulation

The Myth of the Modest Pension

• Nathan Benefield
• June 30, 2015

One of the specious arguments used to thwart pension reform centers on the average benefits of retirees. Opponents of reform claim the “average pension benefit” is around $25,000 annually. But…

Media

State Budget

Has Wolf Dropped His Unpopular Tax Demands?

• Nathan Benefield
• June 30, 2015

Throughout this state budget debate, Gov. Wolf has touted his natural gas severance tax to fund education. And some reporters refer to the severance tax as the “cornerstone” or “…

Media

Government Accountability

Contract Transparency Still Critical

• June 29, 2015

Harrisburg is abuzz as the budget battle continues. With high profile legislation on liquor privatization, pension and education reform receiving much attention, it’s easy to lose sight of a fundamental…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Why a Severance Tax is a Bad Idea

• June 29, 2015

As lawmakers work on passing a state budget, one of Gov. Wolf’s top priorities—a severance tax on the natural gas industry—is being hotly debated. Here are six reasons why a…

Media

Of Volkswagens and Public Schools

• Nathan Benefield
• June 29, 2015

In a story by Capitolwire (paywall), state Rep. Curtis Thomas is quoted as saying, “We cannot ask children to give us Cadillac performance when you give them Volkswagen dollars to…

Media