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Health Care

State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record

  • James Paul
  • May 14, 2015

Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2015

Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…

Media

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State Budget

134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform

  • May 14, 2015

Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…

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Regulation

The Monster at the end of this Blog Post

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2015

One of my favorite children’s books is titled “The Monster at the end of this Book.” In it, Grover (of Sesame Street fame) pleads with the reader not…

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Government Accountability

Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 13, 2015

Public sector union contracts are a huge cost for the state government, and they have also become a conflict of interest for Gov. Wolf. He will be negotiating contract deals with…

Media

Read More: Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations

Education

House Expands Indispensable Scholarship Programs

  • James Paul
  • May 12, 2015

In a sweeping, bipartisan vote, members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a substantial increase to the state’s cherished scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)…

Media

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Regulation

Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform

  • May 11, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform Bill Stops Sending More Public Employees Into Broken Retirement System May…

Press Release

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Regulation

It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2015

“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…

Media

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Health Care

State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2015

A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…

Media

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Criminal Justice Reform

The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working

  • May 8, 2015

Remember the time lawmakers from both parties came together in Harrisburg and unanimously passed important, groundbreaking reform legislation? It’s not a joke. It happened in 2012. As a result of…

Media

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State Budget

Audio: The Need for the Taxpayer Protection Act

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 7, 2015

The Taxpayer Protection Act is a simple idea that achieves four goals: limiting the future growth of state government spending, forcing the state government to prioritize future spending, helping to balance…

Media

Read More: Audio: The Need for the Taxpayer Protection Act